Google is asking its users to help in mapping out some of the most remote
parts of the world.
Google
Map Maker will allow users to mark out their own points of interest as well
as provide new information on roads, cities and parks. The data will then be
uploaded to Google's map service.
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Unlike other Google releases, however, Map Maker will not be making its debut
in the US, Europe or any other traditional computing hotspot.
Instead, the company plans to deploy the tool in some of the most remote
countries in the world in the hope that people will fill in blank spots on the
map.
The first recipients of the Map Maker software will be in Cyprus, Vietnam,
Pakistan and the Caribbean.
Google software engineer Lalitesh Katragadda and product manager Sanjay Jain
explained the reasoning behind the release in a
company
blog posting.
The existing mapping data for these countries could benefit tremendously from local knowledge and expertise
Lalitesh Katragadda and Sanjay Jain Google
"Building a map is an exceedingly complex process, and it is a challenge to
reach all parts of the world," they wrote.
"The existing mapping data for these countries could benefit tremendously
from local knowledge and expertise that you and other map makers possess, and we
are excited to see how you put that to use."
Google said that Map Maker was used extensively last month as part of its
efforts to map out the cyclone-devastated areas of Burma.
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