Google Maps does not want you to walk in AR

Google AR compatible cards application was teased for the first time at I / O last year, introducing a fox that helped you find your way when you waved your phone to watch the world. Google Maps AR Navigation is now available to all users of a Pixel phone, but the fox has disappeared. The reason is related to the means Google seeks to make AR effective in Search or Lens.

AT Google I / O Developer Conference, the team behind RA's experience in Maps, explained what had happened to this fox and set guidelines for creating practical RAs. the the conversation was fascinating, and illustrated some key points: Google's ideas about functional RAs are changing and Google's experiences with future RAs could also appear in Maps.

The fox was too magical

It turns out that Google has created many design prototypes for the operation of Google Maps AR, and that many have failed. The delightful fox guide appeared at last year's I / O conference and that brought Hiyao Miyazaki's presence to Maps is not there for the moment. Rachel Inman, Google's UX designer for the AR Maps experience, explained that people were expecting the fox to be smarter and lead it to interesting things. The fox was enchanting but distracting.

The fox may come back someday, but it is clear that Maps' mission was to become more useful than to be ultra-immersive. Even seemingly basic ideas ended up being too convincing. An original navigation design for the AR map directions drew a blue line on the ground, tracing the directions as you walked, but apparently, "people felt compelled to walk straight on the blue line."

This seems to have pushed Google to set new design principles for the RA, taken from Maps, that may disappoint dinosaur lovers dance. Maps information is not designed to be part of the real world. This is not supposed to mix, which means that it stands out and can be located faster. Google calls it "Earthing and Glanceability".

Similarly, the elements that appear in the new version of Google Maps AR are very pretty … similar to those of a map. A principle called "Leveraging the Pet" suggests that, since RAs absorb a small portion of what you see on the phone when you use them, these effects should involve familiar things.

Google foresaw a sparkling, river-like flow of particles that would guide you on the map rather than the big floating arrow of the current version. But that failed too. Inman said that people hated him and felt like following pieces of garbage.

Concentration and safety on fantasy

Google also tries to limit distractions in AR mode, thus limiting the contextual information of places. The approach of least is more is meant to help people stay focused on utilitarian applications such as Maps.

However, it is interesting to note that Google's Google Maps AR team does not want you to stay in this software for a long time. The recommendation is to hurry up and then come back to the real world. This sounds familiar: in fact, the quick look method was at work in Google glasses& # 39; notifications, and lives in Google Wear smart watches OS.

Google Maps does not want you to walk in AR (for the moment)

Currently, Maps uses something odd when using AR: if you start walking while using it, it fades out and displays a message reminding you to pay attention to the real world. The Google team is concerned about distraction while walking and the safety of people. This may seem paradoxical, especially since head-up AR directions seem to be the ideal solution for a pair of futuristic smart glasses.

But these smart glasses do not exist yet and Google Maps AR uses only your phone. The warning may be a good idea, but offering to replace it would be fine. After all, we are always bowing our heads all the time.

Spatial audio audio, as Bose audio techniqueseems to be a solution for navigation without visual distraction, but Google still does not pursue increased audio.

Google's demand for more practical RAs in apps such as Maps and Lens suggests that this quick-eye-focused design could be on the rise. But again, Maps is still a work in progress. And as it continues to be tested on Pixel phones, Google says some of its design ideas might still change.