Last May, Google introduced an innovative navigation system that leveraged the phone's camera to provide augmented reality GPS guidance. Although the demo is very promising, the feature should not be immediately available, even for testing purposes. However, the company is now leaving some people, mostly local guides with access to a draft of Maps, using this feature, and David Pierce of the Wall Street Journal was among the lucky ones.

We all walked what seemed like miles in the wrong direction before we realized that the compass on our phone was running and driving us the wrong way. These days are almost over, as Google's AR-based tips are gradually spreading in our lives. Although the version tested by the WSJ is not definitive, it helps us to get a better idea of ​​what will happen.

The future version of the Maps application will allow you to access a special AR mode via a dedicated button or by lifting your phone. At first, you will be prompted to move your handset so that it can recognize the surrounding landmarks and compare them with GPS location and compass data. The application will then display your camera's inputs on your screen and the overlay arrows pointing to your destination. A traditional map will always be displayed at the bottom of your screen so that you can have a bird's eye view of where you are heading. Google does not expect you to use this feature throughout the guidance, but wants you to navigate more easily through complex intersections. If you keep walking with your camera pointed in the street, the application will eventually ask you to put the device to save battery because you are only supposed to use it.

Although this feature seems to be pedestrian only for now, I would like to use it while driving. In fact, I'm so used to the new Mercedes-Benz MBUX system (which you can see below) that I can not imagine going back to a traditional navigation system. I think Google will be working on additional security features before you can use this one on your mobile because it probably does not want you to hold your phone upright while driving!

We are eager to see this film being presented to the masses and we will let you know as soon as you can test it.