07 Jun
On June 15, 2022, Google announced that it will release a new live traffic widget in the “coming weeks”. This was confirmed by Google in a blog post. Google Maps is adding a new widget that shows nearby traffic when tapped. This development is coming as an improvement to the present Google maps app which only provides us with information about areas in our locations and how to get there. The Google maps app has been of great use to people in locating destinations and finding their way when they are lost. However, if this new development turns out to be what it is touted as, the impacts will be very widespread.
How Does The Widget Appear?
The preview provided of the widget shows a rounded square that represents the map of your surroundings. Your present location will be indicated by a blue dot at the center.
Lines with different colors will signify the speed of traffic in the area. Green lines will represent traffic moving at normal speed. Orange lines will indicate that there is slowing traffic ahead and you may need to slow down and be on the lookout. Red lines will indicate that traffic has come to a complete halt.
A floating action button in the bottom right corner will allow you to zoom in and out. This will help you to focus on the area of concern and make out all the necessary details.
Once this widget is launched, Google’s first-party widgets on Android will be 35 in number.
Presently, Google has only provided us with a preview of the widget. It is most likely 2Ã2 in size and at the moment, it is uncertain whether the widget is resizable or not. However, in the “coming weeks”, this will be clarified.
Uses Of This Widget.
This widget will bring more versatility to the Google maps app and provide solutions to many challenges faced by people. Navigating traffic has become a very complicated task to accomplish in recent times with the increase in automobiles on the road and the disregard of some road users for simple traffic rules. Traffic congestion has caused so much pain to people, made people lose their jobs, led to the death of emergency patients, and caused accidents. However, the introduction of this widget can help reduce this in a lot of ways. Checking the widget will alert you to zones with high traffic and may prompt you to choose another route, allowing you to arrive at your destination in a timely fashion.
It may also be used by emergency services to choose the route of “least resistance” when faced with emergencies. This could lead to lots of lives and properties being saved.
This new widget may turn out to be a jewel. Just that technological advancement we need in this crucial time. However, only time will tell if the widget turns out to be all it promises to be.
