Volume 11 Issue 1 » 87
WAZE
As Waze’s popularity soars, so does
its intelligence and its ability to offer
users increasingly relevant and current
information about the roads ahead. The
GPS-based navigational app utilizes
crowdsourcing to offer the fastest travel
times and route details for its users. Unlike
conventional GPS navigational software,
the Waze community can actually edit the
maps themselves and offer real-time traffic
updates. This includes reports on traffic
jams, accidents, police radars, checkpoints
and any other general traffic hazards.
Joining the community is simple. Once
a user creates an account on Waze, you’ll
see live avatars of other users who are
currently active. Users are awarded points
based on their contribution on information
regarding the road. If the information is
deemed accurate, other users vote and
increase your score as a user.
Recently acquired by Google for $1.3
billion USD, Waze has over two million
downloads, one million active users, and
has proven to be a serious contender in the
mapping space. Like user-driven content
websites such as Wikipedia and Twitter,
Waze is another excellent example of how
an active community can fundamentally
change how we access information on a
day-to-day basis.
COST: Free
Waze.com