Ever been in a hurry only to find out that the road you chose is backed up because of construction? Pain in the butt, isn’t it? Satellite navigation (GPS) device maker TomTom could be adopting a Web 2.0 approach to help soothe those pains.
TomTom May Provide “Navigation 2.0”
The company plans to acquire Europe-based Tele Atlas, a digital mapmaker that utilizes user-generated content to update auto-travel information – closed roads, construction, cool new restaurant on a particular street – all submitted by users, providing more information than traditional GPS services offer.
But don’t get too excited yet. The deal’s not complete yet and it is not yet known if “Navigation 2.0” will be implemented in the US.
Many are touting the possibility as a wisdom-of-crowds triumph, and are wondering what other uses the user-generated model could be put to in the mobile sector.
Seems to me it’s only a matter of time before it’s put to nefarious purposes: the night security guard here takes naps between 2 and 4 a.m.; the woman at this house doesn’t close her blinds; vehicle enforcement cops spotted on this stretch of highway.
Well, that last one doesn’t sound so bad.
