Last year, Google revealed what looked like the future of Google Maps. The killer feature showed how Google Maps would provide people with directions from their phone’s camera in realtime. Now, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, Google is making the augmented reality feature available to some users.
WSJ’s David Pierce tried an early version of the feature.
He described how the app uses GPS to pick up a user’s location and then makes use of Street View data to check your exact location.
“The app knows which direction you are pointing in, even what you’re looking at. And because it’s all seen through a camera view on your phone, the app can layer directions on top of the real world, turning navigation into an augmented-reality experience,” he explained.
The feature will be rolled out to everyone “only when Google is satisfied that it’s ready.”