I moved to Vegas from metro Atlanta in July 2007.
And until a few moments ago, I always thought I used Google Maps to get here.
I had a Blackberry I thought I had the Google Maps app on. But apparently, that may be a made-up memory.
According to a blog post from Google1, Google Maps didn’t exist on Blackberry until November 2007.
In case you’re too young to know, Blackberry was a smartphone. Kind of.
Android phones didn’t exist yet.
The iPhone was less than a month old.
And Google Maps didn’t come out on Android until 2008 and iOS until 2012.
So I have no idea what I was using in July 2007 to drive across the country.
But I made it 🤷🏿♂️.
I was researching when Google Maps came out to see how long I have been using it.
I currently use it to go almost EVERYWHERE, even places I know how to get to. According to my timeline, I’ve visited 2,113 places.
But one recent morning, I decided to not use Google Maps. I was driving to one of my kids’ schools that I’ve driven to literally hundreds of times in the last few years.
I know multiple ways to get there.
And still, somehow, without that audible “turn left in 500 feet” in the background, I missed a turn that would’ve saved me ten minutes.
I didn’t think much of it until 20 minutes later, when without using Google Maps - to go to a coffee shop I’ve visited at least 2 dozen times - I drove further than necessary. Again.
Maybe I should’ve been more mindful while driving. But here’s what I know…
When I listen to Google Maps, I don’t miss as many turns, get stuck in as much traffic, or waste as much time.
Today’s gratitude prompt:
What didn’t exist 5/10/15 years ago, that I now have access to and use religiously?
https://blog.google/products/maps/look-back-15-years-mapping-world/