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Guy creates heavy traffic on Google Maps
By using 99 smartphones that are transported in a handcart this guy generates a virtual traffic jam in Google Maps.Through this activity, it is possible to turn a green street red which has an impact in the physical world by navigating cars on another route to avoid being stuck in traffic.
Posted 4 years ago by blindman in category: geeky
Comments (4)
DaveJoyce - 4 years ago [ Reply ]
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Are that many people really using Google Maps to navigate? Or is this just a low traffic street on an average day and he *maybe* stopped a couple of cars at best?

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Noemoc - 4 years ago
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  Yeah not at all clear how many car got rerouted. Two related questions: (1) is google using my phone for traffic data whether I am actively using the app for navigation or not? And (2) how does it discriminante between a group of pedestrians and a group of cars? I assume the answer to #1 is “yes”. Of course I can switch background use of location services off for the app if I want to. (Yes, I am looking at you Edward Snowden. 👀) 
DaveJoyce - 4 years ago
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  I'm pretty sure they're always tracking it. I know iPhones track it all the time anonymously for Apple Maps, and they probably use a variety of different clues to determine which are cars and which aren't. Which is sort of why this video seems fishy to . THey're all in the exact same position and speed, and traffic doesn't move like that. 

jojo (guest) - 4 years ago [ Reply ]
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I don't think it has to do with using the app itself, Google uses the wifi signal from cellphones I guess. That's what I got from the comments below the video on youtube.

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