One initial idea for the design of the final interface was to include an interactive map feature which allows users to gain a better understanding of their surroundings for accurate navigation purposes. This feature would also be used within the interface showing a plotted route of the users inputted journey, showing how they would get from A to B.
Jim Boulton talks about the importance of interactive web mapping today. The web map of choice for millions of users at this present time is Google Maps, which was designed initially as an offline program by Lars and Jens Rasmussen and launched as a web-based feature in October 2004. Since it's launch Google Maps has had a distinctive impact on the development of user experience design, not just in terms of interactive web mapping. Boulton states that "without Google Maps, we would not have Web 2.0". Each day such maps become more comprehensive and accurate through the on-going process of data, and soon "maps will become increasingly realistic, but perhaps more intriguingly, reality will become more like a map".
For the final design of the interface, Google Maps would therefore be integrated as the map of choice, since it is the most commonly used interactive map by millions of users around the world. It knowledge and continuous development means that it's use in the final interface would provide more accurate representations of the user's surrounding in order to provide more accurate navigation for a user who may be new to the area. The map would also provide familiarity within the interface, ensuring a more comfortable experience for users, particularly those of the older generation who may not be as tech-savvy as younger generations.
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