Nobody knows how bad traffic is better than the person stuck in traffic. Channeling that driver’s misery into another’s gain is the theory behond Waze, a free navigation app that just might be the best of its kind. Unlike guidance programs that rely solely on computer algorithms, Waze uses live feedback from its network of drivers to generate a dynamic real-time traffic report, and adjusts its route recommendations accordingly.
For starters, Waze has all the elements of a first-class GPS. device. You can enter a destination and receive a choice of routes. As you drive a particular route over time, Waze learns your preferences and takes them into consideration for future trips. The guidance itself is presented on a 3D-style map and accompanied by spoken, turn-by-turn directions. The screen also tracks your speed, your remaining distance, and the time to your destination.
But Waze distinguishes itself from the standard, static route navigator by gaining intelligence as more users drive. Simply by turning on the app and hitting the road, users contribute GPS information to the central Waze system. That process creates smarter, live maps of an area or road and helps Waze offer you the most informed route guidance available at the time. If a neighbor who left the house 10 minutes earlier is sitting in traffic on the same route you plan to take now, for instance, Waze displays a red line that indicates the severity of the congestion:
To accompany these automated traffic reports, Waze also lets users input incidents they encounter along their ride: accidents, construction, speed traps, even obstacles in the road. If you’re completely stuck in traffic you can enter details about the delay or snap a photo of it. If the car’s in motion, however, Waze disables typing to guard against distracted driving — a surefire way, intentional or not, to win the endorsement of Ray LaHood.
Read the entire article at: The Atlantic Cities
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