Navigation in Augmented Reality from Google Maps
The new augmented reality (AR) navigation from Google Maps rolled out recently but it isn’t available to everyone.
For those who don’t know what AR navigation is, here is a link from Google IO 2017.
In a nutshell, it is directions overlaid on the camera view. Instead of having to look down at the phone, you can bring the phone up to see the world through it. Google will overlay the directions in your view with 3D icons, labels, and texts.
I saw some users online with access to it but didn’t find much information on how to get it. Posted a call on FB and LinkedIn in case my friends had it. I thought maybe they could invite me through the app. Reached out to a few friends who work at Google. They hadn’t heard anything about it either. It’s a big company!
My colleague found out that I needed to be a Google local guide level 5 and above to be randomly selected to receive the app.
A Google local guide? I asked.
If you are a user of Google maps and have rated a place because Google asked you to, then you are already a local guide.
To check, open Google Maps. Tap on the hamburger menu on the upper left corner of the search bar. This will slide out your details…
