Google Maps
Google Maps is a web and mobile mapping service that provides maps, satellite imagery, route planning, navigation, and location information.
Web mapping: The delivery and interaction of geographic maps through web technologies. Google Maps presents interactive maps through browsers and connected services.
Mercator projection: A cylindrical map projection that preserves local angles but greatly enlarges areas near the poles. The familiar tiled world map uses a web-adapted Mercator projection.
Turn-by-turn navigation: Navigation that gives sequential directions at decision points along a route. Google Maps converts a route into spoken and visual driving instructions.
Location privacy: The ability to control how information about a person's whereabouts is collected, used, and shared. Using navigation and location features can expose sensitive movement patterns.
Geographic information system: A system for collecting, managing, analyzing, and displaying geographically referenced data. Its place layers and spatial analysis draw on GIS methods.
OpenStreetMap: A collaborative project that builds a freely reusable, editable map of the world. It offers a contrasting community-built source of geographic data.
Route planning: The process of selecting a path between locations under distance, time, or other constraints. The service compares routes for driving, walking, cycling, and transit.
Digital divide: Unequal access to digital technologies, connectivity, and the skills needed to use them. A phone-based map service is less useful without devices or reliable connectivity.
Global Positioning System: A satellite-based navigation system that provides positioning and timing information worldwide. Phones use satellite positioning to place users on the map.
Satellite imagery: Images of Earth's surface collected by sensors on satellites. Satellite imagery supplies the service's photographic view of terrain and development.