Google Maps Turns 20
Revolutionizing Navigation and Changing the Way We See the World February 8, 2025 — Two decades ago, on this very day in 2005, Google launched a groundbreaking service that would not only reshape the way we navigate the world but would also change the way we interact with our surroundings. Google Maps, which started as a simple map and directions tool, has since evolved into a powerhouse of navigation, exploration, and even augmented reality. As the service celebrates its 20th anniversary, it's hard to overstate the profound impact it has had on our daily lives. A Humble Beginning: Mapping the World Google Maps was initially created as a web-based mapping service, a response to the limited functionality of existing map services at the time. Back then, digital maps were mostly static, with little interaction or real-time features. The idea behind Google Maps was to provide an intuitive, fast, and accurate way to find locations and get directions online. But the ambition didn’t...