Google Indoor Maps Helps Us Navigate CES, Blackjack Tables
Rob Jackson
Navigating the show floor at CES is like completing a quest in the consumer electronics edition of Fable 4, but a recent update to Google Maps may unlock the door to a virtual cheat code. With a recent update to the omnipresent Google Maps, Android users can now navigate indoor maps for popular Las Vegas locations such as the Las Vegas Convention Center and The Venetian, the two most important locations for CES attendees.
Also included in round one are the MGM Grand, Caesars Palace, Bellagio, and The Palazzo, although I’m a bit nervous it might work too well: finding the nearest ATM after you’ve nearly gone bankrupt at the blackjack table could be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
For those of you following our CES coverage from home, check out the online demo which should give you an idea how the technology works. As more and more companies and organizations submit their maps, it will be exciting to see how this technology is used and adopted by the public: there are certainly logistical challenges when trying to pinpoint locations indoors.
In addition to the obvious application of indoor navigation, it will be interesting to see how quickly this is leveraged into a gaming environment where FPS and racing games take place on levels based on real-world floor plans. If you’re doubting that this is realistic endeavor, take a look at the Navigation based game coming to Google Games in February:
Give Google Indoor Navigation a test and let us know what you think in the comments. It’s only available in select locations for the time being, but here is the full list of available locations. Do you think the ability to upload indoor maps could eventually lead to privacy concerns if 3rd parties start uploading private residences and other areas that would otherwise be off limits? Any other forseeable negative issues?
United States
Akron-Canton Airport (CAK)
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
Boise International Airport (BOI)
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
George Bush Houston International Airport (IAH)
Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL)
Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS)
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
Portland International Airport (PDX)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
DDR Corp. shopping centers in Puerto Rico, including Plaza del Atlántico in Arecibo, Plaza del Sol in Bayamon, Plaza Rio Hondo in Bayamon, Plaza del Norte in Hatillo, Plaza Palma Real in Humacao and Senorial Plaza in Rio Piedras
Vallco Shopping mall in Cupertino, CA
Brixmor Property Group including Eagle Rock Plaza in Los Angeles, CA
Mall of America
Macy’s*
Bloomingdale’s*
Home Depot*
Ikea*
Caesars Entertainment – Bally’s Las Vegas
Caesars Entertainment – Caesars Palace
Caesars Entertainment – Flamingo Las Vegas
Caesars Entertainment – Harrah’s Las Vegas
Caesars Entertainment – Imperial Palace
Caesars Entertainment – Paris Las Vegas
Caesars Entertainment – Planet Hollywood
Caesars Entertainment – Rio Las Vegas
Las Vegas Convention Center
Las Vegas Sands – The Venetian
MGM Resorts – Aria Hotel & Casino
MGM Resorts – Bellagio
MGM Resorts – Circus Circus Hotel & Casino
MGM Resorts – Crystals Retail
MGM Resorts – Excalibur Hotel & Casino
MGM Resorts – The Hotel at Mandalay Bay
MGM Resorts – Luxor Hotel & Casino
MGM Resorts – Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
MGM Resorts – Mandalay Bay – Four Seasons
MGM Resorts – Mandarin Oriental
MGM Resorts – MGM Grand Hotel & Casino
MGM Resorts – The Mirage Resort & Casino
MGM Resorts – Monte Carlo Resort & Casino
MGM Resorts – New York, New York Hotel & Casino
MGM Resorts – Signature
MGM Resorts – Vdara Hotel
Japan
Narita International Airport
Haneda Airport, International Terminal
Haneda Airport, Domestic Terminal
JR East in Tokyo and Chiba (main stations)
Tokyu Corporation (main stations)
Tokyo Midtown
Daimaru
Matsuzakaya
Tokyu
Mitsukoshi
Takashimaya
Odakyu
Isetan
Keio
Matsuya
Seibu
Tobu
Printems Ginza
Marui
Marunouchi Building
Shin-Marunouchi Building
Marunouchi OAZO
Marunouchi BRICK SQUARE
TOKIA Tokyo Building
Shibuya 109
109 MEN’S
Miraikan
Roppongi Hills
Venus Fort
Tokyu Hands Ikebukuro
DECKS TOKYO BEACH
remy gotanda
LaLa port TOYOSU
The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan)