Google’s ‘bum’ steer
Before you suggest I’ve just stated that Google has waded into the world of agriculture (disambiguation: n. a male bovine that is castrated before sexual maturity), I must clarify that I’ve joined the Sydney Morning Herald in referring to the more informal usage, meaning ‘a suggestion of a course of action’. More specifically, this steer refers to the driving assistance offered by Google’s route-finding algorithm.
Google’s driving directions system has just gone live in Australia, and it appears either Google didn’t test near their Sydney office (the Google Maps head office), or isn’t bothered by significant misinformation (eternal beta, anyone?). According to the route-finder, it takes 10km and 18 minutes driving time to cross the street from Google’s neighbour to Google’s office building. The Sydney Morning Herald has noticed a number of strange suggested routes in and around the Sydney area.
Of course this is most certainly an effect of ‘bum’ data on Australian roadways. According to the same route-finder, it ought to take me 13km and 20 minutes to drive from my Edmonton apartment to Terwillegar Community Church this afternoon, suggesting a route identical to my typical ’steer’ until the last winding turns through Terwillegar Towne’s notoriously snake-like lanes.
