Latest news with #GoogleMaps
CNET
44 minutes ago
- CNET
This App Is Like a Waze for Accessibility. Here's How You Can Use It -- and Pitch In
When's the last time you checked to see how accessible the spaces you enter are? OK, now what about the cities you live in? I've started to notice how accessibility -- whether for physical or invisible needs -- isn't often baked into city planning. This sent me on a search for ways to find spaces and points on the map that support people with disabilities. That's how I found AccessNow, a crowdsourced accessibility platform that covers 2 million locations in more than 35 countries and uses AI to help interpret and predict accessibility features. What is AccessNow and how does it use AI? AccessNow was launched in 2015 by Maayan Ziv in response to her own experiences with muscular dystrophy. She wanted to build an app so people could find and share information about accessible spaces. AccessNow uses the Google Maps Platform API. When you search for a location or to see if somewhere is accessible, the platform uses a mix of artificial intelligence technology, business-provided information and customer reviews. It uses this to assess and predict the accessibility of locations, and then it refines its output over time. How to use AccessNow to navigate accessibility challenges Using AccessNow is simple and efficient, and it's available on iOS and Android. Navigate to your app store and download AccessNow. Look for a blue icon with a white arrow. Create a profile account, or log in with your Facebook or Apple account. This will allow you to contribute reviews and access personalized recommendations. You can customize your profile to reflect the specific accessibility needs you have or that the person you're supporting has. Examples include wheelchair access and braille signage. Your map's interface will help sort and filter results based on nearby places and selected accessibility preferences. The best way to stay updated with AccessNow, and further integrate with the software, is its reviews system. AccessNow relies on user-generated content, so you can read reviews from other users to keep accessibility likelihood high. Contributing your own review helps others with questions or support and can improve the platform's data. Should you use AccessNow? AccessNow is training its AI model based on the lived experiences of people with disabilities. I see it as a reviews and data collection site that you can weigh in on, almost like Waze's functionality, but for a specific community. AccessNow/Screenshot by CNET Though you don't need to input your location to find accessibility watch-outs, you will need to in order to find specific accessibility support on the interactive map. Upgrading to an Essential or Pro tier will give you access to other features, like a Slack channel and a robust content library that looks to be launching soon. So if you're looking for support beyond map watch-outs, this can be a useful resource to invest in for $12-$17 per month, though I'd wait until all features are available and working before signing up for a paid account. With its global reach of more than 200,000 places across 35 countries, you can find accessible locations worldwide. However, due to its user contribution model, areas with fewer people may have limited data, and reviews may reflect personal perspectives that don't apply universally -- so remember that community information isn't fact (or fiction) but rather information that may or may not work for you. We reached out to AccessNow's team for comment but didn't hear back before publishing. AccessNow is a generally reliable resource using AI and machine learning to support community members who can be overlooked in city planning. And with a free tier that gives you information and other community-contributed data, it's financially accessible.
Scottish Sun
44 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Three hidden gem Scottish beaches named among best in the UK – with a Treasure Island playpark & hundreds of seals
Scroll down for a beach with the perfect kids' park SEAL OF APPROVAL Three hidden gem Scottish beaches named among best in the UK – with a Treasure Island playpark & hundreds of seals Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THREE little-known Scottish beaches have made a top 15 list of the best bays in the UK. While many of us may be gearing up for a holiday abroad, there are so many stunning coastal spots at home to be explored. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Gullane was highlighted as being a totally unique beach 4 Yellowcraig makes the top 15 The experts at Holidu, the holiday rental portal, have analysed user review data from Google Maps for over 9,500 beaches, compiling a list of best for 2025. And a trio of Scottish spots rank highly. Coming top of the pile is Gullane Beach, in East Lothian. It takes top beach in Scotland and ninth in the UK. It's a broad, golden sandy bay near the prestigious Gullane Golf Club. The Holidu team said: "This is a true Scottish standout, uniquely blending stunning natural beauty with a world-renowned golfing backdrop. "This expansive golden sand beach offers breathtaking panoramic views across the Firth of Forth to Edinburgh and Fife. "However, what truly sets Gullane apart is its direct adjacency to some of Scotland's most prestigious golf courses like Gullane Golf Club and Muirfield, making it a unique destination where the pristine shoreline meets legendary fairways." The hidden gem Newburgh Seal Beach, in Aberdeenshire, comes in at number 11 on the UK list. The beautiful bay is just 20 minutes north of Aberdeen, is backed by large dunes and is loved for its creature colony . The Holidu team said: "The beach offers a truly unique wildlife experience, making it a captivating natural attraction in Scotland. Grim pictures show wall of jellyfish as sunseekers leave Scots beach deserted despite sizzling temperatures "While its golden sands and extensive dune system - the Sands of Forvie National Nature Reserve - are beautiful in their own right, the undisputed stars of this beach are the hundreds of seals that frequently lay on the sandbanks at the mouth of the River Ythan. "Visitors can observe these charming creatures from a respectful distance, creating unforgettable memories. "Beyond the seals, the beach is popular for walks, photography, and birdwatching." Completing the Scottish list is another little-known destination, Yellowcraig Beach in East Lothian. It's celebrated for its enchanting natural beauty and its family-friendly facilities. The team added: "This sandy beach boasts magnificent views of the iconic Bass Rock, a volcanic island home to the largest gannet colony in the world. "Beach goers can also enjoy beautiful views of the Fidra lighthouse from the dunes, which was reportedly the inspiration for Robert Louis Stephenson's novel Treasure Island. "Ideal for families, the beach offers clean sands perfect for play, a Treasure Island themed playpark, sheltered picnic spots within the pine woods, and a dedicated bridle path." 4 Grey seals congregate at Newburgh Beach
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
The 'Caribbean of Wales' beach has been named UK's most-loved
Though the UK doesn't have the same tropical temperatures as the Caribbean, some of its beaches are just as dreamy. Stunning seaside spots can be found across England, Scotland, Northern Island and Wales. Holiday rental portal, Holidu, analysed thousands of coastal destinations in the country and identified the top 25, based on user review data on Google Maps. The most-loved beach, Barafundle Bay in Pembrokeshire, Wales, is often described as having 'views reminiscent of the Caribbean'. With a beautiful green backdrop, the remote beach has turquoise waters and a golden sandy shore that mirrors what one might find on a tropical island. It has an impressive 4.9 average rating on Google Maps from 1668 reviews and outshines all the other sandy shores analysed. Another Welsh beach closely follows in second place - Mwnt in Ceredigion. The sheltered bay scored 4.9 with 722 Google Map verdicts. Woolacombe Beach in Devon comes third, and is known for being popular destination for families and surfers to enjoy the golden sands and consistent waves. From its 32,006 reviews the holiday hotspot scored 4.8. While Dunraven Bay, in Glamorgan, Wales, was also rated 4.8 and placed fourth. The sandy Welsh beach is a great spot for rock pooling and fossil hunting. In fifth is Trebarwith Strand Beach, with a rating of WHAT, and is a popular spot for surfers. It even has a stream of fresh water and is dog friendly. Cuckmere Haven places sixth and is a peaceful, pebbled beach in East Sussex. With an impressive rating of 4.8 and 1581 reviews, Cuckmere is well worth a visit and is overlooked by the white chalky cliffs of the Seven Sisters. The secluded Man O'War Beach in Dorset ranks seventh with a rating of 4.8 and is on the east side of the iconic Durdle Door. While Dunraven Bay, in Glamorgan, Wales, was also rated 4.8 and placed fourth. The sandy Welsh beach is a great spot for rock pooling and fossil hunting Another Devon-based location, Bigbury Beach comes eighth and has unique access to Burgh Island. Visitors can visit the island by walking along a causeway at low tide or taking a sea tractor at high tide. Gullane Beach in East Lothian, Scotland places ninth and offers a stunning, sandy shore. Bringing Northern Island into the mix, Benone Beach ranks tenth and is located in County Londonderry. Top 25 rated beaches in the UK Barafundle Bay Beach Traeth Mwnt Woolacombe Beach Dunraven Bay Trebarwith Beach Cuckmere Haven Man O'War Beach Bigbury Beach Gullane Beach Benone Beach Newburgh Seal Beach Freshwater West Horsey Beach Mudeford Sandbank Yellowcraig Beach Traeth Llanddwyn Porth Dafarch Tenby North Beach Hengistbury Head Beach Traeth Porthor Traeth Abermaw Beach Weymouth Beach Summerleaze Beach Brancaster Beach Old Hunstanton Beach
The Journal
2 hours ago
- Business
- The Journal
Has a navigation app ever taken you somewhere unexpected?
A REPLICA LIDL store built for RTÉ's Fair City has been removed from Google Maps after a woman mistakenly arrived expecting to do her shopping. The Lidl store, which exists solely as part of a product placement collaboration, had been listed as a real location on the navigation platform. The mix up led the woman to the RTÉ campus in Donnybrook. Once Lidl got wind of the misunderstanding, the supermarket took to social media and joked: 'Thought she was getting a trolley, ended up in a storyline.' So, tell us: Has a navigation app ever taken you somewhere you didn't expect? Poll Results: It's happened a few times (447) No, it's never let me down (134) It happened once and (hopefully) never again (127) Yes, all the time (93) I don't use navigation apps (61) Yes, all the time It's happened a few times It happened once and (hopefully) never again No, it's never let me down I don't use navigation apps Vote
Ammon
4 hours ago
- Business
- Ammon
GAM launches public transport trip planner via Google Maps
Ammon News - The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) announced the launch of a trip planning feature for public transport operated by Amman Vision Transport Company, including the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Amman Bus, through the Google Maps application. The new service allows residents and visitors to plan trips using public buses with greater ease and flexibility, an important step toward enhancing the public transport experience and advancing the digital transformation of mobility services. Yousef Shawarbeh, Chairman of the Greater Amman Municipality Committee, said this marks the first initiative of its kind in Jordan and places Amman among the first cities in the region to integrate public transport data with global digital mapping platforms. He explained that the feature provides real-time information on bus routes, departure and stop times, and route connections, contributing to improved commuting efficiency and increased reliance on public transportation. Shawarbeh attributed the achievement to the sustained institutional efforts of GAM personnel under a comprehensive development plan to modernize public transport services, adopt smart systems, and apply global best practices in urban mobility. He noted that the initiative falls within the framework of the "Amman Smart City" strategy, which seeks to integrate technology and smart city applications across various municipal services, particularly in public transport, thereby enhancing infrastructure efficiency and aligning with digital transformation objectives. Petra
