Google Doesn't Want You To Follow The Fox In Its AR Maps, For Now

In I/O 2018, Google teased its AR-enabled Maps app with a fox showing users where to go as they held up their smartphones. Now, this AR navigation feature has made its way to all Pixel phone owners, but the fox is no longer there because the technology giant is working to bring the feature to Lens or Search.

During the conference, the team behind this feature explained the disappearance of the fox and guided through creating practical AR, mostly focusing on how Google is changing its ideas on functional augmented reality and the potential AR experiences Google may bring the Maps.

The fox was too magical

In fact, Google designed many prototypes for the Maps AR, but a lot of them failed. Google’s AR Maps UX designer Rachel Inman said that the fox was distracting. Someday, the fox may make its way back, but Maps is obviously meant to be helpful, not extremely immersive.

Initially, there is a blue line painted on the ground in the AR map directions, indicating the directions when users walk, but it seems that people are reluctant to follow this line. That’s why Google decided to try new design principles for its AP Maps. Information in Google Maps is not designed to look like in the real world, and it’s supposed to stand out so that users can locate more easily, which the company calls ‘Grounding and Glanceability.’

With this in mind, things popping up in the new AR Maps are map-like. According to the ‘Leverage the Familiar’ principle, when users use AR, it accounts for only a small part of what they see on their devices, so the effects should involve similar items.

Google used to make a sparkling flow of particles to guide users through the map instead of the existing big floating arrows, but that failed. People felt like following blowing bits of trash, and they hated it, Inman recalled.

Focus and safety must be the top priority

By trying to limit distractions in AR mode through letting less information pop up from locations, Google wants to keep users focus when using utility apps like Maps.

However, the team behind Maps AR doesn’t want users to stay in the augmented reality for long, saying that users should be fast and quickly get back to the real world. This is the quick-glance approach that Google is working on with its Glass notifications, which also lives on in the Wear OS smartwatches.

Google doesn’t want you to walk in AR

Currently, Google Maps will black out and remind you to focus on the real world if you start walking in the AR mode. This may sound paradoxical as heads-up AR directions seem perfect for future magic smartglasses, but Google worries that you may be distracted from the real-world street view.

And while it may be useful to take advantage of spatial audio AR for lowering distractions, Google is not pursuing that for now.

Considering that Google is putting more practical AR in Maps, Lens, and other apps, it’s possible that the quick-glance focused design may be the trend now. But at the same time, it’s worth noting that AR Maps is still in the development phase and the tech giant is still testing it on Pixel phones with more changes coming.