Google, American multinational
tech giant, has introduced Nigerian accent to the assistant on its web mapping
service in its quest for localization.
The feature, which was unveiled
in Lagos at the Google for Nigeria event, comes alongside the introduction of
some other services. It also represents the first attempt by the tech company
to offer such services in Africa.
The search engine also unveiled
new Street View imagery, Gallery Go, Google Go updates, Google Lens and Bolo,
and a Nigerian culinary experience from Google Arts and Culture.
Following this development,
commuters going through Nigeria can now choose to hear travel advice on Google
Map in a local accent/voice.
More detailed transport features
for motorcycle riders have also been introduced, the availability of which
would commence with Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic, Rwanda, and Uganda.
Speaking at the event, Jeff
Albertson, a Google senior product manager who worked on the development, said
the company partnered with an indigenous firm to gather data.
“What we’re really hoping is for
people who might be making a trip to an unfamiliar town, maybe a journey they
don’t usually take, to be able to discover the info they need to make that
journey,” he said.
There are indications that the
map would also include details pertaining to the expected freight, travel
duration and images of bus stops to help guide both private and commercial
commuters.
This includes details on
“informal transit” routes which would allow users to play virtually every known
road like commercial minibuses travelling local neighbourhoods do.
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