However, crowdsourced contributions to Google Maps were not discontinued as the company announced those features would be transferred to the Google Local Guides program. Google Map Maker allowed users to collaboratively expand and update the service's mapping worldwide but was discontinued from March 2017. Google Maps offers an API that allows maps to be embedded on third-party websites, and offers a locator for businesses and other organizations in numerous countries around the world. The service's front end utilizes JavaScript, XML, and Ajax. After additional acquisitions of a geospatial data visualization company and a real-time traffic analyzer, Google Maps was launched in February 2005. In October 2004, the company was acquired by Google, which converted it into a web application. Google Maps began as a C++ desktop program developed by brothers Lars and Jens Rasmussen at Where 2 Technologies.

As of 2020, Google Maps was being used by over 1 billion people every month around the world.

It offers satellite imagery, aerial photography, street maps, 360° interactive panoramic views of streets ( Street View), real-time traffic conditions, and route planning for traveling by foot, car, bike, air (in beta) and public transportation. Google Maps is a web mapping platform and consumer application offered by Google. that in a reciprocal way led to the further development of the brain and also gave the hand “the high degree of perfection required to conjure into being the pictures of a Raphael, the statues of a Thorwaldsen, the music of a Paganini”.C++ (back-end), JavaScript, XML, Ajax (UI) The developed brain gave man enhanced ability for abstraction, reflection, introspection and communication etc. The development of the dexterity and the manipulating skills of the hand necessitated the revolutionary development of the brain and with it, speech. The final act through which man forever separated himself from the animal kingdom and towards more freedom was the mastery over one of the forces of Nature, namely heat (fire).

The most decisive factor in the evolution of this subjective “being” came with the bipedal (erect) stature in man, which made his hands free (a giant leap towards freedom) for further subjective acts and developments that enhanced both his “being” and his “knowing”.

Google earthview shot from space