The basic premise behind most of the smartphone applications that are seen today is that the technology is going to be used in a way that is helpful to the general public. This means that whatever process the application is providing for you is going to help you in some way, whether it is to provide you with shopping lists, fitness tips, organization skills or anything else. The Waze application, set out by Google, naturally seeks to do the same thing and provide you with the help you need when you are on the roads, but there has been some controversy surrounding the app that many people have responded to lately.
The Pros of the Waze Application
Waze is a very popular application from Google and has over 50 million people using the application. The application allows you to use it much in the same way that you would use a GPS device so that you can get directions, but the application does even more, providing you with updates regarding traffic and accidents so that you can avoid certain areas that might have problems when you are on your way to work, school or trying to get home in the evening. The app works on user reporting, so you can also get helpful information about the location of bad potholes you should avoid, where the lowest gas prices on your route may be, what areas might be dealing with construction delays and more. Since information is provided by users of the application the information can be updated in real-time so you can always be aware of what is going on, making it a very useful tool to drivers.
The Controversy over the Waze Application
The controversy surrounding the Waze application mainly stems from its use to point out the location of police officers on roadways and travel routes. While many users may do this as a way to alert others about the possibility of speed traps being set up, police organizations have concerns about the application as they feel it may compromise the overall safety of the police officers. If people know the locations of police officers beforehand it may put the officer at risk during surveillance operations or during the course of an ongoing investigation. There is a fear that officers could be harmed or attack if perpetrators know where they may be ahead of time.
While the concerns of the police departments and organizations may be valid, Google has assured that the application has many positive aspects, including acting as a speed deterrent and getting people to drive more carefully when they know the police are in the area. Controversy and concern may continue to surround the application while it stays maintains the ability for users to cite police locations, but the technology the application provides has proved to be quite popular among users and even local police departments, who are able to use the application to find the quickest routes to respond to emergency situations.