How does Waze work?
Discussion
Been using it for the same route to work for six weeks, just because of random road closures etc.
Yesterday I used my intuition to go a very different route, which turned out 5% quicker (Waze continuously rerouting).
Today, Waze agrees with my new route and directs me the same way as yesterday.
Seems kind of…. Dumb.
I’m pleased that it “learnt” from me but surely it should be cleverer than that and be able to use it’s database to have worked out the best route six weeks ago?
Yesterday I used my intuition to go a very different route, which turned out 5% quicker (Waze continuously rerouting).
Today, Waze agrees with my new route and directs me the same way as yesterday.
Seems kind of…. Dumb.
I’m pleased that it “learnt” from me but surely it should be cleverer than that and be able to use it’s database to have worked out the best route six weeks ago?
If no one else has used the same route and found that it is faster then it won't have learned until you did it. Waze isn't as clever as you think.
I'm not sure how popular Waze is now given Google Maps has absorbed quite a lot of its features. The fewer people that use it the less useful it is going to be.
I'm not sure how popular Waze is now given Google Maps has absorbed quite a lot of its features. The fewer people that use it the less useful it is going to be.
I wonder if Naintic Labs still have to ask people not to falsly update Waze every time they bring out a new game. Happened both with Ingres and Pokemon Go, especially the latter as their games do (or at least did) use Waze for the underlying maps. Need to catch a grass Pokemon but live in a desert area - oh look a meadow has just appeared on the map.... Reality in the UK was footpaths were being moved.
I suspect that the problem with all algorithms using GPS is that they tend to start by drawing an imaginary vector from the start point to finish and then select the quickest route following in that general direction.
So they tend to ignore the possibility of firstly heading in the opposite direction to get on a ring road and bypass traffic. This effect is much worse in city centres than it is driving long distance. In my locality, Waze has never learned from my choices. My 2006 GPS was a Blaupunkt unit, its algorithm was to get you on a trunk road, no matter how much further you needed to travel to achieve that. Artificial Intelligence is an oxymoron. SatNavs are only as intelligent as the guy who did the programming.
However as an aid to driving solo, they are pretty indispensable.
So they tend to ignore the possibility of firstly heading in the opposite direction to get on a ring road and bypass traffic. This effect is much worse in city centres than it is driving long distance. In my locality, Waze has never learned from my choices. My 2006 GPS was a Blaupunkt unit, its algorithm was to get you on a trunk road, no matter how much further you needed to travel to achieve that. Artificial Intelligence is an oxymoron. SatNavs are only as intelligent as the guy who did the programming.
However as an aid to driving solo, they are pretty indispensable.
Brainpox said:
If no one else has used the same route and found that it is faster then it won't have learned until you did it. Waze isn't as clever as you think.
I'm not sure how popular Waze is now given Google Maps has absorbed quite a lot of its features. The fewer people that use it the less useful it is going to be.
Missus uses Maps, I use Waze. Recently they hid the speedo on Maps you can turn it back on but it doesn't always seems to work anymore. I'm not sure how popular Waze is now given Google Maps has absorbed quite a lot of its features. The fewer people that use it the less useful it is going to be.
Prefer the UI on Waze as well.
Quite often Waze sends me off in the opposite direction from work if it deems it quicker.
I find it's best if you trust it, not second guess it.
Once 5am on a Sunday morning it was telling me to divert off the A3 in Surrey and take the M25 for my usual A3 all the way commute.
I thought, how ridiculous, and ignored it.
Got to near Tolworth and the A3 was closed.
It knew yet there were no signs of warning.
I find it's best if you trust it, not second guess it.
Once 5am on a Sunday morning it was telling me to divert off the A3 in Surrey and take the M25 for my usual A3 all the way commute.
I thought, how ridiculous, and ignored it.
Got to near Tolworth and the A3 was closed.
It knew yet there were no signs of warning.
rdjohn said:
I suspect that the problem with all algorithms using GPS is that they tend to start by drawing an imaginary vector from the start point to finish and then select the quickest route following in that general direction.
So they tend to ignore the possibility of firstly heading in the opposite direction to get on a ring road and bypass traffic. This effect is much worse in city centres than it is driving long distance. In my locality, Waze has never learned from my choices. My 2006 GPS was a Blaupunkt unit, its algorithm was to get you on a trunk road, no matter how much further you needed to travel to achieve that. Artificial Intelligence is an oxymoron. SatNavs are only as intelligent as the guy who did the programming.
However as an aid to driving solo, they are pretty indispensable.
That is not how they work. They work by having a network of junctions and connections between them and then checking the cost of different sequences of connections. The direction is not really applicable, just the cost for each connection, which is basically distance * average speed.So they tend to ignore the possibility of firstly heading in the opposite direction to get on a ring road and bypass traffic. This effect is much worse in city centres than it is driving long distance. In my locality, Waze has never learned from my choices. My 2006 GPS was a Blaupunkt unit, its algorithm was to get you on a trunk road, no matter how much further you needed to travel to achieve that. Artificial Intelligence is an oxymoron. SatNavs are only as intelligent as the guy who did the programming.
However as an aid to driving solo, they are pretty indispensable.
You tend to run into issues when the speed estimates are off, such as when congestion is changing rapidly.
AyBee said:
Always use Waze here, get annoyed by the number of muppets who don't understand the difference between highways agency and police though. I must get down-marked so often for saying there are no police when others are flagging the highways officers as police 
Yes !!!Use Waze most Days
Only thing I find a bit annoying is it will try to send you through Housing Estates with Speed Humps to save a Minute or Two.
dapprman said:
I wonder if Naintic Labs still have to ask people not to falsly update Waze every time they bring out a new game. Happened both with Ingres and Pokemon Go, especially the latter as their games do (or at least did) use Waze for the underlying maps. Need to catch a grass Pokemon but live in a desert area - oh look a meadow has just appeared on the map.... Reality in the UK was footpaths were being moved.
Niantic have used OSM maps for quite a few years now, not sure what Waze use but being owned by Google you would think it would use there maps.LeadFarmer said:
When receiving a warning of say police, traffic etc, how many users will it take to submit that warning before Waze accept it and notify others? Surely they need corroboration by a few users incase someone has submitted it by mistake?
Just 1. Submit a report of something and you'll see it pop up immediately. For something like an accident, vehicle stopped etc the report will stay up longer if people 'like' it or don't hit the 'not there' button. Interesting thread. I use waze and maps. In London where I live, Waze comes up with better congestion dodging routes than Google Maps, which seems to have a mich stronger default to main roads and only goes off-piste when it gets v busy.
Much prefer the Google UI however. Waze looks ancient now.
As others have said, wonder how long waze will stay useful under Google's auspices.
Much prefer the Google UI however. Waze looks ancient now.
As others have said, wonder how long waze will stay useful under Google's auspices.
Points for speeding 4 years ago were gained the only time I didn't have Waze on. Turned it on soon after passing the camera van and sure enough there were already 4 reports of police.
I am an ex courier, motorbike and van, and know London well but I always have Waze on to help with congestion and keeping an eye on the ever changing speed limits.
I am an ex courier, motorbike and van, and know London well but I always have Waze on to help with congestion and keeping an eye on the ever changing speed limits.
I use Waze but may try Google maps. Does it work though Apple CarPlay?
Last week I tried the bmw sat nav in 2020 3 series as I wanted to see the route in the head up display. The system tried hard to get me fined for going through probably recently introduced no entry roads in East London.
Last week I tried the bmw sat nav in 2020 3 series as I wanted to see the route in the head up display. The system tried hard to get me fined for going through probably recently introduced no entry roads in East London.
AyBee said:
Always use Waze here, get annoyed by the number of muppets who don't understand the difference between highways agency and police though. I must get down-marked so often for saying there are no police when others are flagging the highways officers as police
Ha! Not just me then 
Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff