Waze: User-Generated Application

As our readings and lectures have begun to shift towards talking about social media and the introduction of user-created content within society, I thought another interesting example to mention, other than popular social media sites, is a mobile application called Waze. Waze is a GPS/map app for your phone that offers different features than the average Google Maps and iPhone Map applications. Waze, similar to Uber and Airbnb is operated mainly by users, but in a phone application format. As we enter the new spirit of capitalism, we have learned that boundaries between production and consumption no longer apply, and that knowledge pooling is imperative within society.

Waze performs the expected functions of a navigation app, but with the new popularity of user input, is able to take the concept of a navigation application one step further, allowing it to differentiate itself from competition and gain popularity in the market. Thanks to user-generated content, the app is able to report traffic, crashes, and vehicles stopped on shoulders. It then reroute users to traffic-free routes, allowing them to reach their destination quicker, and happier. The app even reports police radar. Road alerts are updated live as users input them. After one user has reported an incident, other users can confirm the incidents as they pass by, or confirm that everything has cleared up. Users also have the ability to edit the map so that there is never any need for large updates when there are road changes and additions as there is with the traditional GPS devices.

I have attached a video below that gives more information about the application in greater detail. I use it myself, and have found it to be much more effective then other non-user generated navigation applications. I definitely recommend you download it! The application supports the new spirit of capitalism, as it utilizes the pooling of knowledge and information from users in order to operate successfully. Additionally, the users producing the content are also using the application to gain traffic information.

What are some other user-generated applications you have used or heard about? Why are they more or less effective than traditional non-user generated applications? What are the implications of user-generated applications? How can they be overcome?