The Interactive Web Maps We Make Everyday

Written by Mike Holscher

So I was checking out the sidebar menu in Google Maps the other day and came across “Your
Timeline.” Now we all know that both Apple and Google track the Hell out of everything we do
with our electronic devices, but this is very interesting. We all signed up to learn how to make
relevant interactive maps and Google Maps now does this for us for free. The interactive maps
of our “Lives”

“Your Timeline” can be accessed in either the desktop, tablet or smartphone app. It in in the
menu tab. This timeline allows you to see your history by day, month, year and “all time” with a
simple click/swipe.

​This image shows general activities for “My Month of March 2016.” Each of the icons on the
screen are “clickable.” As you can see I was at a fair number of pubs that month and I made a
business trip to Southern Oregon. When you click on the suitcase icon, a path of my trip is
mapped out with the hotel I stayed at and all the places I stopped for a certain duration of time.

In this screenshot, you can see “My May 9th” where I traveled to Gabriel Park to GPS map my
class project, stopped at Fred Meyer on the way home and traveled to Newberg for pizza
dinner. The route is erratic, so Google appears to periodically check in.

In this screenshot, you can see how Google tracks “My 4 hours at Gabriel Park” (again very
erratic). I took photos for reference to my Web Mapping project and they are detailed in the
information column to the left of the map. This all shows the date and time of all my actions

In the past I have used my GPS locater on my phone infrequently. Only in the past year have I
left it on all the time, so my interactive map history is limited. Seeing how all this information is
collected and stored, I now understand why other companies are creating their own maps
(Apple) so they can have direct (free) access to Iphone users instead of paying Google for it. If
you think of all the free stuff you can access on the internet, this data collection is sort of a user
fee. I now know why my phone asks if I am interested in travel times to PCC Sylvania on school
days and my favorite pub on non­school days. It knows my business.

“I have nothing to hide” is the general comment people say to this personal data collection. But
be careful if you do; a boyfriend/girlfriend can see more than a mystery text or phone number if
they are insecure snoopers. And if you use a company phone? The boss is watching. However,
if necessary, you can simply use the three dots on any “day” screen and choose the delete day
option or see below on how to manage Your Timeline in more detail.

Like all things Google, you build these maps but you can’t export the data and the only way to
share your maps is to leave your phone unlocked and accessible to anyone. I am not a
conspiracy theorist, but know​ the interactive maps you are building. And stay safe out there.

This obviously works on your personal google account.
https://www.google.com/maps/timeline

Here is how to delete your timeline.
Delete all of or part of your Location History
1. Open the Google Maps app .
2. Tap the Menu > Your timeline .
3. Tap More > Timeline settings.
4. Under "Location settings," choose Delete Location History range or Delete all
Location History.

For more details and management information see:
What you need to know about your location history timeline
http://www.greenbot.com/article/2954979/google­apps/what­you­need­to­know­about­your­locati
on­history­timeline.html