Google Maps Color Scheme Changes Lower User Criticism

JAKARTA - Millions of people around the world rely on the Google Maps app as the main navigation guide. But users may be surprised by the unusual changes in recent days. Google has started rolling out a new app color scheme - and many users don't like the new color choices.

Now, the streets are shown in gray rather than white or yellow, while the active route becomes darker blue, and the alternative route becomes light blue than gray.

On social media, some users criticize this change because it is difficult to read and not attractive, with some users calling the new color 'cold and bad'.

Eye experts have also expressed concern that a fainter color palette will make the map difficult to read for people suffering from color blindness.

On social media platforms, users of X (formerly Twitter) many users expressed their confusion and disapproval of the decision to change the iconic color scheme of this application.

"Has someone changed the Google Maps color scheme?" asked a confused user X, adding, "I don't like it."

"The new color of Google Maps is so cold and ugly," said one commentator, adding, "Google Maps always feels warm and comfortable."

Another user channeled his disappointment, "What happened to the strange color scheme in Google Maps default mode? Please return the original color scheme."

Meanwhile, other social media users show that these changes have brought unusual and undesirable color changes to natural features such as beaches and water.

One user X shared a Blackpool Beach image, writing, "The new Google Maps color for'shores!' is this gray is what is strange."

Another user shared an image of a New York map complaining that the changes had reduced the contrast between water and land.

"Why do they do this to Google Maps," they wrote. "Why do they change the color of the water."

While these changes are considered unattractive, these changes can make it difficult for users to be color blind using this app, according to Robin Spinks, head of design for the Royal National Institute for Blind People.

"We know there are reports of people having problems with this update," Mr. Spinks told MailOnline. "We are aware of this problem and have spoken to relevant teams [on Google]."

Spinks also shows that it is not uncommon for new updates to create accidental accessibility problems for people with visual problems that need to be fixed later.

In particular, people with color vision problems are affected by design trends that support "emoque color schemes or milk with low levels of contrast."

"This is a ongoing challenge to promote inclusive design at every stage of the development process," he added.

Similarly, Kathryn Albany-Ward, founder of Color Blind Awareness, told MailOnline: "Honestly, previously Google Maps was inaccessible to color blind people, and whatever they do still makes Maps inaccessible.

"Given that there are 300 million color blind people worldwide, many people are discriminatory because they cannot understand the important features of the product. The color of the traffic feature is useless and still useless," said Albany-Ward.

"Google has not yet complied (or even tried to comply) internationally recognized standards for web-based information. This guide states that the minimum color contrast ratio between different colors should be applied or if it is impossible to achieve this, information should be provided in other ways," Albany-Ward added.

This update was first seen in August, although it was initially limited to limited trials. Since then, users have started to see changes since September, but these changes will now be rolled out to more Android and iOS devices.

Google believes that this update makes maps easier to use and understand, and has made these changes based on research and user feedback. The development of this new color scheme follows tests that include filter creation to simulate various forms of color blindness.

Google believes that this new color feature meets the ratio of contrasts needed and can be distinguished easily even by those who have color vision problems.