JAPAN has added a map display function to the user-contributed “Minna no Weather” service of the iOS version of its Yahoo!
Minna no Weather is a user-participation type service that allows users to post weather conditions of their location with comments. The service itself has been available for some time, but the new feature added this time allows users to visually check the posted locations on a map.
Weather Project Manager Yasufumi Hirai said that the “rain cloud radar” that the company has been promoting in TV commercials and other media is a very useful service, but in recent years there have been localized rains that the radar cannot catch, and the company has been seeking ways to catch and communicate them with the help of users.
Because the user’s current location is plotted on the map, privacy measures are a concern, such as knowing the location of the contributor’s home, but according to him, he is particular about the way the map is presented, such as making it impossible to zoom in any further than necessary.
He said, “If the weather forecast says it is going to rain, but the area near the destination is sunny, it can lead to a positive decision to go there. The reverse is also true. If the forecast is for sunshine but it is actually raining, the decision to switch the destination to an indoor facility can be made,” he said, introducing how the service can be used in the travel scene. In the future, the company plans to consider using user contributions for services other than weather, such as the blooming of cherry blossoms.
© Source travel watch