Google has launched Open Spot, a new app aimed at helping “driving users” to find and share parking spots.

How does it work? It is very easy: users update a map when they are leaving their parking spots, thus enabling other drivers who are looking for a parking spot in the same area to quickly find one.

You just need to use your phone. The app pulls up a Google map close to the user’s location and displays open parking spots within an area of 1.5km/0.9 mile radius. You could signal as available your parking spot when you are leaving… And when you are hopelessly looking for a spot to get to the shopping mall before the closing or to be on time with your dentist… you can hope that available spots have been signaled in the map by other users!

Spots are differently colored according to how much time has passed since they have been signaled…  You could thereby choose the “fresher” one. However, after twenty minutes they disappear off the map. Indeed, it was already suggested that the system would be even more helpful if there was a way for users to confirm that they have “taken” a spot.

Open Spot is a great idea: a system relying on cooperation to save time and avoiding stress of driving users. It also has a great environmental value as it could help in saving gas and thus reducing pollution.

The only problem is that the contribution of this app to improve the parking process within an area would be really effective only whether the system will gain widespread adoption. Otherwise, if you’re one of the only person in the area who uses the app, it will likely be useless.

Let’s start to download the app and try it.. Then we could convince others to join it!

Related articles

• Google Launches App to Help You Find Open Parking (http://mashable.com)

• Google Labs launches Android app for finding open parking spots (openspot.googlelabs.com)

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• Use Google’s Open Spot Android App To Find Parking Spots [Androidapps] (gizmodo.com)
• Open Spot Finds and Shares Free Parking Spaces [Download] (lifehacker.com)
• Google Open Spot (timesunion.com)
• Open Spot app helps Android users find parking (reviews.cnet.com)

The event will be held on the 6th May 2010, at 5 o’clock p.m. in Aula 3 of Bocconi University – Via Sarfatti, 25, ground floor.

The contribution of the author, Dr. Enzo Gargante, will be followed by a round table and a discussion foreseeing the participation of representatives from the academic world as well as from companies as FIAT, ENEL, AMA (Agenzia Milanese Mobilità Ambiente).

Programme and registration form for the event are available at the following link.

AMA – the city mobility agency
Egea
Research Center CERTeT (Centro di Economia Regionale, dei Trasporti e del Turismo)
Master MEMIT (Master in Economia e management dei trasporti, della logistica e delle infrastrutture)