Driving or walking?

Insights

• Context Shifting is the cost of switching between tasks. Google Maps predicts if you’ll walk or drive, so users don’t have to change modes, which cuts friction and boosts feature usage.

• Cognitive Load is the mental effort to complete a task. By defaulting to the likely travel mode, Google Maps reduces choices, so users can start routes faster and with less stress.

• Forcing users to make a choice when they have incomplete information shows that defaults can feel safer if explained. Google Maps’ smart defaults mean users don’t need to guess which mode fits, so they feel confident to proceed.

• Apple Maps requires users to pick their route type, even for obvious trips. Google Maps removes this step by predicting context, so users get going quicker and with fewer taps.

• Uber Eats highlights the current delivery method based on order type. Both Google Maps and Uber Eats use context to set smart defaults, so users act faster and with less confusion.