Waze, a community GPS app by Google, has joined forces with Headspace to make commuting more enjoyable. The navigation app helps users avoid potholes, heavy traffic, and parades. It also gives directions and helps users get a ride. This is all possible because of a community of users, beta testers, partners, and map editors adding real-time information. Another recent feature Waze launched is being able to create directions on a desktop and then transfer the route to a user's phone. Waze also aims to make navigation fun for the user. For the release of the Halo Infinite video game, the company created Halo-themed content to promote the release. Users could select vehicles from the game for a Halo experience. Last year, Waze celebrated Batman Day by adding the Dark Knight and the Riddler's voices to the app to provide directions.
Headspace has also partnered with numerous companies to bring a better experience for its users and succeed in making the world happier and healthier. For example, the mental health app created an animated meditation guide TV show for Netflix. According to its website, Headspace has also partnered with the NBA, providing "meditation and mental training to all NBA athletes and team employees." Headspace also works with 12 airlines to offer an in-flight channel with meditations.
On Tuesday, Waze announced on its blog a Headspace experience to help users "find more joy and meaning" while commuting. The feature "offers custom navigation prompts from Heaspace’s mindfulness teacher and Director of Meditation, Eve Lewis Prieto." To activate the feature, open the app, go to "My Waze," then click on "Drive with Headspace," and change the settings. Unfortunately, users will only have access to it for a limited time.
Headspace Experience Features
The Headspace experience allows users to choose five moods for their car icon. These include Aware, Open, Bright, Hopeful, and Joyful. The user can also choose to hide their car icon by turning on the Cloud Nine option. Another nifty feature is being able to listen to music. Drivers can click on the music icon to connect to a custom Spotify playlist from Headspace. Users can also listen to the Headspace content via the Waze Audio Player.
According to Prieto, the Waze Headspace experience works by turning the driver's focus to the journey and letting go of emotions. It works similar to meditation exercises by training the brain to be more open and curious. As a result, the experience will help the driver enjoy the ride more. Hopefully, this will be especially helpful to those commuting and may work to change their perspective on the daily drive.
Source: Headspace 1, 2, Waze