In a blog response to Google’s entry into the crowdsource traffic space, Waze makes it clear that their crowd-sourcing service relies on “active participation” from wazers. Google uses the crowdsource term to reference the fact that they get speed and location data passively – basically using zombie smartphones running Google Maps as data points. With Waze’s fleet of active participants, users help the community by “editing the map, reporting events, adding pictures and text, sharing their GPS points, validating traffic, testing new releases, giving us feedback.
Waze looking to beat Google with active crowdsourcing