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Sift can give you walking directions, find places near you, and help you navigate campus — all through a text message. Directions come with tappable Apple Maps links that open right in Maps.

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What You Can Ask

"Where's my next class?"
"How do I get to HUMN 150?"
"Find me a coffee shop nearby"
"How long to walk from ECCR to the rec center?"
"Find a quiet place to study"
"Directions to Folsom Field"

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How It Works

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Directions & Travel Time

Ask Sift how to get somewhere and it responds with:
  • Walking time and distance
  • Step-by-step directions
  • A tappable Apple Maps link that opens directly in Maps
“Where’s my next class?”
Sift checks your calendar, finds your next class with a location, and sends walking directions from where you are now.
“How do I get to HUMN 150?”
Sift resolves campus building codes (HUMN, ECCR, ATLAS, etc.) automatically — just use the code from your schedule.
“How long to walk from ECCR to the library?”
Sift gives you the walking time and a map link with the route.

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Nearby Places

Ask Sift to find places near you — coffee shops, libraries, food, study spots.
“Find me a coffee shop”
Sift returns nearby options with names, ratings, whether they’re open, and directions to each.
“Where can I study nearby?”
Sift searches for libraries, study spaces, and quiet cafes near your current location.

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How Sift Knows Where You Are

Sift uses your calendar as a location signal. If you just finished a class at ECCR, Sift knows you’re near ECCR — no GPS sharing needed. Your class schedule acts as a series of location checkpoints throughout the day. The location priority:
  1. Schedule-inferred — Your most recent class or meeting location
  2. Saved location — The city you set in your profile
For the best experience, make sure your Google Calendar events include locations (most do automatically when synced from Canvas).
When you ask for directions over iMessage, Sift sends an Apple Maps URL that renders as a rich, tappable map card — not just a plain text link. Tap it to open turn-by-turn navigation instantly.

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Travel Modes

Sift defaults to walking (because students walk), but you can ask for other modes: 
"How long to drive to the airport?"
"Transit directions to downtown"
Supported modes: walking, driving, transit.

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Tips

  • Sync your calendar so Sift can infer your location from class schedules
  • Use building codes — “HUMN 150” works just as well as “Humanities Building Room 150”
  • Ask for nearby places when you’re between classes and need a spot
  • Directions work anywhere — not just campus. Ask for directions while traveling too