Using Location-Based Services to Make Your Life Easier

Image courtesy of 2Tales at Flickr.com

Today’s apps are all about making our lives easier. You can find apps to do, find or make almost anything. But one of the most popular ones lately have been those that interact depending on your location. Location-based services have been around for a while now, since its origins in 1989 when the first research began that lead to the location-based services that we know today, it has been groundbreaking tech that has allowed people to know exactly where they are located at any given moment. There are many different types of location-based services that are used in the various apps depending on their uses. Although the most known one is GPS, there are other ones that also just as effective. Location-based services can vary from recommending events in a city or knowing what services are nearby to receiving advertisements based on your location. Many apps also use this system to send their customers alerts when they are nearby or if there is important news about surrounding events. The uses can vary greatly, and the reality is that companies are finding more and more ways of using this service to make apps, services and products that can use it to their advantage. We know the internet has changed the game in many aspects from how the Internet of Things has changed how cities work to location-based services, and many other technological advances, which you can always read about on the Don Burns Blogspot page.

First of all, let’s analyze how your phone knows where you are in the first place. The first and most known is GPS, or Global Positions System. This system has been around since the 1990s as an integrated part of cellphones and to this date it is still the best way to know your location when you are outdoors. Since GPS works with satellites, and only once it has connected to three or four will it give you an exact location. In many cases this may take too long, or may simply not happen due to the fact that you are indoors or in the middle of the city where buildings interrupt your satellite signals. In these cases, you could use Assisted GPS. This is basically just a series of tools that are set up to help you get a GPS signal. Although nowadays the same location data can be sent over cellular or Wi-Fi networks, so it becomes a lot faster for the GPS to start up. Assisted GPS still requires data network and time, while it transmits the information to the satellite. Another way is using Synthetic GPS, which uses computing power and forecasts where the satellites will be located days or even weeks in advance. By having this information at hand, a phone can identify its own location in a matter of seconds. All of the above mentioned need at least three satellites to give you your location. Another way of doing it without relying on GPS is to use Cell ID. A phone company can figure out the cell that someone is using and how far they are from other cells. Basically it can use nearby cell towers to pinpoint a person’s location, and is much more precise in urban areas than rural due to the amount of cell phone towers in the area. In the same way, Wi-Fi can also pinpoint a location without the need of GPS. With Wi-Fi you could either use RSSI (received signal strength indication), which is the most common, makes use of your signal strength and the information provided from the Wi-Fi networks’ database to determine your location. The other way to use Wi-Fi is wireless fingerprinting. It basically uses stored information that offers profiles on given locations. You can use this the best when you are located in places that you go to often. This way the fingerprint can be taken and your location can be found very easily. Even though there are more, these are the most popular ways to find your location from your phone.

Image courtesy of slgckgc at Flickr.com

Now, location-based services are used in tons of different types of products, services and apps. So let’s take a look at a few of the most popular ones. Of course, you’ll find social media at the top of the list with apps like Foursquare, GetGlue, Facebook Places and Instagram, just to mention a few. These basically let you share your location with others and let them know where you are and what you are up to. If you’re into shopping, then you’ll love apps like Groupon and Shopkick that will point you in the right direction to get the best offers depending on where you are. If you’d rather get instant information on restaurants or a good movie to watch you’ll really enjoy Open Table, Fandango and Yelp. By checking in at a location and sharing your thoughts on it, your helping other users make up their mind about what they want to do. Finally, location-based services also let you get fit, by including it in wearable tech it can keep track of the distances, speed and other metrics that can help you get into shape in no time.