Locate Your Family Members Using Their Phones

J.R. Raphael notes that Google is rolling out a service to locate family members . He also provides information on enrolling your family, and documentation on managing a family program.

-DD

Geofencing

Sarah White explains in this video the concepts behind geofencing , and explains that its use requires that location services must be enabled on the user's device.

-DD

Google's New Location Restrictions

Fili Weise suggests that Google's location restriction on search results may be due to legal pressure, such as "Right to Be Forgotten" laws in some nations.

-DD

Software and Hardware Beacons

Galen Gruman developed a slideshow to illustrate the use of physical beacon devices for tracking user location.

An earlier usage of the term "beacon" is applied to images downloaded from (and tracked by) a Web server. Bruno Skvorc reviews software beacon technology , and Melissa Aparico demonstrates a consumer mail-tracking application which utilizes software tracking beacons.

-DD

 

iBeacon's Potential for Locating Individuals

Mike Elgan forecasts that Apple's iBeacon (a brand name of the Bluetooth "Low Energy" (BLE) standard) will have a disruptive effect on the mobile market.

Comments responding to Elgan note that Android phone makers have invested heavily in Near Field Communication devices that offer an expanded list of features. Others did not want the option to be tracked to the inch and to receive targeted ads as they enter each store.

-DD

 

Location Data and Personal Privacy

Mike Elgan has recently penned several articles about the ramifications of updating search tools with your person location. His article on Foursquare indicates that discounts and social pressure will compel most people to share where they are at any given time. His earlier article on Google Buzz provides examples of the potential for misuse of this information.

In a similar vein, columnist Preston Gralla reviewed the location information Apple collects from users of iPhones and iPads.

-D.D.