OddThoughts

I had this interesting idea. Wouldn’t it be nice, if my cellphone knew my location and could respond accordingly.

So I was hacking around with some bluetooth settings and stuff, so then when I arrive at
work, or at home, my computers recognize my presence and run various interesting little scripts.

I then further postulated, what an interesting idea this would combined with other locations. Stores could
have software with bluetooth keys, or using the phone’s internal GPS to tell the phone it’s location and respond accordingly.

Now, I just heard all about this today on TWIT 151, basically discussing the exact same idea ! I see a lot of potential.

Concept:

A simple java J2ME App that would execute various scripts/send SMS/update your twitter, or send your reminders based on the phone’s location.

Basically, the app would have 2 modes. (MAP MODE, and SCAN MODE).

MAP MODE:

Functions: Load a MAP, Save a MAP, Create an Entry

Create an Entry -> An Entry is a grid (basic shape co-ordinates, squares or
rectangle). You enter the GPS co-ordinates of area) and define a custom
name \”Eg: The Mall\”. If you don’t know the GPS co-ordinates, you could
simply walk to the corners of the area and click ‘get sample’ which
would grab the co-ordinates from the GPS and input them automatically.

Entry would contain 2  scripts which would execute, “ON_ENTER” and “ON_EXIT”.
These would be run when the phone enters and leaves the grid area respectively while in SCAN MODE.

Load A MAP/Save a MAP -> Simply saves the map location, names, and execution scripts to a file
(probably XML File). The idea would be people could upload these maps or send them to one other to share their areas with others.

SCAN MODE:

Scan mode mode would be pretty simple. A background process, would
periodically (say every 2-3 minutes) get the GPS location, and compare
to each item in the grid of maps stored on the mobile device. When the
phone moves into one or more of the grids, the ON scripts is executed,
and when it leaves the GRIDS the off script is execulted.

Possible Uses:

1) Could be implemented with your TASK list. So if you have an item “Pick
up milk” you would get a reminder when you arrive at the store

2) Smart Devices: When you arrive at home, your computer could log you in, or send a twitter message. When you at work, it could start your messenger etc.

3) Location based advertising: Your device could get “advert” reminders when you arrive in a location. Good for
advertisers, maybe bad for cell phone users. UNLESS perhaps this makes the cell phone usage cheaper to recieve adverts !

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