After years of kicking and screaming against incorporating location capabilities into phones — even being fined by the government for non-compliance — cellular operators in the United States finally have begun to offer it. In many countries around the world, GPS has been a major service for years.
Location technologies — GPS, cellular triangulation, WiFi presence — will offer fascinating new and useful services for consumers and businesses. But location also presents scary challenges that aren’t going to go away.
I wrote about the present and future development of cellular location technologies — their advantages and challenges — in my recent weekly mobile communications column in “Thinkernet” on CMP’s “Internet Evolution” Web site (see below). Location will be one of the major controversial technologies of our time.
Help for directionally challenged, Big Brother
I have no sense of direction, so the more location help I get, the better. One new Nokia phone, that I discuss in the column, will make it much easier for me to find where I’m walking.
But shades of Big Brother (and “Minority Report”-like targeted advertising) also are present in these new location technologies. Our concept of personal privacy is changing, especially for kids. And it might not be for the best.
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