Communication In Context

from the useful-location-based-services dept

While most talk of location based services these days focuses on how it can be used to either spy on people or send them annoying "local" advertisements as they pass the nearest mall, the BBC is now running article talking about some of the more positive possibilities of putting communication in "context". For example, if you know someone is in their car driving, you might not want to call them, and might prefer to leave them a voicemail instead. This, of course, is what used to be called "presence" information - but which has gotten a bad name in some places. The same questions apply though: who do you reveal this information to and how? Do you want everyone to know you're out driving? Will you really tell your mobile phone that you're in the car - or will it be able to figure that out itself? There clearly are some possibilities here - but it needs to be both highly customizable and intuitive - two things that don't always go together well. I still think we're a ways off from really useful services of this nature, but it will be interesting to watch the space.

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