February 12, 2005
Location-based SMS
Virtual Post-Its
The German company Siemens, in collaboration with the Ars Electronica Center and the University of Linz, in Austria, is developing a new software called Digital Graffito that delivers location-based mobile messages. According to the new Siemens' press release (Feb. 02, 2005), the messages work as virtual post-its, that is, they are SMS attached to specific places. "When the recipient reaches the defined point, the message appears on his or her display. Unlike the classic SMS, the message is not sent to the addressee as such, but is only activated when the addressee comes within a defined radius of the location specified for the graffito. Another difference is that, if required, the message can be read not only by one person, but also by a number of cell phone users -- like a real graffito plastered on a building wall". One of the foreseeable applications for the software include tourism: tourists visiting a place could receive messages on their cell phones depending on where they are, and where they are looking at. It's like bringing the idea of the museum guided tour to public spaces. Although the software commercial release is only planned for 2 years from now, that's perhaps a sign of how location-based applications may be embedded in the ludic side of our lives in the near future -- besides location-based games. [Posted by Adriana de Souza e Silva]
Posted by at February 12, 2005 05:33 PM
