Mobile presence
by johnThere is a lot going on in the mobile space right now. Android and the iPhone have started something, a market wave, which a lot of companies plan on riding to the top. Many have recognized that one of the first big mobile apps will be presence awareness, and as a result, there are a number of startups diving into that space.
What is presence awareness? The idea is that when you walk into a room, your phone will know who is around you. Several companies are excited by the idea of browsing the profiles of other users near you. This provides a new way to meet people and break the ice, there is also a way to apply the platform to dating. Almost every mobile presence company we have seen so far is taking this basic idea in a different direction. Of course, our application is also unique, and for various reasons we think our approach is the best. Stay tuned for the specifics.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
The very first episode of Star Trek The Next Generation demonstrated presence awareness.
http://www.twiztv.com/scripts/nextgeneration/season1/tng-101.txt
130 INT. HOLODECK CORRIDOR
Riker moving as if seeking someone. He intercepts a
YOUNG ENSIGN who is passing and the junior officer sees
Riker’s emblem of rank and snaps to attention.
RIKER
Ensign, can you help me find
Commander Data? I was told he’s
somewhere on this deck.
YOUNG ENSIGN
This way, sir.
131 ANGLE AT CORRIDOR WALL
As the Ensign steps to a black surface of the corridor
wall.
YOUNG ENSIGN
You must be new to these galaxy
class starships, sir.
(puts hand on the black
surface, saying)
Tell me the location of Commander
Data.
At the touch and the words “Tell me” the black surface
comes alive with light patterns showing appropriate
information.
COMPUTER VOICE
Lieutenant Commander Data… now
located in Holodeck area 4-J.
YOUNG ENSIGN
(indicating readout)
And as you see, sir, it’s pointing
you that way.
RIKER
Go that way? How far?
YOUNG ENSIGN
(smiles)
You’ll know, sir.
Riker AD LIBS a thanks, goes in the indicated direction.
June 6th, 2008 at 4:44 am
Whatz up, what made you want to write on Mobile presence? I was wondering, because I have been thinking about this since last Friday.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
We started thinking about mobile presence awareness last year. The mobile industry has been heating up, and devices are now great media platforms. We realized that the phones could no longer be viewed as dumb tools used to get a job done; they must become aware of their environment to give the user more information about their community. To let phones take on this active role in a users life, mobile presence is one of the things you need.