35 ways to find your location Chris Heathcote Product experience manager Orange SA O’Reilly Emerging Technology Conference February 9-12, 2004

why am I here? in 10 years' time, there will be no concept of lost There will come an age in the far-off years When Ocean shall unloose the bonds of things, When the whole broad earth shall be revealed Seneca

in 10 years' time,

there will be

no concept of lost

There will come an age in the far-off years When Ocean shall unloose the bonds of things, When the whole broad earth shall be revealed Seneca

where have we come from? the stars, the sun reading nature - birds, vegetation, wind direction, ocean swells (Polynesians) follow a path or coast the compass the almanac the astrolabe the sextant accurate clocks the map local knowledge (bushcraft)

the stars, the sun

reading nature - birds, vegetation, wind direction, ocean swells (Polynesians)

follow a path or coast

the compass

the almanac

the astrolabe

the sextant

accurate clocks

the map

local knowledge (bushcraft)

no magic bullet GPS is not the solution don't just throw technology at the problem appreciate the toolbox match needs to methods for you and your users

GPS is not the solution

don't just throw technology at the problem

appreciate the toolbox

match needs to methods for you and your users

measures accuracy availability reliability / trust output useful to humans output useful to computers requirements for conversion (extra enablers needed) acquire or refine?

accuracy

availability

reliability / trust

output useful to humans

output useful to computers

requirements for conversion (extra enablers needed)

acquire or refine?

good enough what is good enough for your users? how much benefit will they get? what will it cost them? - time, money, frustration most current consumer applications - 20-50m

what is good enough for your users?

how much benefit will they get?

what will it cost them? - time, money, frustration

most current consumer applications - 20-50m

0. assume: The Earth EARTH PIC accuracy: ~510 square Megametres availability: until we conquer space requirements: belief in a spherical Earth best for: acquiring

EARTH PIC

accuracy: ~510 square Megametres

availability: until we conquer space

requirements: belief in a spherical Earth

best for: acquiring

the time (light, dark, timezones) mainly relative position of people "It's 3 pm here” "It's 7 am here” easiest to use when moving long distances (these days) accuracy: 1000 miles (E-W) n/a (N-S) availability: clocks requirements: UTC best for: seafaring, conf calls

the time

(light, dark, timezones)

mainly relative position of people

"It's 3 pm here”

"It's 7 am here”

easiest to use when moving long distances

(these days)

accuracy: 1000 miles (E-W) n/a (N-S)

availability: clocks

requirements: UTC

best for: seafaring, conf calls

2-7. cultural clues which cell phone operators available? which wi-fi providers? phonebox operators? phone number syntax? newspapers available? language being spoken? accuracy: 1000 - 100,000 miles availability: civilisations requirements: up-to-date list of providers/information best for: acquiring

which cell phone operators available?

which wi-fi providers?

phonebox operators?

phone number syntax?

newspapers available?

language being spoken?

accuracy: 1000 - 100,000 miles

availability: civilisations

requirements: up-to-date list of providers/information

best for: acquiring

8. ask someone POLICEMAN PIC accuracy: 10 metres ........ availability: civilisations requirements: someone who knows where they are, social interaction, a common language best for: refining

POLICEMAN PIC

accuracy: 10 metres ........

availability: civilisations

requirements: someone who knows where they are, social interaction, a common language

best for: refining

9. use a map maps tell stories have to have a map that tells your story high cognitive load - getting orientation or locating on a map accuracy: 10 metres - 1 mile availability: from any good bookstore (good for civilisations) requirements: geolocated mapping best for: refining

maps tell stories

have to have a map that tells your story

high cognitive load - getting orientation or locating on a map

accuracy: 10 metres - 1 mile

availability: from any good bookstore (good for civilisations)

requirements: geolocated mapping

best for: refining

mobile phone location mainly available through network operators methods often made invisible to the user and the requester just different accuracy

mainly available through network operators

methods often made invisible to the user and the requester

just different accuracy

10. cell ID network reports which cell you are using not always connected to nearest cell can appear to move as you roam from cell to cell Timing Advance http://sitefinder.radio.gov.uk accuracy: 50 metres - 2 miles availability: cell coverage requirements: network hooks best for: acquiring

network reports which cell you are using

not always connected to nearest cell

can appear to move as you roam from cell to cell

Timing Advance

http://sitefinder.radio.gov.uk

accuracy: 50 metres - 2 miles

availability: cell coverage

requirements: network hooks

best for: acquiring

11. cell ID (local lookup) extract cell ID from phone radio stack can be used for context (home, work) cell IDs reported may not correspond to available data proprietary information needed for real geopositioning (or lots of collaborative mapping) out-of-date / inaccurate data a problem accuracy: 50 metres -5 miles availability: wherever there's coverage requirements: cell ID to lat/long data best for: acquiring

extract cell ID from phone radio stack

can be used for context (home, work)

cell IDs reported may not correspond to available data

proprietary information needed for real geopositioning (or lots of collaborative mapping)

out-of-date / inaccurate data a problem

accuracy: 50 metres -5 miles

availability: wherever there's coverage

requirements: cell ID to lat/long data

best for: acquiring

12. angle of arrival (AOA) detects angle of phone to transmitter network could then use more than one transmitter to position resolution not always precise - can be 45 degrees accuracy: 50 metres - 200 metres availability: coverage requirements: AOA network best for: acquiring

detects angle of phone to transmitter

network could then use more than one transmitter to position

resolution not always precise

- can be 45 degrees

accuracy: 50 metres - 200 metres

availability: coverage

requirements: AOA network

best for: acquiring

13. time difference of arrival (TDOA) times signal from handset to cell transmitters http://www.trueposition.com accuracy: 30 metres - 50 metres availability: wherever there's coverage (and can find several transmitters) requirements: network hooks, TDOA-enabled network best for: acquiring

times signal from handset to cell transmitters

http://www.trueposition.com

accuracy: 30 metres - 50 metres

availability: wherever there's coverage (and can find several transmitters)

requirements: network hooks, TDOA-enabled network

best for: acquiring

14. observed time difference (OTD) phone times differences between receiving signals phone passes data to network for analysis accuracy: 25 - 250 metres availability: coverage requirements: OTD handsets/network best for: acquiring

phone times differences

between receiving signals

phone passes data to

network for analysis

accuracy: 25 - 250 metres

availability: coverage

requirements: OTD handsets/network

best for: acquiring

15. assisted GPS assistance information produced by cell network Simple GPS receiver built into phone handset combines with information from one or more GPS satellites needs AGPS enabled network needs more hardware and software in phone accuracy: 10 metres - 50 metres availability: wherever there's coverage (and clear view of one GPS satellite) requirements: network hooks, AGPS-enabled network, AGPS-enabled phone best for: acquiring

assistance information produced by cell network

Simple GPS receiver built into phone handset

combines with information from one or more GPS satellites

needs AGPS enabled network

needs more hardware and software in phone

accuracy: 10 metres - 50 metres

availability: wherever there's coverage (and clear view of one GPS satellite)

requirements: network hooks, AGPS-enabled network, AGPS-enabled phone

best for: acquiring

geolocation technology

16. GPS pretty good accuracy - at a cost Selective Availability can appear to move as satellites appear and disappear other systems - GLONASS, LORAN-C, Galileo

pretty good accuracy - at a cost

Selective Availability

can appear to move as satellites appear and disappear

other systems - GLONASS, LORAN-C, Galileo

GPS contd. needs more technology (though cost is coming down) eats battery needs clear line of sight to 3 or more satellites - cannot be used in a building, let alone in your pocket slow (for first fix) accuracy: 10 metres - 75 metres availability: clear view of three GPS satellites - four for elevation requirements: a GPS receiver (and a few dozen satellites) best for: acquiring

needs more technology (though cost is coming down)

eats battery

needs clear line of sight to 3 or more satellites

- cannot be used in a building, let alone in your pocket

slow (for first fix)

accuracy: 10 metres - 75 metres

availability: clear view of three GPS satellites - four for elevation

requirements: a GPS receiver (and a few dozen satellites)

best for: acquiring

17. WAAS and other GPS enhancements improve accuracy using other satellites, or fixed radio stations (EGNOS in Europe) reports any foreseen errors in GPS, and corrects could be commercialised accuracy: 2 metres - 25 metres availability: clear view of three GPS satellites + other data sources (satellite, radio) requirements: an enhanced GPS receiver (and a few dozen satellites) best for: acquiring

improve accuracy using other satellites, or fixed radio stations (EGNOS in Europe)

reports any foreseen errors in GPS, and corrects

could be commercialised

accuracy: 2 metres - 25 metres

availability: clear view of three GPS satellites + other data sources (satellite, radio)

requirements: an enhanced GPS receiver (and a few dozen satellites)

best for: acquiring

18. differential GPS two receivers pretty close to each other (~200km) signals have had same atmospheric errors reference receiver is very accurately located transmits errors in location to roving receiver accuracy: 1-3 metres availability: clear view of three GPS satellites at two locations (and communications between) requirements: DGPS receivers best for: acquiring

two receivers pretty close to each other (~200km)

signals have had same atmospheric errors

reference receiver is very accurately located

transmits errors in location to roving receiver

accuracy: 1-3 metres

availability: clear view of three GPS satellites at two locations (and communications between)

requirements: DGPS receivers

best for: acquiring

street furniture

19. post codes / zipcodes lookup list from codes to locations can be very accurate for positioning proprietary data goes out of date only available when at a computer/phone book accuracy: 10 metres to ... miles availability: not when mobile requirements: postcode database best for: acquiring

lookup list from codes to locations

can be very accurate for positioning

proprietary data

goes out of date

only available when at a computer/phone book

accuracy: 10 metres to ... miles

availability: not when mobile

requirements: postcode database

best for: acquiring

20. street names not all countries have street names hard to enter when mobile (picking is best) not unique accuracy: 20 metres to hundreds of miles availability: pretty good requirements: street address lookup best for: acquiring or refining

not all countries have street names

hard to enter when mobile (picking is best)

not unique

accuracy: 20 metres to

hundreds of miles

availability: pretty good

requirements: street address lookup

best for: acquiring or refining

20a. street corners / intersections high accuracy in built-up areas great for motorways even provides orientation in US cities (streets and avenues) accuracy: 10 metres to 5-10 miles (motorways/"freeways") availability: pretty good requirements: street address lookup best for: refining

high accuracy in built-up areas

great for motorways

even provides orientation in US cities (streets and avenues)

accuracy: 10 metres to 5-10 miles (motorways/"freeways")

availability: pretty good

requirements: street address lookup

best for: refining

21. street numbers great - if they're available need street name as well accuracy: 10-100 metres availability: pretty good requirements: street number and address lookup best for: refining

great - if they're available

need street name as well

accuracy: 10-100 metres

availability: pretty good

requirements: street number and address lookup

best for: refining

22. business names databases go out of date hard to enter when mobile multiple locations accuracy: 10 metres availability: good in urban locations requirements: business address lookup best for: refining

databases go out of date

hard to enter when mobile

multiple locations

accuracy: 10 metres

availability: good in urban locations

requirements: business address lookup

best for: refining

23. landmarks and littlemarks user picks what they can see orientation from large landmarks (e.g. skyscrapers) maybe from street frontage photos accuracy: < 1 mile - as far as the eye can see availability: ok in urban locations, depends on rural geography requirements: landmark database and lookup best for: refining

user picks what they can see

orientation from large landmarks

(e.g. skyscrapers)

maybe from street frontage photos

accuracy: < 1 mile - as far as the eye can see

availability: ok in urban locations, depends on

rural geography

requirements: landmark database and lookup

best for: refining

24-26. phone boxes / public transport stops / utility markings bus stops, fire hydrants, street lamps, traffic lights proprietary data - but open for collaborative mapping often localised - to council or area, let alone a city accuracy: 10 metres availability: ok in urban locations requirements: access to database best for: acquisition

bus stops, fire hydrants,

street lamps, traffic lights

proprietary data - but open for

collaborative mapping

often localised - to council or area,

let alone a city

accuracy: 10 metres

availability: ok in urban locations

requirements: access to database

best for: acquisition

27. location street signs dedicated street signs for geolocation a nice idea in principle installed in London by a taxi firm (proprietary) http://www.location-net.co.uk/taxipoint/ accuracy: 10 metres availability: bad requirements: installation of street furniture best for: acquisition

dedicated street signs for geolocation

a nice idea in principle

installed in London by a taxi firm (proprietary)

http://www.location-net.co.uk/taxipoint/

accuracy: 10 metres

availability: bad

requirements: installation of street furniture

best for: acquisition

28. geowarchalking postcode street name street numbers lat/long graffiti spray paint/sticker barcodes accuracy: depends availability: bad requirements: crazy pirate geo-graffiti gangs (Marc Smith's 2%) best for: acquisition

postcode

street name

street numbers

lat/long graffiti

spray paint/sticker barcodes

accuracy: depends

availability: bad

requirements: crazy pirate geo-graffiti gangs

(Marc Smith's 2%)

best for: acquisition

emerging technology

29. dead reckoning accelerometers, electronic compasses highly accurate reckoning of relative position needs an accurate location (and time source) to start with accuracy: as good as initial lock availability: everywhere requirements: accelerometer and decoding best for: refining

accelerometers, electronic compasses

highly accurate reckoning of relative position

needs an accurate location (and time source) to start with

accuracy: as good as initial lock

availability: everywhere

requirements: accelerometer and decoding

best for: refining

30. wi-fi triangulation needs wi-fi nodes with a location server needs accurate location of nodes ubiquitous wi-fi is an American dream used in art galleries and museums At this conference - http://activecampus2.ucsd.edu/oreilly/ accuracy: 5-20m. availability: bad best for: refining

needs wi-fi nodes with a location server

needs accurate location of nodes

ubiquitous wi-fi is an American dream

used in art galleries and museums

At this conference -

http://activecampus2.ucsd.edu/oreilly/

accuracy: 5-20m.

availability: bad

best for: refining

31. broadcast TV/radio triangulation needs broadcast reception from three different locations not likely in many areas (planning regulations) accuracy: 50m availability: ok

needs broadcast reception from three different locations

not likely in many areas (planning regulations)

accuracy: 50m

availability: ok

32. IP lookup currently uninformative (normally the address of an ISP or reseller) some work to make this more dynamic accuracy: a country, a continent

currently uninformative (normally the address of an ISP or reseller)

some work to make this more dynamic

accuracy: a country, a continent

location advertising

33. encoding of location in access point name / location points wi-fi node advertises location through SSID need a standard to be useful in more than one network of hotspots http://www.orangecone.com/archives/000088.html accuracy: 100m

wi-fi node advertises location through SSID

need a standard to be useful in more than one network of hotspots

http://www.orangecone.com/archives/000088.html

accuracy: 100m

34. local servers / Rendezvous fixed machines advertise their location through wi-fi need a standard http://www.headmap.org/ accuracy: 100-300m 35. bluetooth accuracy: 1-100m.

fixed machines advertise their location through wi-fi

need a standard

http://www.headmap.org/

accuracy: 100-300m

35. bluetooth

accuracy: 1-100m.

36. RFID RFID card scanned; scanner is geolocated or in reverse - card senses if scanned (and potential lookup) http://www.starhill.us/mappingsensornets.html accuracy: dead - 50m.

RFID card scanned; scanner is geolocated

or in reverse - card senses if scanned (and potential lookup)

http://www.starhill.us/mappingsensornets.html

accuracy: dead - 50m.

a social future

37. who you are near (inference) people (and people's things) reveal context if one of these is geolocated, this could be used by all 38. objects you are near your device asks others around for more-accurate locations &quot;phone reports 50m accuracy” &quot;wi-fi connected computer nearby reports 10m accuracy by connected GPS” &quot;bluetooth node reports 5m accuracy with WAAS” either pick what appears to be the most accurate, or aggregate and average the locations

people (and people's things) reveal context

if one of these is geolocated, this could be used by all

38. objects you are near

your device asks others around for more-accurate locations

&quot;phone reports 50m accuracy”

&quot;wi-fi connected computer nearby reports 10m accuracy by connected GPS”

&quot;bluetooth node reports 5m accuracy with WAAS”

either pick what appears to be the most accurate, or aggregate and average the locations

39. the road most traveled recording and aggregation of accurate flows time, speed and quantity of movement maps autogenerate themselves better directions, even see which direction your friends have been or normally go Amsterdam Real Time, http://www.waag.org

recording and aggregation of accurate flows

time, speed and quantity of movement

maps autogenerate themselves

better directions, even see which direction your friends have been or normally go

Amsterdam Real Time, http://www.waag.org

a few messages location finding helps fulfill a basic human need - security technology helps - but no one technology fulfills every need what happens when technology fails? electronic acquisition pays no attention to geography - or the way humans think about their location choose your weapons carefully expect and use more than one method what if you want to be lost?

location finding helps fulfill a basic human need - security

technology helps - but no one technology fulfills every need

what happens when technology fails?

electronic acquisition pays no attention to geography - or the way humans think about their location

choose your weapons carefully

expect and use more than one method

what if you want to be lost?

questions? [email_address] http://anti-mega.com presentation available from: http://undergroundlondon.com/etech_35ways.ppt http://locative.net Geowanking mailing list #geo on irc.oftc.net hope you had a good ETCon! (thanks to Rael and all at O'Reilly)

[email_address]

http://anti-mega.com

presentation available from:

http://undergroundlondon.com/etech_35ways.ppt

http://locative.net

Geowanking mailing list

#geo on irc.oftc.net

hope you had a good ETCon!

(thanks to Rael and all at O'Reilly)