The document discusses location-based services (LBS) and their implications for mobility, highlighting the interplay between technology, space, and consumption. It examines how LBS has transformed urban interactions and personal behaviors, often leading to a privatization of mobility and a narrowing of spatial interactions. The piece raises critical questions about the limitations and potential interventions in the use of mobility data in everyday life.

1. Location-based services, conspicuous mobility, and the location-aware future Matthew W. Wilson Assistant Professor of Geography Ball State University [email_address] 15 April 2011

2. Where is business …

6. What are the discursive and material conditions that produce LBS?

7. Overview Technology, mobility, space Situating location-based services Mobilities of conspicuousness The location-aware future?

9. “ Government is slow. Here, change happens all the time!”

10. movement + representation + practice Movements 5 by Ereine, Flickr

11. movement + representation + practice Movements 5 by Ereine, Flickr

12. movement + representation + practice Movements 5 by Ereine, Flickr

13. movement + representation + practice Movements 5 by Ereine, Flickr

14. movement + representation + practice Movements 5 by Ereine, Flickr plurality + engagement

15. movement + representation + practice Movements 5 by Ereine, Flickr plurality + engagement potentiality < > inert fixity

16. physical < > digital Buried Technology by Andreas Solberg, Flickr

17. physical < > digital Buried Technology by Andreas Solberg, Flickr code < > space

18. physical < > digital Buried Technology by Andreas Solberg, Flickr code < > space documenting technology + enrolling technology

19. “ Headphones connected to the iPhone, iPhone connected to the Internet, connected to the Google, connected to the government.” (M.I.A., The Message , 2010)

20. “ Headphones connected to the iPhone, iPhone connected to the Internet, connected to the Google, connected to the government.” (M.I.A., The Message , 2010) DoD  GPS Representations of global space  US military hegemony  global capitalism

21. “ Headphones connected to the iPhone, iPhone connected to the Internet, connected to the Google, connected to the government.” (M.I.A., The Message , 2010) DoD  GPS Representations of global space  US military hegemony  global capitalism FCC  Enhanced 911  LBS

22. 2001 ish European LBS:  bars, food, taxis  SMS FriendFinder US LBS:  AT&T Find Friends

23. 2001 ish European LBS:  bars, food, taxis  SMS FriendFinder US LBS:  AT&T Find Friends 2005… Google Earth Google Maps API Dopplr.com Qype.com Loopt.com Brightkite.com

24. 2001 ish European LBS:  bars, food, taxis  SMS FriendFinder US LBS:  AT&T Find Friends 2005… Google Earth Google Maps API Dopplr.com Qype.com Loopt.com Brightkite.com 10 applications that make the most of location (from Biba 2009) 1 Drive fast, avoid the cops (locations of known speed traps): Trapster 2 Sleep easy, we ’ll wake you (missing your stop on public transit): iNap 3 Play tag, with strangers: JOYity 4 Call a cab, the easy way (location-aware cab services): Cab4Me 5 Scan a barcode, find a deal (local deals): ShopSavy 6 See the world, through Google ’s eyes: Google Earth 7 Train your phone to know its place (location-aware phone ringer settings): Locale 8 Look Up! Be a stellar student (what stars are above): GoSkyWatch 9 Dark Alley? Call for help (location-aware alarm system): SafetyNet 10 Go here when you gotta go (location-aware facility finding): SitOrSquat

25. March 2009  SXSW  foursquare Launch

26. March 2009  SXSW  foursquare Launch

27. March 2009  SXSW  foursquare Launch

28. March 2009  SXSW  foursquare Launch

29. conspicuous mobility check ins  conspicuous consumption check ins  6 million users (end of 2010) check ins  380 million check-ins

30. “ use software to change behavior ” Dennis Crowley 2009 by Dave Pinter, Flickr

31. “ use software to change behavior” Dennis Crowley 2009 by Dave Pinter, Flickr “ by using game mechanics, people feel that they are more interesting, that they are leading more interesting lives ”

32. “ use software to change behavior” Dennis Crowley 2009 by Dave Pinter, Flickr “ by using game mechanics, people feel that they are more interesting, that they are leading more interesting lives ” “ kind of crazy, but crazy in a good and interesting way .”

33. the location-aware future?

34. the location-aware future? LBS  narrowing of spatial interaction

35. the location-aware future? LBS  narrowing of spatial interaction LBS  allow/enable/demand/reward consumptive mobilities

36. the location-aware future? LBS  narrowing of spatial interaction LBS  allow/enable/demand/reward consumptive mobilities LBS  incursion into everyday life (for some)

37. the location-aware future? LBS  narrowing of spatial interaction LBS  allow/enable/demand/reward consumptive mobilities LBS  incursion into everyday life (for some) LBS  privatization of mobility

38. the location-aware future? LBS  narrowing of spatial interaction LBS  allow/enable/demand/reward consumptive mobilities LBS  incursion into everyday life (for some) LBS  privatization of mobility LBS  refiguring of urban interaction

39. “ Mobile is local. ... The entire context for everything that I do is me, my person, my location .” (Agüera y Arcas 2010) Movement 2010 by Gwen Vanhee, Flickr

40. “ Mobile is local. ... The entire context for everything that I do is me, my person, my location.” (Agüera y Arcas 2010) Movement 2010 by Gwen Vanhee, Flickr transactional imagination <> relational spatiality

41. “ Mobile is local. ... The entire context for everything that I do is me, my person, my location.” (Agüera y Arcas 2010) Movement 2010 by Gwen Vanhee, Flickr transactional imagination <> relational spatiality “ You can ’ t hold places still. … We do not feel the disruptions of space, the coming upon difference. On the road map you won ’ t drive off the edge of your known world. In space as I want to imagine it, you just might . ” (Massey 2005, pages 225, 111)

42. Persistent tensions/questions TENSION: Document the entanglements of technology in everyday life while enrolling technologies of mobility to better understand the everyday.

43. Persistent tensions/questions What are the limitations to drawing upon these data about mobility? What are the possibilities for intervention in these practices, representations, and movements? TENSION: Document the entanglements of technology in everyday life while enrolling technologies of mobility to better understand the everyday.

44. Google Map Marker 2010 by [ Mooi ], Flickr