I am fascinated with creating a need for today’s consumer. In 2006, only 8% of all products created a need whereas the reaming 92% filled our current needs. Apple has been at the forefront of creating needs for the past few years. Did you know you wanted your music in a small portable device before the Ipod was introduced? Today, portable devices are at the forefront of consumer electronics sales. Such devices are evolving quickly, and extra features are in demand. I believe that virtual communities are going to continue to get larger through the use of portable devices, particularly cell phones. New technologies are being added to cell phones regularly, including GPS location hardware/software.
Although not available on all phones yet, GPS is the future of cell phones. With the advent of Facebook, we are becoming more interested in our “friends” whereabouts. My interactive community is called “You are here”. It uses the GPS technology in your cell phone in conjunction with a Facebook-like website. When you enter a new place eg: a store, museum or restaurant, you cell phone will alert you as to what your friend’s opinions are of this location. It does this by communicating using GPS technology and the entries received by users on its website. Additionally, you can invite friends to your location by using your cell phone. Using their GPS tracking, they can find you and that location easily.
This is not limited to your own city, buy can be used around the world! The technology exists for this to happen. A device like the iphone would be ideal for this service.
“You are here” creates a need that has not been satisfied.
I tried to attach the file I created... but its too big. Will have to upload it when i arrive at school...
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
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1 comment:
Michelle, this is a solid concept based on an insight I believe is true - when people go places, they would like help deciding what to do and where to go. For this advice, they look to someone trusted. Usually, friends are more trusted than strangers. I think - though it is not my research area = that this principle underlies a lot of advertising methodologies, and that it is at work in "monetarizing" or designing ways to get money from social networking tools on the net.
Cellphones, likewise, are well-recognized as tools where social networking location=based applications (including sort of travel guides or reviews) will grow. So I think you've got a solid premise for an idea here.
My suggestion would be to focus more tightly on a specific type of either interface design or content that "You are Here!" would focus on -- How would data about the location be sorted, for example...
For this I recommend further research on this type of application. The more you look at, the more ideas you will have...
Good work.
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