You may have noticed we like writing and thinking about the use of context and mobile user experience. Here is a list of possible uses of location beyond local search and directions. Please add more in the comments!

Location to reduce data entry

Movie & other tickets
Weather
Traffic
Home finder
Parking/car finder

Location as substitute for some sort of NFC interaction

Mall 2.0
Order Starbucks
Graffiti wall

Enhanced serendipity

Beyond what I see – finding that store you never knew was there
Near me
LBS date/meet (category)
Push local advertising

Tracking and geofencing

Kid finder/fencer – must be within 3 blocks of home/school
Dog tracker/fencer
House arrest systems
Area-based access
Area- or route-based billing
Asset tracking

Just-in-time information

Business travel concierge
Road trip concierge
Traveling salesman problem/errand optimizer
When do I leave for the meeting
What’s for lunch further down the road and not behind me
Transit (e.g. bus arrival time)
Best taxi area
Airline tracking (when will plane land)
Building directory
Elevator arrival time

Tagging of locations

Police (speed trap) detector
Geocaching
Geotagging (of other content types)
Friend finder
Locative media
Locative games & learning
Contextual task list (e.g., OmniFocus)

Beyond location as context

Speed as context (change UI, change function …)
Altitude as context
Location-enhanced search (e.g. bookstore=context)
Asset locating as context (e.g. play video of DVD you picked up)
Weather as context

Public infrastructure & services

Better weather radio – where I am not whole county
Emergency services (beyond 911, e.g. OnStar)
Public safety/security services category (best route to the fire, find fire hydrant, geotag all tickets…)
Public works category (City GIS Db integration, find the manhole…)

Location as data stream

Life streaming
Video blogging

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©2008 Little Springs Design is a user experience design consultancy focused exclusively on mobile.

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Little Springs Designs the user experience for mobile devices and services. Our practice of user-centered design means the user comes first, not the technology. We learn about the user, design for the user, and talk to the user - but we understand the technology and its limitations and potential.

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