Location-Based Tracking Essay

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Location-Based Tracking

Smart phones are among the latest technological devices in this 21st century. They are smart devices because they come with numerous applications most of which are versions of the computer. In addition, they integrate features earlier witnessed in disparate devices. This paper examines location-based tracking services, which is among the feature of smart phones, performed by various applications. Using adequate information from materials, the paper will discuss at length the various ways these applications can assist parents track their children, individuals track their vehicles and the general perception towards this technology. In addition, the paper will offer my personal view regarding location-based tracking devices because I also use them on my phone.

Introduction

Location-based tracking is a service that utilizes a network-based service, which combines a mobile devices location or position with other relevant information to offer a benefit to the consumer or the user. Supported by advanced wireless communication technology, and the broad use of smart phones, this service has become a global feature. The popularization of smart phones is the main cause of the global usage of a variety of location-based tracking services, which come in the form of applications. In the earlier mobile phones, they had fewer functions and this is why they were "feature phones," the tracking services comprised of simple location-tracking services.

In smart phones, however, have a completely advanced tracking service, owing to their powerful operating systems and a variety of applications. In addition, there has been the emergence of LBS applications with various business models, which has led to the combination of location-based tracking services and social networking services (SNS). Moreover, the rapid technological advancement in this field has led to the emergence of location-based advertisements, which have led to the emergence of location-based commerce; an improved version of mobile commerce. Currently, mobile information services, which include portals, maps, SNS, online yellow pages and many others, provide relevant information as per the request of the user, central to the user's location information (Park et al., 2012).

Owing to these benefits, and many relevant uses of tracking and information services, the LBS are achieving a global acceptance. However, the growths of the location-based tracking services, and progress in technology, have raised global privacy concerns primarily because some people may abuse local information. Therefore, some companies have created some user-friendly technological aspects; when they develop their applications such as opt-in, do-not-track, and controllability of GPS. This has greatly decreased the potential risk on privacy concerns, which was a big challenge because it is hard for users to control their location information, especially when the relevant companies have already gathered and stored such information.

Overall, it is apparent that the use of location-based applications, especially those with location tracking, is a global phenomenon, which has positive and negative impacts. Unlike earlier mobile phones (feature phones), many smart phones have powerful operating systems, and evolving tools that have made application-development easy. Therefore, the applications have made the smart phones powerful devices, which allow the completion of different tasks on a single device. For instance, the "feature phones" fell under the category of disparate tools such as PDAS, wireless notebooks, portable GPS, auto navigators, and cell phones, the current smart phones have the capacity to support all their functions through the various applications.

Location-based service apps

My smart phone has a variety of applications, which I find interesting. In any case, they are of great essence in my life. Some of them help in accomplishing simple tasks, especially when I am busy. For instance, I do not have to scan my smart phone; I just use an application, which has the capacity to schedule the scanning process (Weiss, 2013). However, in the context of location-based tracking, my phone currently holds seven popular applications. They are Gowalla, Whrrl, and Rally Up, BlockChalk, Brightkite, Loopt and MoPho.to. They are all location-based applications, but they have slight differences when it comes to their functionality. MoPho.to uses photos, which I can share to anyone with a geo-location tag. The photo serves as my check in specific locations.

Loopt is a location-based application; this one does not rely on check-ins, but it shows my exact position on a map relative to a friend's position, and the facilities near my location. Brigthkite is an original location-based check-in application, which I use to publicly checking in and sharing a location. Notably, this application switches to a location-based text message, which I can send to a number of selected friends. BlockChalk is an application, which I find quite interesting to use because it allows me to leave an anonymous message.

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In addition, it allows me to share messages to friends and family, ask, answer, report, prevent, borrow, or trade with people in my neighborhood. Rally Up is an application designed only for real friends, and it allows me to alert my friends whenever I am on the way to their place, or whenever we have planned to go out.

Whrrl is a map-based application that allows me to look around my area and find people or places in my area. Gowalla is an application, which utilizes some of Foursquare's concepts. This application uses "passport stamps" that a user collects or shares when they check-in to different locations. Once I check-in, I can share my location on social media, making it have a similarity with the popular Foursquare application, but it comes with an added feature such as photo integration. Owing to the cheap internet, I am a frequent internet user, whenever I am online; I use the applications for various purposes and reasons. When we plan to go out with a couple of friends, we notify each other through the internet, which is cheap and reaches a large group of people, simultaneously.

The applications also help me find locations on a map, local weather reports, find local restaurants, seek local information and news, get information on traffic or public transportation when am going to college. In addition, I just found out that the applications are significant and cheap business tools. When you shop online, you are likely to get discounts, large discounts for that matter (Weiss, 2013). Therefore, I have and still conducting some business through the applications. Recently, I purchased a laptop at a very good deal; the local businessperson, delivered the laptop at my doorstep. Most importantly, I am a football fan; these applications help me check the latest news concerning football, an aspect that has made me very "smart" in global football.

The Privacy Policy

Privacy policies refer to the legal notices, which contain statements what service providers can do with their users' personal information. Owing to the different applications that offer a variety of services, the privacy policies are also different. The service providers publish them, but users make the ultimate decision on whether the policies are acceptable for their use. In addition, the privacy policies refer to numerous concepts and the service providers use a variety of particular languages to define their policies. Users make an agreement with the service providers concerning the information to collect and the purpose of collecting (Yun, Han and Lee, 2013).

In addition, the service providers notify users how they will use and distribute their personal information to third parties. In this kind of context, the privacy policy is understood as the capacity of the individuals or users to decide when, what, and how their personal information should be disclosed to third parties. Most importantly, users can select among a variety of privacy policies. Therefore, depending on the chosen policy, users can save their money, but the service providers can distribute or sell some of the personal information.

Currently, there is a global explosion of location-based applications, meaning that the developers should address the privacy issues. I have a variety of applications on my smart phone, but I realized that before the application installs, a privacy policy section emerges. Interestingly, I take some minutes to read the policies and I found out that 70% of the privacy policies are similar, an issue that got me thinking. Do the developers just put that section there, with no meaning attached to it? The privacy policies are everywhere, even in social media.

The last privacy policy I read was from a popular application known as "66 Maps and Navigation." I can confidently deduce that it had a similar privacy policy from another application. This was my case; owing to the arising similarity of privacy policies, I am sure less people do read the privacy policies. This is because people perceive them as meaningless; after all, if your service provider wishes or is under pressure by the state to provide personal information concerning an individual, I am sure it will gladly provide without consulting the user.

Location-based in car tracking

On-Star is a subscription-based communication service developed by General Motors. It provides a variety of safety and convenience features ranging from emergency assistance to location-based tracking of cars. In addition, it is a telematics gadget; it merges automobile….....

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