Mobile Computing and Social Networks

Term Paper- Mobile Computing and Social Networks

Strayer University

Dr. Edwin Otto

CIS 500- Information System Decision Making

June 10, 2012

Effectiveness and efficiency mobile-based applications

Geolocation uses data acquired from a computer or mobile device to identify a physical location. Applications that utilize this technology offer consumers greater convenience, discounted prices, and easy information sharing. It also enables businesses to deliver more personalized customer service and offers. Geolocation mobile-based applications are responsible for doing two things: they report the user’s location to other users, and they associate real-world locations (such as shopping stores and restaurants) to the user’s location. Geolocation apps that run on run on mobile devices provide a richer experience than those that run on desktop PCs because the relevant data that is sent and received changes as the user’s location changes. Almost all mobile devices today have a GPS chip inside of them. The chip uses satellite data to calculate the user’s exact position, which apps such as Google Maps can then map. When a GPS signal is unavailable, geolocation apps can use information from cell towers to triangulate the user’s approximate position. This method is not as accurate as GPS but it has greatly improved in recent years.

Mobile apps such as Foursquare and Gowalla offer geolocation services the millions of users. Not only do these services let user’s share their location with friends, they also bring a social element to the table. For example, Foursquare, an app used to announce a user’s location, allows users to check into bars, restaurants, parks, and pretty much anyplace else. Once the user’s friends know where they are, they can recommend places for the user to go or things for them to do and see nearby. Foursquare has a massive list of locations all over the world that offer special discounts and free drinks to users. Gowalla, like Foursquare, is a...