Geosocial networking
Encyclopedia
Geosocial Networking is a type of social network
ing in which geographic
services and capabilities such as geocoding
and geotagging
are used to enable additional social dynamics. User-submitted location data or geolocation
techniques can allow social networks to connect and coordinate users with local people or events that match their interests. Geolocation on web-based social network service
s can be IP
-based or use hotspot
trilateration
. For mobile social network
s, texted
location information or mobile phone tracking
can enable location-based service
s to enrich social networking.
uses one of the oldest, announcing its social API at the end of 2000 and allowing free access to over 21,000 developers in late 2005.Amazon's primary API was released in 2002, which allowed developers to pull consumer information like product reviews into third party applications.Google, Inc. began testing an API in April 2002 and currently owns dozens that are used by thousands of applications.
The Facebook Developer's API is considered the first to be specific to a social network and was launched in 2006. Facebook
later created an open stream API, allowing outside developers access to user's status updates. By June, 2010, Twitter
integrated API into their applications and is considered the most open of all social networks.
By 2008, expanded geolocation technologies including cell tower localization became available and devices such as digital camera
s and camera phones began to integrate features such as Wi-Fi
connectivity and GPS navigation
into more sophisticated capabilities.
services with geocoding
data for places (streets, buildings, and parks) can be used with geotagged information (meetups, concert events, nightclubs or restaurant reviews) to match users with a place, event or local group to socialize in or enable a group of users to decide on a meeting activity. Popular geosocial applications like Yelp
, Gowalla
, Facebook
Places and Foursquare allow users to share their locations as well as recommendations for a locations or 'venues.'
In disaster scenarios, geosocial networking can allow users to coordinate around collaboratively filtered
geotag information on hazards and disaster aid activities to develop a collective
situational awareness through an assembly of individual perspectives. This type of geosocial networking is known as collaborative mapping
. Furthermore, geolocated messages could assist automated tools to detect and track potential dangers for the general public such as an emerging epidemic
(see Flu Detector application on Twitter
).
The technology has obvious implications for event planning and coordination. Geosocial has political applications, as it can be used to organize, track, and communicate events and protests. For example people can use mobile phones and twitter to quickly organize a protest event before authorities can stop it. People at the event can communicate with each other and the larger world using mobile device connected to the Internet. Geosocial has the combined potential of bringing a Social Network or Social Graph
to a location, and having people at a location form in to a Social Network or Social Graph
. Thus social networks can be expanded by real world contact and recruiting new members.
is an opt-in group of mobile devices in the same immediate area linked to a master device. These groups are then able to communicate freely with each other. This sort of social networking is used mostly during events so the host (operating the master device) can provide information, suggestions or coupons specific to the event. Examples include Apple's iGroups and Hot Potato.
.
.
's smart phone application.
Some fashion corporations have invested in sensors placed in their stores and dressing rooms so users on Social Shopping applications have to physically be in their store or trying something on in order to gather points. This increases participation and encourages customers to try on other clothes. Examples include ThisNext, Shopkick and Do Together.
Early in 2009 Twitter
faced two different security incidents in which user accounts were accessed by unauthorized sources. There were 45 accounts accessed in a January incident and 10 that April for short periods of time. In the first incident, unauthorized joke tweets were made from nine accounts and hackers may have accessed nonpublic information such as email addresses and mobile phone numbers. In the second, private information was accessible and at least one user’s password was reset. Within hours of the January breach, Twitter Co. closed the security hole and notified affected account holders. In the April incident, within minutes of the hack Twitter Co. removed administrative access to the hacker and quickly notified affected users.
The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched an inquiry into Twitter Co.'s security practices related to these attacks and announced that both they and Twitter Co. reached an agreement that resolves the FTC's security concerns. Since the account breaches and FTC statements, Twitter Co. has implemented many of the FTC's suggestions and released a statement that the agreement "formalizes our commitment to those security practices."
Social network service
A social networking service is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social relations among people, who, for example, share interests and/or activities. A social network service consists of a representation of each user , his/her social...
ing in which geographic
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
services and capabilities such as geocoding
Geocoding
Geocoding is the process of finding associated geographic coordinates from other geographic data, such as street addresses, or zip codes...
and geotagging
GeoTagging
Geotagging is the process of adding geographical identification metadata to various media such as a geotagged photograph or video, websites, SMS messages, QR Codes or RSS feeds and is a form of geospatial metadata...
are used to enable additional social dynamics. User-submitted location data or geolocation
Geolocation
Geolocation is the identification of the real-world geographic location of an object, such as a radar, mobile phone or an Internet-connected computer terminal...
techniques can allow social networks to connect and coordinate users with local people or events that match their interests. Geolocation on web-based social network service
Social network service
A social networking service is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social relations among people, who, for example, share interests and/or activities. A social network service consists of a representation of each user , his/her social...
s can be IP
IP address
An Internet Protocol address is a numerical label assigned to each device participating in a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two principal functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing...
-based or use hotspot
Hotspot (Wi-Fi)
A hotspot is a site that offers Internet access over a wireless local area network through the use of a router connected to a link to an Internet service provider...
trilateration
Trilateration
In geometry, trilateration is the process of determinating absolute or relative locations of points by measurement of distances, using the geometry of circles, spheres or triangles. In addition to its interest as a geometric problem, trilateration does have practical applications in surveying and...
. For mobile social network
Mobile social network
Mobile social networking is social networking where one or more individuals of similar interests or commonalities, conversing and connecting with one another using the mobile phone. Much like web based social networking, mobile social networking occurs in virtual communities. A current trend for...
s, texted
Text messaging
Text messaging, or texting, refers to the exchange of brief written text messages between fixed-line phone or mobile phone and fixed or portable devices over a network...
location information or mobile phone tracking
Mobile phone tracking
Mobile phone tracking refers to the attaining of the current position of a mobile phone, stationary or moving. Localization may occur either via multilateration of radio signals between radio towers of the network and the phone, or simply via GPS...
can enable location-based service
Location-based service
A Location-Based Service is an information or entertainment service, accessible with mobile devices through the mobile network and utilizing the ability to make use of the geographical position of the mobile device....
s to enrich social networking.
History
The evolution of geosocial can be traced back to the implication of social application programming interfaces by internet-based corporations in the early 2000s. EBayEBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
uses one of the oldest, announcing its social API at the end of 2000 and allowing free access to over 21,000 developers in late 2005.Amazon's primary API was released in 2002, which allowed developers to pull consumer information like product reviews into third party applications.Google, Inc. began testing an API in April 2002 and currently owns dozens that are used by thousands of applications.
The Facebook Developer's API is considered the first to be specific to a social network and was launched in 2006. Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
later created an open stream API, allowing outside developers access to user's status updates. By June, 2010, Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
integrated API into their applications and is considered the most open of all social networks.
By 2008, expanded geolocation technologies including cell tower localization became available and devices such as digital camera
Digital camera
A digital camera is a camera that takes video or still photographs, or both, digitally by recording images via an electronic image sensor. It is the main device used in the field of digital photography...
s and camera phones began to integrate features such as Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
connectivity and GPS navigation
GPS navigation device
A GPS navigation device is any device that receives Global Positioning System signals for the purpose of determining the device's current location on Earth...
into more sophisticated capabilities.
Uses
Geosocial networking allows users to interact relative to their current locations. Web mappingWeb mapping
Web mapping is the process of designing, implementing, generating and delivering maps on the World Wide Web and its product. While web mapping primarily deals with technological issues, web cartography additionally studies theoretic aspects: the use of web maps, the evaluation and optimization of...
services with geocoding
Geocoding
Geocoding is the process of finding associated geographic coordinates from other geographic data, such as street addresses, or zip codes...
data for places (streets, buildings, and parks) can be used with geotagged information (meetups, concert events, nightclubs or restaurant reviews) to match users with a place, event or local group to socialize in or enable a group of users to decide on a meeting activity. Popular geosocial applications like Yelp
Yelp
Yelp, Inc. is a company that operates yelp.com, a social networking, user review, and local search web site. Yelp.com has more than 54 million monthly unique visitors as of late 2010.- History :...
, Gowalla
Gowalla
Gowalla is a location-based social network. Users 'check in' at Spots in their local vicinity, either through a dedicated mobile application or through the mobile website. As a reward users will sometimes receive virtual "items" from check-ins. Items have developed to become a promotional tool for...
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
Places and Foursquare allow users to share their locations as well as recommendations for a locations or 'venues.'
In disaster scenarios, geosocial networking can allow users to coordinate around collaboratively filtered
Collaborative filtering
Collaborative filtering is the process of filtering for information or patterns using techniques involving collaboration among multiple agents, viewpoints, data sources, etc. Applications of collaborative filtering typically involve very large data sets...
geotag information on hazards and disaster aid activities to develop a collective
Collective intelligence
Collective intelligence is a shared or group intelligence that emerges from the collaboration and competition of many individuals and appears in consensus decision making in bacteria, animals, humans and computer networks....
situational awareness through an assembly of individual perspectives. This type of geosocial networking is known as collaborative mapping
Collaborative mapping
Collaborative mapping is the aggregation of web maps and user-generated content, from a group of individuals or entities, and can take several distinct forms.-Types:...
. Furthermore, geolocated messages could assist automated tools to detect and track potential dangers for the general public such as an emerging epidemic
Epidemic
In epidemiology, an epidemic , occurs when new cases of a certain disease, in a given human population, and during a given period, substantially exceed what is expected based on recent experience...
(see Flu Detector application on Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
).
The technology has obvious implications for event planning and coordination. Geosocial has political applications, as it can be used to organize, track, and communicate events and protests. For example people can use mobile phones and twitter to quickly organize a protest event before authorities can stop it. People at the event can communicate with each other and the larger world using mobile device connected to the Internet. Geosocial has the combined potential of bringing a Social Network or Social Graph
Social graph
The social graph is a term coined by scientists working in the social areas of graph theory. It has been described as "the global mapping of everybody and how they're related"...
to a location, and having people at a location form in to a Social Network or Social Graph
Social graph
The social graph is a term coined by scientists working in the social areas of graph theory. It has been described as "the global mapping of everybody and how they're related"...
. Thus social networks can be expanded by real world contact and recruiting new members.
Additional features
All geosocial networks revolve around specific features that are additional to geolocating.Ad hoc networking
A mobile ad hoc networkMobile ad hoc network
A mobile ad-hoc network is a self-configuring infrastructureless network of mobile devices connected by wireless links. ad hoc is Latin and means "for this purpose"....
is an opt-in group of mobile devices in the same immediate area linked to a master device. These groups are then able to communicate freely with each other. This sort of social networking is used mostly during events so the host (operating the master device) can provide information, suggestions or coupons specific to the event. Examples include Apple's iGroups and Hot Potato.
Food sourcing
A less-used form of geosocial networking is one mostly used by fast food restaurants, like 4Food, in which customers check-in their orders rather than themselves. Users choose the ingredients of their order, name it, and are awarded points for every order based on their suggestion. Customers are given discounts and coupons for their involvement and the restaurant receives more customers.Freelancing
Freelancing networks are created with the specific purpose to allow users to find or post temporary employment opportunities. Users establish and operate a professional profile and are able to connect with past and possible employers, employees, colleagues, classmates and friends.Location-planning
With location-planning, or social-mapping, users are able to search and browse nearby stores, restaurants, etc. Users Venues are assigned profiles and users can rate them, share their opinions and post pictures. These networks use the location of mobile phones to connect users and may also provide directions to and from the venue by linking to a GPS service. Examples include Google's Ogle Earth, Tagzania and forms of collaborative mappingCollaborative mapping
Collaborative mapping is the aggregation of web maps and user-generated content, from a group of individuals or entities, and can take several distinct forms.-Types:...
.
Moodsourcing
Some networks use Moodsourcing as a recreational way to make user's status's seem more similar to personal interaction. In addition to checking in, users convey their current mood with a corresponding emoticonEmoticon
An emoticon is a facial expression pictorially represented by punctuation and letters, usually to express a writer’s mood. Emoticons are often used to alert a responder to the tenor or temper of a statement, and can change and improve interpretation of plain text. The word is a portmanteau word...
.
Paperless ticketing
Paperless ticketing is a feature that uses smart phones as digital tickets for events and travel. Besides becoming more convenient than the normal ticketing process, Paperless Ticketing eliminates wasteful paper use. Examples include Apple's recently purchased patent for a travel ticketing app, ITravel, and TicketmasterTicketmaster
Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. is an independent American ticket sales and distribution company based in West Hollywood, California, USA, with operations in many countries around the world. In 2010 it merged with Live Nation to become Live Nation Entertainment...
's smart phone application.
Social shopping
Social shopping service users create personal profiles to collect information on different items they find. Instead of simply updating their status on other social networks with a description or link of their purchases, users download software that allows them to grab images of those products to post on their own shopping lists. Some Social Shopping sites form affiliate relationships with merchants, who often pay percent commissions on sales that come as a result of their products being featured on other sites. Sites have gone so far as to allow users to add their credit card number so their purchases are automatically checked in.Some fashion corporations have invested in sensors placed in their stores and dressing rooms so users on Social Shopping applications have to physically be in their store or trying something on in order to gather points. This increases participation and encourages customers to try on other clothes. Examples include ThisNext, Shopkick and Do Together.
Privacy policies
Some sites, like Facebook, have been scrutinized for allowing users to "tag" their friends via email while checking in. Google's new project, Buzz, is an automatic application that requires users to opt-out. If they don't, profiles displaying their social information will be open to all g-mail users.Opt-in vs. opt-out
An "opt-in" is a permission-based network that requires a user to join or sign up. The host is then given permission to access the user's information and to contact him or her. An "opt-out" network is defaulted to have the user included in a group. Users must remove themselves from the network if they wish to not be included.Twitter Co. vs. the FTC
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
faced two different security incidents in which user accounts were accessed by unauthorized sources. There were 45 accounts accessed in a January incident and 10 that April for short periods of time. In the first incident, unauthorized joke tweets were made from nine accounts and hackers may have accessed nonpublic information such as email addresses and mobile phone numbers. In the second, private information was accessible and at least one user’s password was reset. Within hours of the January breach, Twitter Co. closed the security hole and notified affected account holders. In the April incident, within minutes of the hack Twitter Co. removed administrative access to the hacker and quickly notified affected users.
The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched an inquiry into Twitter Co.'s security practices related to these attacks and announced that both they and Twitter Co. reached an agreement that resolves the FTC's security concerns. Since the account breaches and FTC statements, Twitter Co. has implemented many of the FTC's suggestions and released a statement that the agreement "formalizes our commitment to those security practices."
See also
- GeolocationGeolocationGeolocation is the identification of the real-world geographic location of an object, such as a radar, mobile phone or an Internet-connected computer terminal...
- Location awarenessLocation awarenessLocation awareness refers to devices that can passively or actively determine their location. Navigational instruments provide location coordinates for vessels and vehicles. Surveying equipment identifies location with respect to a well-known locationa wireless communications device...
- List of social networking websites
- Virtual communityVirtual communityA virtual community is a social network of individuals who interact through specific media, potentially crossing geographical and political boundaries in order to pursue mutual interests or goals...
- Geographic information systemGeographic Information SystemA geographic information system, geographical information science, or geospatial information studies is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographically referenced data...