Wednesday, October 15. 2008

Service Stops Cell Chat/Texting/Internet Use While Speeding

The AP and others are highlighting AEGIS Mobility's new server Driver Assist which uses GPS, cell-towers and wi-fi to track cell phone movement. If the device travels fast enough (undefined...) the network "pauses" the communication until the device slows (undefined). During the pause callers may leave a message, however. There is an "over-ride" feature for passengers (or those who travel on trains or busses...) which I guess drivers might use, too! There's an option to get the driver's location, too, if the cell owner has ok'd that.

While the service, which will be implemented by carriers could be pricey ($10-$20/month) AEGIS has already partnered with one insurance company to provide a break on car insurance.

The demo focuses on teen users as potential victims of distracted driving.

They might also market this to cyclists - I'm seeing far more folks on bikes (often on the street heading against traffic...) with a cell phone at their ear...

Update: Geode Location Determination Coming to Firefox

Updates 10/15/08:

The beta of Firefox 3.1 is available with the geolocation API "baked in." Details of the implementation and how to test it are in this intro to the beta blog post. Location determination options in the 3.1 beta include manual and via serially connected GPS device.

The W3C geolocation spec that's implemented in FireFox Geode and this beta has been updated, or at least the date has been changed from Sept 15 draft. It now has an Oct 15 date.

Aza Raskin penned a follow up to the original Mozilla Labs post on Geode that addresses some confusion. It really helps.

Continue reading "Update: Geode Location Determination Coming to Firefox"

DTS Gets New HQ, Grows in 2008

Data Transfer Solutions LLC is moving from a 2,000-square-foot office to a 10,000-square-foot one that will serve as international headquarters in Orlando. The space can hold 15 additional employees, though only three are slated to be added this year.

This year saw five new offices open for the company, which focusses on asset management built around GIS solutions. From Jan through June 2008 offices popped up in Fort Collins, Colo.; Boston; Raleigh, N.C.; Chicago; and Zurich, Switzerland. A Canadian office is planned.

- Orlando Business Journal

Location-based Water Coolers....

This ad appeared while browsing the Yahoo group of Somerville-based running club.

DOI Plans "Vendor Day" for Multivendor Blanket Purchase Agreement for Geo for Next Tuesday

Check your calendar! Reservations for "Vendor Day" to be held in DC on Oct 21 (next Tuesday) are due this Friday, Oct 17. What is Vendor Day, also called an Industry Day Conference? "Information discussed or presented during the Industry Day Conference will have the sole purpose of providing vendors with an overview of the environment and context in which the Geo LoB operates."

It seems the DOI is on a roll. Last week it announced the organization's first GIO, now the Geospatial Line of Business (LOB) about which we've been hearing for a few years is in action. The idea of the Geospatial LOB is to consolidate geospatial technology use to save money and better serve agencies and thus the nation.

The first order of business is creating a multi-vendor Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) (press release).

Continue reading "DOI Plans "Vendor Day" for Multivendor Blanket Purchase Agreement for Geo for Next Tuesday"

New York Times First API: Campaign Funding

VentureBeat (and others) see this sort of open API as the future of journalism (New York Times Blog post on the API). The New York Times already uses this data to create its own maps and graphics, but now others can too. For now the API is free, but the NYT has the right to change that, per the license agreement. So, even VentureBeat is not sure how this will make the Gray Lady more money at this point.

My question: How do we "not so techie" journalists and others use such API with our favorite mapping package - oh, say, Maker?