I had no trouble getting this, but I'm still working through the seventh Harry Potter book. Recall the Weasleys have a clock that shows where each member of the family? Sometimes they are in "mortal danger?" The folks at Microsoft Research have built one of a kind. Yes, it's built of location information from phones, but instead of indicating exact locations offers up "home" "schoo" "work" or "someplace else."
After installation of the clock (a modified tablet PC) each user tells the system when they are in one of those spots and the "clock" recall which cell tower that is. When the signal again is in that location the clock moves their picture to the approrpaite quadrant of the clock with a "ding." Text message from a user phone can also be sent to the clock.
While there are still privacy issues, exact locations are not shared. It's called the
Whereabouts Clock.
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Discovery Channel
