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Blog: Chris Harlow on ITSearch The Harlow Report Archives
The precise information you need, delivered exactly when and where you need it. Personalized engagement and experiences. Easy step-by-step navigation. These are just some of the things you get with indoor location-based services.
Similar functions have existed outdoors for more than a decade thanks to GPS and apps like Google Maps. However, indoor location services have seen much slower adoption. But that’s started to change, and in 2017 we’ll see it shift into the mainstream. Indoor location’s time has finally come, and here’s why:
The first catalyst for this shift is changes in our smartphones. Apple recently introduced iBeacon and Google launched Eddystone, both of which make Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) a standard on virtually every smart device. This means that every smartphone is now “location aware,” allowing stores, hospitals, schools, corporations, museums and more to deliver highly personalized services to anyone who walks in their doors.
In my view, this is as significant as when Intel added Wi-Fi to the Centrino processor in 2003. Once it was ubiquitous on every laptop, the technology took off like wildfire. Going into 2017, we are at a very similar inflection point with BLE
Read full story at TechCrunch…
first published week of: 08/22/2022
There is no doubt that technology has made a significant impact in the medical world. Advancements range from those that improve the comfort of many patients to those that extend their lives. Perhaps one of the most interesting technologies that has emerged onto the scene is one meant to more efficiently address geographical links to illnesses: geographic information systems, or GIS.
Geographic information systems are a sophisticated form of mapping software that enables users to visually display input data associated with a designated project. Displaying data visually allows users to see geographical groupings of patient demographic data in a new way. Furthermore, the program allows users to run statistical tests and answer ‘what if’ questions that can arise as a result of direct or indirect changes that take place.
Here are five potential benefits of integrating geographic information systems in healthcare IT:
Read full story at HIT Consultant…
first published week of: 05/30/2022
Tri–Global developed UtiliDroid with integrated spatial technologies that enable Bluetooth connectivity with third–party electromagnetic utility locators so the user can record critical utility–locate information documenting the depth of the asset, its geographic location and time/date of the mapping. Wireless Google KML/KMZ data transmission can be established between office and field, allowing managers to view field mapping progress within the Google Earth or Google Maps environment.
“We created UtiliDroid to fill a gap in our professional grade Mobile Utility Suite software for documentation–grade users who require a low–cost entry–level product on an easily deployed and cost–effective platform,” said Mike Bellrose, Managing Partner of Tri–Global Technologies.
UtiliDroid users can expect typical documentation–grade accuracy from smartphone devices of around ±10 meters.
Bellrose added, “We expect this latest toolset to allow our users an entry point for digitally documenting their utility locate projects and a clean path for expanding their desired spatial accuracies as far as they wish to go within our software.”Tri–Global expects the commercial release of UtiliDroid in late 2011, however, prerelease licensing is available now.
first published week of: 06/13/2022
The Steering Committee endorsed standards from the OGC, ISO TC211 and ANSI (INCITS L1) standards development organizations.
“OGC's interface and encoding standards are an essential part of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure. They play a key role in providing technical interoperability among geospatial systems used at all levels of government,” said Ivan DeLoatch, Executive Director of the FGDC. “We encourage government agencies to include these standards, as well as FGDC's data standards, in the language of software and data procurement documents.”
Read full story at OGC…
first published week of: 10/03/2022
Global smart-mapping leader Esri announced a new partnership with Waze, the free, crowdsourced traffic and navigation app that makes it easier for governments of every size, anywhere in the world, to begin building intelligent transportation systems in their communities. Governments already using the Esri ArcGIS platform can quickly and easily exchange data through the Waze Connected Citizens Program, a free, two-way data share of publicly available traffic information. Waze has set the gold standard on how to share and harness the power of anonymous, aggregated data to promote greater transportation efficiency, deeper insight into travel conditions, and safer roads. Esri is the industry leader in geospatial analytics, empowering more than 350,000 organizations in making location-based decisions. Starting today, governments that have not already subscribed to Esri technology or joined the Waze Connected Citizens Program can sign up online to start sharing road closure alerts and other information with their citizens right away.
“Municipalities can now leverage real-time reports without having to invest in sensor networks or an Internet of Things infrastructure,” said Andrew Stauffer, manager of civic technology at Esri. “Waze allows local governments to share open data with a purpose—in an application that is already popular with constituents, commuters, and tourists.”
The simplicity and structure of the data feeds allow local governments to merge information into existing enterprise systems, such as emergency dispatch and street maintenance systems, to make their communities operate smarter—and safer.
Importantly, the partnership enables communities to extend the reach of the data they map and manage by sharing it with Waze, which has more than 65 million monthly active users worldwide. This free, public-private partnership allows greater government transparency and collaboration with citizens to help people better navigate their streets and highways.
“The Waze Connected Citizens Program empowers municipalities to harness real-time driver insight to improve congestion and make better informed planning decisions,” said Paige Fitzgerald, head of new business development—data acquisition for Waze. “With 100 partners worldwide, Waze provides each partner with the same set of free, data-driven tools and resources to foster collaboration and communication between all partners. Working with Esri allows Waze to further scale the program and creates additional opportunities for our partners to collaborate, helping each other incorporate the power of crowdsourced data into their traffic management strategies.”
Read full story at Esri…
first published week of: 08/01/2022
"The growing power of GIS technology has increased the potential for abusive gerrymandering," he says. "On one hand, the technology has been very useful for voting rights enforcement, and particularly for creating districts with African American or Hispanic majorities," he says. "But GIS also increases the potential for sophisticated gerrymandering. In most states, legislatures control redistricting, and they typically use it for partisan advantage and for incumbent protection. The ability to evaluate and predict voting behavior and to then create districts based on these analyses can give political parties more control over election results."
Forest's study appears in the Oct. 17 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
first published week of: 01/03/2022