Global Positioning System Reference
In-Depth Information
3.8
Quality of Service
There are a number of important quality issues. First and most obviously is
accuracy of positioning, which can vary greatly. Second is the availability (i.e.,
where positioning is possible or not). The main issue for Whereness becoming
successful and truly ubiquitous will be to converge enough technology and
services to fill all significant coverage gaps. Third, the time it takes
8
to provide the
temporal-spatial information is important. If services are to be reliable and
profitable, then sensing, computing, and communications must be fast enough to
be useful. Instructions that are too late are a common failing in mobile guidance
systems.
3.9
Privacy, Trust, Security, and User Profile
It seems unlikely that the full potential of Whereness will be realized unless there
is consent and trust between the system and the users. To ensure that consent and
trust are forthcoming, the businesses providing the equipment, services, and
support must be trusted, so it can be expected that trusted brands will be at the
forefront of Whereness.
One of the biggest problem areas with anything to do with location and
tracking is the question of privacy. “Would I want my boss, partner, parent,
insurance company, police, or government to know where I am or where I was at
some time?” Very often the answer to that question would be no, since it is none
of their business (in my opinion) and because it is limiting my freedom in some
way. On the other hand, it would be reasonable perhaps, or even desirable for
health and safety reasons, to be monitored while at work, particularly if in
potentially dangerous situations. With close family and friends it would depend on
social circumstances and with the other agencies it would depend on legal issues
(i.e., a matter for courts, contracts, and lawmakers). In all circumstances, it is an
issue of trust that needs great flexibility and ideally should be under the control of
the user via a personal profile.
3.10
Whereness service provision
Having now considered the important business issues, is there a methodology to
piece together this jigsaw into a coherent whole that could be offered as a general
Whereness service? Figure 3.2 shows one way in which it might be achieved and
used as a starting point for a potential Whereness operator to consider.
8
The term “latency” is commonly used to describe the delay inherent within systems.
