A Sweet Spot for Geolocation Apps
By
Joseph Marks
Mapping services could bridge the gap between government data, citizens’ interests and national priorities.
About three-fourths of smartphone users are taking advantage of mapping services to find their way around and nearly 20 percent are using “geosocial services” such as Foursquare to “check in” at stores and restaurants, according to a new report from the Pew Internet and American Life Project.
The rise in location services corresponds with a hike in overall smartphone ownership from 35 percent of American adults in 2011 to 46 percent in 2012.
Geolocation has been a boon for some government-sponsored apps, such as Hootroot, the second-place finisher in the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent Apps for the Environment challenge. Hootroot helps travelers map out trips with the lowest carbon footprint.
The increased spread of geolocation technology could be a critical bridge between government data and citizens interested in using that data in their day-to-day lives. Government-built or government-sponsored apps, for instance, could alert travelers to nearby farmer’s markets or grocery stores so they don’t have to stop at restaurants. On a personal level, that would help the travelers eat healthier and save money. In the aggregate, it might also reduce the nation’s health care and energy bills.