On Wednesday, Google introduced a new mapping feature called Latitude.  This works with Google Maps to allow smartphone and laptop users to share their current location.  So if your friend wants to broadcast their location, you can check to see where they are.  Like Facebook or MySpace, you decide who to share this information with and it will not store past movements, only your current position.

In case you are concerned with privacy, Google has a good YouTube video showing how Latitude will offer you protection:

So how does this work?  In this story from PC World, they detail some of the technology involved.  They also walk through a couple of different examples and offer a few screen shots to illustrate the process.

This technology is not new, I wrote about this last year in my post, GPS – Where Are you?.  Many cell phones now have built in GPS capability with location-based service that is available from cell phone networks.  So Google is not the first to do this, they are just releasing it on a much bigger scale.

I definitely understand the privacy concerns, but I am very excited about the potential of this service.  Now you could allow family and friends to track your location while accepting a ride.  Would this help ease some of our fears about ride sharing?

Wow, I have seen the future and it is Avego Shared Transport.  This company based in Ireland is actually implementing the Pay4Rides concept that I have been researching for the last few years.  It is very exciting to see them working on this new way to travel.

Their vision matches exactly what I have been looking for.  They are trying to expand the public transit system to run on every road in the country.  All of our single occupant vehicles are wasting a tremendous amount of passenger capacity.

So how do they do it?  Watch this YouTube video for a short explanation and demonstration:

This is a very intelligent combination of 4 exiting technologies to enable shared transport:

1. GPS – satellite tracking easily establishes driver’s daily routes
2. GSM – mobile phone networks connect all participants
3. GIS – geographic information systems enable automatic decision making
4. Web – facilitates communication with all users and ride share web sites

As you watch the demonstration, I think you’ll agree this is a smooth process with enormous potential.  They have addressed 2 of the biggest concerns with ride sharing by offering a system to validate participants and ratings for both drivers and riders.

Yes, it will take time to build a community of users for a system like this.  However increased participation over time will only enhance the number of available rides and riders.  If you take a few minutes to watch the video, let me know if you are half as impressed with Avego as I am.

Almost everyone has a cell phone now and many have built in GPS capability.  Most cell phone networks are offering location-based service (LBS) to easily identify the whereabouts of an individual. 

Some of these are combined with a web based service like Loopt to identify a precise location of a friend or family member.  Wherify and Sprint Family Locator are two other examples of this technology already being implemented around the country.

This type of technology could help ease concerns when accepting rides.  Now you can easily find the location of your family and friends through their cell phones.

photo credit: kalleboo

This idea will not work unless both drivers and riders feel safe.  Here are some ideas that could make us more comfortable when providing or accepting a ride:

• when you accept a ride, use camara phone to take picture of the driver
• email picture with make/model/year and license plate of the car
• send text message with time/place you were picked up
• call a friend and let them know when/where you expect to be dropped off

photo credit: Nesster

A driver could do similar things when picking up any rider.  Some anxiety could also be reduced by picking up multiple passengers. 

Many cell phones now have built in GPS technology to identify a persons location.  What else could we do to improve safety?