06-23-2005, 07:00 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,386
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Skyhook Wireless Announces Wireless Positioning System (WPS) Solutions
"WPS is designed to address the availability, accuracy, and cost issues associated with existing location technologies. The Wi-Fi Positioning System (WPS) from Skyhook Wireless is the first indoor-outdoor positioning system that utilizes Wi-Fi rather than GPS or cell towers to accurately pinpoint location. The Skyhook solution includes a nationwide location network that can accurately pinpoint location on any Wi-Fi enabled device. Because WPS requires no specialized hardware, works inside or out and acquires a location in less than a second, it solves the problems associated with existing location systems..."
Skyhook Wireless has released a WiFi-based system that attempts deliver where GPS sometimes fails. Skyhook has a vast database of WiFi access points and can leverage that data to lock in on your location. This would work best in areas where wireless APs would be plentiful. Even in areas where GPS signals are attainable, WPS is still might be a more worthy option as location can supposedly be locked down in less than a second and the signal would be just as good indoors as it is outdoors. You can find the actual PDF news release here. In addition, they've announced an application of this new technology that can locate lost/stolen laptops. So the moment a thief powers up the device, a series of signal locks with a set of Wireless APs (provided Skyhook has those APs in its database) would allow the laptop to be located. Details can be found in another PDF news release here. Interesting...
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06-23-2005, 09:25 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 469
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In concept this is cool, in reality I just don't see it catching on. I guess it could become decent if all cell phones integrated this tech. but wouldn't a cell phone with built in gps use the same amount of power as this, maybe even less? I just don't see that many situations where you would need this unless you were trying to find someone else.
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06-24-2005, 12:30 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 155
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I wonder if their client app keeps track of seen wireless access points. You can infer from this knowledge access points around the neighbourhood that may not have been registered into the "database". It would lead to false positives, but it would accelerate establishing the availability of the service.
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