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location-based tasks
... random thoughts
thu 2004-may-27 14:30:43 pdt
... permalink
A lot of tasks are location-oriented. My PDA (or phone or whatever)
should be able know when I'm in the right location for a given task,
and should remind me to do that task only when I'm there. For
example, I'd like to be reminded to swap the dead battery in my pocket
for the one in the charger, but the reminder is only helpful if it
comes when I'm actually in the room where the charger is (and
preferably when I'm just entering that room and hence not already
sitting down or whatever...). Other examples might be to pay a bill
when I'm in the room where I keep my bills, or, I dunno, to check how
much milk is in the fridge next time I'm in the kitchen, or something.
My theory is that this should be really easy to do with Bluetooth.
Someone just has to sell cheap little Bluetooth devices that serve no
function beyond announcing their presence (and identity) to any other
Bluetooth devices within 15 feet or whatever. And then I just need
software to allow me to configure a Bluetooth-enabled PDA or phone to
notice when one of these beacons comes within range, and give the
appropriate reminder(s). (Granted, my current PDA/phone
doesn't have Bluetooth, but my next one surely will...)
I figure maybe the device is just a little plug that you stick into an
outlet (best to avoid having to deal with batteries if we can), maybe
even providing an outlet on it as well so that it doesn't take away an
outlet. Though I suppose you would probably wind up with a fairly
bulky (and maybe not cheap enough) package due to have to include a
transformer, so maybe battery-powered is better. Could always add a
functionality to have it remind you to replace the battery when it
gets low. And for that matter, you could make it a smoke-detector or
something as well. But the main thing is to make it really cheap and
easy to put them in many rooms of the house, plus maybe one in the
car, one at my desk at work...
If you want to get really elaborate, you could even rig things so that
you can leave someone a message and have them receive it when next
they come to that location.
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