Location Matters : Trends in location-based services

Abstract

Cartography is currently undergoing a change of paradigms. The ultimate aim is not to produce a map solely as an artefact, but to produce and use maps as services. In this sense, the formal descriptions of cartographic modelling procedures – with algorithms, APIs (application programming interfaces) and style descriptions – allow for mapmaking and dissemination in a ubiquitous and sometimes a close-to-real-time manner. The rapid advances in mobile communication and the prevalence of mobile devices have triggered a trend towards location-based services (LBS). We can expect this trend to continue and to see more data resulting from the sensing and monitoring of more human activities, needs and demands, desires, moods, and the environment. We can also expect to see the introduction of more embedded Human-Computer-Interfaces (HCIs) that are ‘closer’ to our human perception and cognitive processing. As augmented reality (AR) glasses are already available, contact lenses as displays are on their way. It is not hard to predict that direct brain-computer interfaces might be a future focus of research. We can therefore envision that the task of communicating spatial information in a more accessible way will continue to experience major changes, challenges and opportunities. Individually tailored LBS are a prominent example that demonstrates this development.