GeoTagging: A new devil on the block

Reaching a destination is easy with a map, that is until you’re rushing, and find yourself without either: (1) A large map with sufficient precision, and
(2) The exact location of your required destination.

Thanks to a new technique called GeoTagging, those days are over. Map Applications like Google Maps, Wiki Maps make maps readily available that allow users to mark-up locations. Furthermore, these may be published on the web for others to follow.

These applications display maps with as high a precision and scale as is required. Users need no longer to carry maps, as these applications are accessible over the internet, on GPS enabled devices, and internet enabled phones/PDAs; and are proving beneficial for businesses like hotels, restaurants, malls, tourist attractions, or cafés looking to attract a large customer base.

The majority of ‘Contact Us’ web PAGES nowadays contain web links to map locations in addition to physical addresses. Most of these applications are completely free to use, with no restriction on the number of GeoTags that can be created by a single user.

With the increasing popularity of these applications, there is a steady increase in users tracking locations and creating new GeoTags. Interestingly, not only businesses but also ordinary users are tagging locations on maps. The first location to be tagged is usually a user’s own home/business addresses. WebCoherence.org has analyzed a few applications, and found them flooded with GeoTags such as “Naresh Goel’s Office”, “Paul Kahn’s Home”, “Peter Buckman sits here”.

Such tags are the ultimate replacement for a publicly listed home/office addresses. However, there is a possibility that the high precision linked to the public listing of GeoTags could compromise the privacy of users. Geotagging therefore must be used with great care, or you might find the unwelcome attention of the devil on your doorstep!

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