Geolocation has changed how most things work in the world. It used to be too challenging to figure out where someone was in the world. But now that companies can track someone’s location, they can deliver more personalized services and give people exactly what they need.
So, what is geolocation, and how is it useful in your everyday life? Check out the guide below to learn the answers to your questions.
What Is Geolocation?
Geolocation is the process of using a computer device to determine a person’s location. The device performing geolocation uses a signal from the device a person carries and translates the person’s coordinates to an external service.
There are a couple of ways to do this.
IP Address
Your IP address is your internet location. It is a unique number assigned to the device and location you’re using to access the internet.
However, the accuracy of an IP address isn’t that great. At best, it will tell the looker a person’s general region. That can mean their country, state, city, or zip code.
This is a great inexpensive option for a service that doesn’t have many resources.
GPS
GPS is the standard for accurate geolocation data. It relies on satellites in the sky to give a person’s location.
It does this by sending a signal to a GPS device. The satellite can then triangulate a person’s location based on where the GPS signal comes from.
The location offered by GPS is very precise. In many cases, you can get the exact location of a person without much margin of error.
Why Is Geolocation Useful?
Now that you understand what geolocation services are, you’ll need to understand why they matter worldwide. Below are many benefits you’ll see by using the geographical location of a device.
Get Directions to New Locations
One of the primary benefits of geolocation tracking people have gotten over the years is the ability to get accurate directions. Instead of relying on maps and trying to find your way around on your own, you can use a GPS device to navigate to your next location.
You can do this because a GPS device gets your geolocation based on your phone in your car. From there, it figures out the best way to get to your next location and shows it on your map.
Your device then continues to track your location and give you directions on the go. This removes the chance of getting lost when in an unfamiliar area.
Track Phone Numbers
Are you getting calls from numbers you don’t recognize on your phone? You’re not alone in your dilemma. The number of spam phone calls is still unreal for many people.
Unfortunately, that leads some people not to answer their phones. They don’t know the phone number, so they aren’t sure if they should answer.
But if you see the same number popping up, you can use geolocation services to get a better idea of whos calling. You can put the number in a service to get the general location of the number. If it’s somewhere close, there’s a better chance of the number not being from a bad actor.
If you want to try a service like this, try it out here.
Track Your Kids
One of the great things about modern technology is the ability to keep an eye on your kids. In the past, you had to rely on their word that they stayed where they told you they would be. With modern phones, that’s no longer an issue.
You can use a geolocation app to let you know where your kids are at all times. You can purchase a monitoring application and install the monitor on your phone. From there, you can log into the service to see where your kid’s phones are located.
That means you can rest easy knowing your kids are safe and aren’t doing something they shouldn’t.
Get Weather Information
It’s not always easy to get weather information when you aren’t next to a TV. Even if you are next to one, you have to rely on a news station being on or the weather station being available.
None of that is necessary with geolocation services and a mobile device. Most phones have weather applications included that connect to the weather service. They can track your location and show you what the current weather is like immediately.
That means you can be in the middle of nowhere and still know the current and future weather. This will help you prepare and not accidentally run into situations where you’ll deal with bad weather.
Receive Better Delievies
Tracking where you are isn’t the only benefit of geolocation today. Today’s applications also use GPS devices to track where their workers are on the road.
Take food delivery services, for instance. These applications track their drivers to let customers know where their food is on the road. This means nobody will be stuck wondering how far away their food delivery is.
The same is also true for normal deliveries. Some delivery companies track their mail deliveries now, which means you’ll know more information about when your packages arrive.
Geolocation Is Useful for Almost Everyone
Geolocation has come a long way over the years. It used only to be used to triangulate basic positions with a GPS device. From there, it’s turned into a technology used in countless applications and devices.
Now that you know what is geolocation, you should be able to better appreciate all it offers. Be sure to use it where possible to make your life easier.
Head back to the blog to learn more about the technology that makes the world work.
