LOCATION-BASED SYSTEMS: A GEOGRAPHIC READING

Abstract

Media development enables growing impacts on geographical space production process. Communication technologics, based on locating systems, increasingly present in modern gadgets have caused changes in the ways people relate to geographic space, as well as in inte rs ubjec tive relationships themselves. In these terms the importance of such a topic for geographical studies is evident. In this article, we present and discuss, based on a geographical approach, the services based on location that, through mobile devices, are fascinating the collective imaginary, constituting a true psycho-sphere. This psycho-sphere, however, can only exist based on a true set of gadgets interconnected by sophisticated technologic networks, thus constituting a complex techno-sphere. For each object that composes this techno-sphere, science, technique and information converge. Techno-sphere and psycho-sphere can thus be taken as indicators to understand the nature of contemporary geographic space. Based on these questions, we develop the ideas of this article. Thus, in a first moment, we present how these tools have promoted the virtualization of geographic information, that later are updated in actions. The binomial virtualization-update, as said by Jaques Levy, points to the expansion of collective intelligence, and it results on empowering and qualitying actions in space. To better think about this, we then discuss the role played by science, technology and information in the constitution of a contemporary geographie space, as well as the complexity inhe rent in eac h element that makes it up, es pecially the hyper- connected technical objects. It is, therefore, to recog nize that location-based services are an important topic for geographic analysis, since they strongly condition socio-spatial dynamics. In a third step, we introduce the technologies, networks and mobile de vices that make location-base d syste ms increasingly robust. Large numbers of these systems are no w easily accessible to users and are available to a growing pool of applications In this sense, we have selected some applications, in different performance segments, to exemplify the possible uses. At this point, we seek to highlight the possibilities and advantages of using applications that add technologies based on location. Finally, we point to some possibilities of interpretation, given the complexity, complementarities.