2011 Cultural Heritage Informatics Fieldschool

The most noticeable barrier to entry with location-based applications is that not everyone has a smart phone. However, there is another, arguably more sizable, barrier  to entry than the lack of a smart phone: location.

Even those with smart phones may not have the resources to go to places required to make use of location-based applications. The cost of using location-based apps is then that of a smart phone and the cost of travelling to places the applications are centered on. In this way, location-based applications can be seen as making knowledge an exclusive thing, that the more affluent have better access to. How can this problem be addressed?

Today in class, Ethan made a distinction between the labels location-based and place-based that can help address the problem. Location-based applications generally require users to be at specific locations in order to use them. On the other hand, place-based applications root their experiences in maps, but do not require users to be located in a specific place to use them.

One solution to make sure location-based apps are inclusive rather than exclusive is to allow information attached to places to be accesible through a companion website. Users who canot go to certain locations would still be able to access information within the context of place through the use of a website that situates the information on a map.

The takeaway: Technology can both convey information to users and separate users from information. When developing applications, the full range of effects they can have on users are often overlooked. In other words, it’s easy to let the medium become the focus and lose sight of the effects applications and technology can have. It’s paramount to consider how users will be affected and especially who is included and who is excluded.