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12 Mobile Check-in Applications
According to a new report issued by Pew Internet and American Life Project on Tuesday, 28% of American adults use location-based services. And one of the most popular location-based and mobile trends is the check-in application. These new mobile applications allow users to check-in to the places they are located, the movies and televisions shows they’re watching and much more. It’s more important than ever to be aware of the types of applications and services that our patrons are using and in order to determine innovative new ways we can leverage them for our libraries.
Checking into Places
Foursquare, Gowalla, Loopt, SCVNGR, and now Yelp for Mobile are all location-based check-in apps which allow people to check themselves in at places and events. They each have game-like qualities in that users earn virtual items such as badges as rewards for achieving goals. SCVNGR takes this a step further and offers challenges for users to undertake at places to earn points and real-world rewards. Most of these apps allow people to add tips and/or reviews and post photos of the places they are located. Most of these apps allow integration with Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks.
Checking into Entertainment
A slew of media check-in apps have become available, enabling users to check-in and share what they’re watching, video games they’re playing, and books they’re reading. Miso, GetGlue, IntoNow from Yahoo! and Tunerfish are several of the most popular media check-in apps available. Users are able to make comments and place reviews on media they’re viewing and share them with their friends and social networks. These apps also allow integration with Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks.
Checking into Food & Drink
Untappd has been called the “Foursquare for beer”, while Foodspotting has been described by ReadWriteWeb as “Foursquare meets food”. Increasingly there are check-in apps being developed for just about everything, including wine. VinPass is a new social check-in game that’s available through the Drync app which lets players make recommendations and reviews of their favorite wines.
October 10th, 2011 at 12:35 am
Librarians should suggest anyone who uses a check-in service read the George Orwell classic 1984 and THINK before they automatically start creating a permanent record of everywhere they’ve been.
Then have them read some books about the many innocent people who have been imprisoned or even executed – like Troy Davis – because they happened to be where a crime occurred.
If that seems improbable, watch more closely the many detective shows on TV where they latch on to one person after another as being guilty until proven innocent.
Perhaps librarians can suggest a good book that explains why those who fail to study history end up repeating it.