Google has added two features — Google Location History and Google Location Alerts — to Google Latitude, which is a feature of Google Maps. Software engineer Chris Lambert wrote in a blog post that the additions are the aftereffect of requests from users to upgrade Latitude, which launched in February.

“One of the most popular ideas was for Latitude to keep track of location history, allowing you (but not your friends) to see where you’ve been at any point in day. Another popular view was to inform you when you’re near your Latitude friends so you can easily meet up or grab lunch.”

Selective Alerts

Location History enables a user to review where he or she has been, and it can be seen on Google Earth, Google Maps, or played back on the user’s device. Location Alerts, which is in beta profile, provides friends with updates on a user’s comings and goings.

Lambert’s posting said Location

Alerts only works in conjunction with Location History. that way, once the system is “trained” — which takes about a week — text-message alerts are not issued whether the person is carrying on business as usual. So only going to a strange location or a familiar location at odd times will trigger an observant.

Tina Teng, the senior analyst for wireless communications for iSuppli, said the new Latitude features face some challenges. The first is how widely distributed Gmail is, since the e-mail program is needed to use Latitude on a desktop PC or a laptop. “So there is a community issue,” Teng said.

defense is Paramount

Perhaps even more serious are issues of privacy and shield in an era in which public are concerned about stalking and other potentially problematic uses of tracking technology. Teng said some public don’t want their precise location to be tracked, and even pointed…

Original post by dhiram