Here's a new idea (new to me, anyway)... Who can code this?

[supra661]

Here's an idea I've had rattling around for quite a while.... Don't see myself having the $$$ anytime soon to fund such a development, esp having no real software scripting abilities myself.... But anyhow I think this is a great concept and wanted to share and see if any hacker/coder types are up to the challenge. You could probably turn this into a pretty profitable operation:

Target Audience= Anyone having a GPS-capable (real GPS, like those requiring a separate bluetooth-connected GPS receiver), and a high-speed (EDGE/UMTS or 1X-RTT/EVDO) digital data-capable mobile phone.

Initial Application= Windows Mobile OS, followed by Palm, Symbian, Apple, etc.

Concept= Similar to those "traffic light camera" or "speed camera" mirrors that use GPS to tell you when you're nearing a known traffic camera or speed camera, this concept goes 1 step farther. Using and integrating with a freely/publicly available mapping database such as "Google Maps Mobile" or Microsoft's "Live Search", create software that links to one of the aforementioned databases via a digital cellular data connection. Using a bluetooth GPS receiver (or GPS built into your phone if you have a newer phone with true GPS installed), this new software will work very similar to a simple Navigation system but with one extremely important difference... (Note, I believe both services already have the ability to update/map your position real-time using a GPS reference and cellular data connection for access to the map database and traffic information! Anyhow, now onto that difference that makes this such a cool idea!....)

This software would then log into an internet-hosted database created as part of a free (advertiser-subsidized) or fee-based (monthly subscription) service. The software does two KEY things!
1) Provide a "hot key" (or on-screen "ALERT!!" button for touch-screen devices), where this key or soft button is intended to allow the end user to depress the button whenever/wherever the user spots or passes by (or is caught by) a speed trap. When the button is depressed, the software collects exact GPS coordinate information, and sends that information back up to the internet-hosted server!
2) The software, when connected to the online server/host, receives database information containing all known speed trap alerts and their coordinates within a 5 or 10 mile (8.04 or 16.1 Km ) radius surrounding the user's most recent GPS coordinates. Using this (real-time updated) database of speed traps (which could also contain traffic accident or road construction alerts), the software will notify the user when they are approaching the coordinates of any known speed traps, even ones that were just identified moments earlier by someone on the road just ahead of the user!!!

By integrating the above software into a free/online-hosted mapping service, icons could even be placed on the map as it is updated real time!

Additionally, given a hosted database of speed limit information, the software could even offer the ability to tell the user what the POSTED SPEED LIMIT is when an alert is sounded to "slow down"!....

With a service like this, the more people it is available to, the more effective it is. Hence, it is likely to perform better as a subsidized/free service that is paid for by advertisers. (Example, Google could offer advertisers the ability to send a coupon out to a potential customer that is passing near a business they might be interested in, where an on screen icon could start flashing and automatically pop up when a user is stopped at a traffic light (GPS is stationary). The user could then view details (or possibly "hear" details) of the offer, and decide to go there (a "click through") or pass on the offer ("no sale"). Users could also be given the option to pay a nominal monthly fee to eliminate advertisementsfrom popping up, etc.)

Anyhow, I know this is a great idea but for now its just a pipe dream!

Anyone willing to take a stab at some beta software to perform some of the above??

[lukenosewalker]

Cool idea. thestaton had mentioned an idea similar to this one where detectors would be linked via gps. For instance, if one detector got a Ka alert, a vehicle 4 miles behind would receive an alert saying "Ka 4 miles ahead." This has got to be the next step in radar detector technology.

But why is this in the speed trap section?

[supra661]

Cool idea. thestaton had mentioned an idea similar to this one where detectors would be linked via gps. For instance, if one detector got a Ka alert, a vehicle 4 miles behind would receive an alert saying "Ka 4 miles ahead." This has got to be the next step in radar detector technology.

But why is this in the speed trap section?

Thanks. -I put this in the speed trap section since this idea is something specifically for providing an internet-based means of instant speed trap notification... Real time, etc. etc....

However, being a relative newcomer to this forum, perhaps I put this in the wrong place? If this should be moved elsewhere, let me know and I'll re-post there.

[runaway]

www.trapster.com is a totally free service / software that already does exactly what you describe. (live speed trap alerts based on GPS or WiFi location).

Please note this is *not* yet another speedtrap.org-meets-Google-maps-mashup (even though it has a map). It's a speed trap sharing service for mobile phones and other devices. You press a button when you see police, others are alerted as they approach.

It's not new - it has been out a long time, but still in testing. I'm just lousy at marketing (e.g. I didn't even know this forum existed until today). As far as advertising or fees - I say no way, at least for now. It's hard enough just to get people to start using it, and nothing would make me happier as I've worked my bootie off and spent a lot of my own $$ developing this... so please sign up and try it out!

It currently works on BlackBerry, Java / J2ME phones, Windows Mobile, and any phone that has Where.com (Sprint, Alltell, Boost... more coming). I also am locked and loaded on a standalone h/w device, but I really think that's overkill. Who wants yet another box, connection fee / SIM card ...

It also works via voice (you just call a number and say where you saw the trap, and others get alerted via SMS).

It is not integrated with radar detectors -- yet. I approached Beltronics and Valentine and Directed but no takers yet. If you want it integrated, let them know (they will listen to their customers). They would need to add bluetooth h/w to connect to the mobile, so not a tiny project for them, but could be huge. Fingers crossed. I certainly don't want to get in the radar detector business. :-)


BTW it's also a trademark and a US Patent

[supra661]

It's not new - it has been out a long time, but still in testing. I'm just lousy at marketing (e.g. I didn't even know this forum existed until today). As far as advertising or fees - I say no way, at least for now. It's hard enough just to get people to start using it, and nothing would make me happier as I've worked my bootie off and spent a lot of my own $$ developing this... so please sign up and try it out!

BTW it's also a registered trademark and a US Patent

Duuude! That's great news! I will try this, definitely! --I run windoze mobile 6.0, so hopefully it will work ok (your site says "win ce 5.0")....

You should REALLY advertise more. -The more you advertise, the better the service will be. Have you ever considered incorporating traffic info also?

It appears that this truly does everything I was describing above. Cool beans!!

PM me if you want to chat more, I'd like to help you spread the word and/or give you some beta test feedback/results, etc... (Perhaps you should consider a forum or blog on your website?)

Thanks!!!!!

[runaway]

It's not new - it has been out a long time, but still in testing. I'm just lousy at marketing (e.g. I didn't even know this forum existed until today). As far as advertising or fees - I say no way, at least for now. It's hard enough just to get people to start using it, and nothing would make me happier as I've worked my bootie off and spent a lot of my own $$ developing this... so please sign up and try it out!

BTW it's also a registered trademark and a US Patent

Duuude! That's great news! I will try this, definitely! --I run windoze mobile 6.0, so hopefully it will work ok (your site says "win ce 5.0")....

You should REALLY advertise more. -The more you advertise, the better the service will be. Have you ever considered incorporating traffic info also?

It appears that this truly does everything I was describing above. Cool beans!!

PM me if you want to chat more, I'd like to help you spread the word and/or give you some beta test feedback/results, etc... (Perhaps you should consider a forum or blog on your website?)

Thanks!!!!!

Please do give me feedback! Best way for me is if you can just use the "contact" e-mail on the site. You are spot on about the marketing and blog - just not enough time in the day.

I agree more users is better, absolutely, but also you really only need a few in *your* area to have it start being useful. For example where I am near Olivenhain / Encinitas, there are only a few thoroughfares in and out of here... which is exactly where they set up. Everyone pretty much goes those ways to work, school etc, at the same time periods. First one through punches the button and alerts everyone else, so you really only need a few users with similar lifestyles to have it start helping.

I would also like feedback on the redlight cameras - I put that feature in because people asked for it, but in real world use I don't personaly like it. I guess I should just put a feature to optionally filter those beeps out. (Doesn't everyone already know where the cameras are in their area? Plus there's at least here there's a huge sign and the cameras look light aliens out of Star Wars - pretty hard to miss).

As far as CE 5 / Windows Mobile 6, they are the same thing (check your "About" screen, you'll see CE 5.x.x). Gotta love Microsoft numbering schemes. What phone do you have? Does it have GPS or at least WiFi? The WiFi location is cool. It works great around here, not so good at, ehem, highway speeds (I tried it on hwy 5 on way to LA car show).

One note - it does frequent GPS locates, so plug it in to the car charger when driving around and remember to shut it off when you are done. The BlackBerry seems to run for about 24hrs, Nokia N95 is toast after about 4 (seems worse if it's indoors struggling to get a fix, and I haven't measured the Tilt).

[runaway]

This just occurred to me - If you guys want a forum for Trapster, this seems like the perfect place for it! I don't think the admins of this site would like the idea of peeling off users to another site/forum, and I sure don't have the time or people skills required to run one anyway.

So maybe someone could request that a section be created here? They will probably ask you to moderate it yourself.

Just a thought.