A short video tutorial on signing up for www.oldersibling.com

OlderSibling's Evolution

As the user base for OlderSibling continues to expand, we are getting more feedback from you, our users.  We have tried to add features in response to your requests such as live updating and text message alerts, and we are in the process of designing and implementing additional suggestions.

More and more people are realizing that the benefits of location services outweighs any tripedation regarding divilulging their location to software (particularly to software that take steps to ensure that the users' privacy is not breached).  As you can imagine, their are millions of ways your location, or some items' locations, could be beneficial.

So, as we grow, we remained focused on two main goals:
1. Making location based software and web services that are fun and useful.

• As mentioned other places we are working on software that will help you find the items that are most often lost like your keys, remote, or wallet, by using your smart phone.  We also have a slew of other projects that we are either building or experimenting with, like automatically turning on lights when you get home, or turning down the thermostat when nobody's in the house.

2. Keeping your location data private.

• In fact, we only use your data for two things.  We show it to you and the people who you have identified as your friends, and we use it internally to hone our location algorithms.  Other than that, we do absolutely nothing with it.  We don't sell it.  We don't even let anyone else see it.  We appreciate you using our services and we know you want your personal data kept private (as do we).

By focusing on these two goals, and by continuing to implement the excellent suggestions of our users and employees, we hope to expand our business even more in the coming months and years.

In other news ...
We are in the process of expanding our organization by hiring for the following positions for our offices in Binghamton, NY:

Chief Business Development Officer (CBDO) - This person's role will be to cultivate and grow the OlderSibling brand, provide input on the company's direction, and recruit funding from outside investors.  Compensation will be based on performance, experience, and include a 1% - 2% ownership of the company.

Software Developers - We are looking for developers who have experience coding in some or all or the following languages: Python, Java, Javascript, AJAX, and HTML5.  Applicants should be creative and enjoy working with others.

If you are interested in either position, please email your resume to jobs@oldersibling.com.

Cheers,
Kelly
kelly@oldersibling.com

Phase Two and Three

We're now working on two new products/services in addition to our social Bluetooth chip web service (www.oldersibling.com).

First, we're developing a site similar to www.oldersibling.com that is targeted towards employers tracking their employees.  By using proximity location, employers will be able to keep track employees time sheets without lifting a finger.  Unlike www.oldersibling.com, this will be a subscription based site where employers can purchase Bluetooth enabled ID cards through us.  Tentatively, the site will be www.virtualpunchin.com, though that's not set in stone yet.

In the second project, we're putting together an Android app that can be used to find lost Bluetooth enabled items.  For instance, you could use your wife's phone to find your phone, or use your laptop to find the remote control.

In regard to all three projects, we are still working with Nordic Semiconductors on incorporating Bluetooth Low Energy chips.  These chips will allow Bluetooth capability to be inserted into almost anything, without having to worry about recharging or changing batteries.

We truly believe that our software and Bluetooth Low Energy will be revolutionary in object (and personal) location.  Stay tuned...

Bluetooth Low Energy

We've started working with Nordic Semiconductors and their Bluetooth Low Energy chip prototypes and using it with OlderSibling.com software.  So far our project looks like the inside of C3PO, but by the time it's worked out, there should be some compelling reasons to use our website.

Our goal is to be able to have inexpensive Bluetooth devices that can use OlderSibling software without having to be recharged.  With batteries that last a year or more, these device could either be fitted with replacement watch batteries, or be disposable.

Stay tuned for more on our progress.

New features

We've fixed a few bugs and rolled out some new features including: 

• Now users can signup or signin using their facebook id.
• It is possible to add computers to the same location.  Now, for example, both computers in your house can be shown as one location rather than two.
• We're working on a mobile version of our website.  (Go to http://oldersibling.com/ using a mobile phone.)  This uses the phones location process to pinpoint the user's location.

We're also beginning to increase our user base by promoting ourselves to family and friends outside the company.  If you discover any issues, please mention them to us and we'll do our best to solve them.

Finally...

We've finally launched the beta version of OlderSibling.com.  We are extremely proud to have reached this milestone and are going out tonight to celebrate.  But before we do that, here's a blurb about our site:

The site focuses on location awareness (i.e. seeing the location of your friends, colleagues, etc.), but uses Bluetooth proximity, rather than GPS or other more expensive technologies. This eliminates the need for cell phone apps as well as GPS chips and WiFi to perform location searches.


A few aspects make this kind of location awareness preferable to GPS, or WiFi and cell tower geolocation.

First, Bluetooth Low Energy chips will begin to be widely distributed by Texas Instruments and Nordic Semiconductors later this year. This will allow anything to have a Bluetooth chip in it without the necessity of recharging it. The chips run on a watch battery and should last a year or more. A chip could easily be attached to your key ring, placed inside your child’s necklace, or imbedded in an employee ID card – all at a cost that makes these items only nominally more expensive.

Another important aspect is Bluetooth technology isn’t as intrusive as GPS. Seeing someone’s position requires their Bluetooth ID AND a detector (i.e. a Bluetooth enabled computer). So, for example, an employer could see when his employees are at work (if they had an Bluetooth enabled ID card), but nothing outside of that. And while there are certainly still privacy issues, it is much easier to navigate them when using proximity location awareness, rather than the currently available invasive techniques.

What was I thinking

There's no better way to guarantee that something won't be done, than to estimate a completion date.  So at this point, OlderSibling.com is still not finished.

On a separate note, I think OlderSibling.com should be up and running by March 14, 2010.

We've almost made it!

Around this time next week, you should be able to check out our new web site www.oldersibling.com. Here's a brief description:

The Smart Location Service that doesn't require a smart phone. (It also doesn't require GPS, any software on your phone, or technically even a phone at all.)

I've used this description about fifty places because I'm too fricken brain dead and lazy to think of anything original right now.