Socialight - Share the Places You Visit With Others
| Published: | Feb 26, 2006 | |||
| Author: | Stacy Reed | |||
Socialight is a location-based messaging system that lets users share messages with others about the places they visit in the real world by creating StickyShadows, which are basically virtual notes that can contain text, pictures, audio and video. Socialight then takes the submitted media, adds some location coordinates, and stores the StickyShadow on the server where it can then be viewed online with a computer or mobile device. When creating a StickyShadow, users can choose whether it is intended to be shared with everyone, with a list of contacts or they can choose to keep it private. Socialight sends notifications to the users mobile phone whenever they come upon a location that has been tagged with a public StickyShadow.
It's like virtual graffiti! Imagine you are out and about exploring a new city. You're looking for a place to eat when suddenly, your mobile lights up. It's a message from Socialight alerting you that a user has left a StickyShadow about a restaurant that you're standing in front of. A picture of what they claim is "the best stromboli in the world" appears. You love stromboli. Your decision has been made and you enter the restaurant. You try the stromboli. It is indeed, the best you've ever had. You can then respond to the note or leave your own note of affirmation for the next passer-by.
Let's say you're a member of a band and you want to promote your next gig, or you're a business owner looking for new ways to advertise your Grand Opening or a special sale. Put together a memoir of your travels, or share a picture of something extraordinary you've stumbled upon. There are so many different ways to use this online service to your advantage. The New York Times calls it Post-Its for Passers-By, but it's much more than that. I see it as a unique way to integrate virtual data with physical real-world experiences in a social atmosphere.
Currently, the free service is only available in the US. Socialight Mobile is only supported by select mobile service providers, though anyone can use the online service via a computer with an Internet connection.
About Stacy Reed
Stacy Reed is Tucows' resident software librarian and editor. She has been reviewing PC and mobile software as well as web services for over a decade. Helping developers improve and promote their products is only one of her areas of expertise. Stacy is also an advocate for Open Source, Creative Commons and freeware, taking special interest in educational resources, social media, cloud sharing, and mobile technology.
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