Although geolocation is reasonably accurate for most uses, it is sometimes not accurate enough for those who are truly spatial-orientation challenged and on vacation.

The idea is to create a small wifi kiosk in town centres which offers an extraordinarily precise geolocation address as your starting point. The tiny password to use the wifi will also be surrounded by adverts related to cities amenities, etc., each with a geocoded QR code, in order to get precise directions.
-- 4and20, Aug 13 2021

Google Maps offers accuracy up to 20 metres https://support.goo....Platform%3DAndroid
maybe [4and20, Aug 13 2021]

Android GNSS a bit patchy https://barbeau.med...o-know-d812d28a3821
unless in Geek Mode [4and20, Aug 13 2021]

I’m not sure I understand this idea: GPS gives you accuracy down to one or two metres; wi-fi doesn’t really provide any geo-accuracy apart from saying you’re close to the wi-fi signal or not. But in any case, for finding your way around a city why would you want a greater level of accuracy than you get from GPS?

Maybe we need a Zen Satnav which just says “You are always Exactly Here”
-- hippo, Aug 13 2021


// GPS gives you accuracy down to one or two metres //

You may be right. However, it appears that some Android apps offer a free, less accurate GPS geolocater vs. a premium subscription version. Perhaps not many people want to pay for really precise GPS until they suddenly need it.
-- 4and20, Aug 13 2021


Would this exactitude also include altitude? Perhaps with the traditional lon and lat a third number could indicate the number of meters up or (-)down from sea or street level.

27.988150, 86.925216, 8848
-- whatrock, Aug 13 2021


That is an excellent point. I don't reallly care if it's a shortish walk if it's up a steep grade hill.
-- 4and20, Aug 13 2021


// Look up WAAS and current A-GPS systems to see how ground-based transmitters are used to improve GPS accuracy. //

It goes without saying that many second-world countries are bound to have spotty ground-based transmitter coverage. Finding myself more than once in a second-world country, I have been equally surprised at the number of foreign tourists milling about, all of them carrying phones.
-- 4and20, Aug 13 2021


I am not against installing a GNSS broadcast system instead of wifi, but what is the real incentive versus cost for some second-world town centre to have remarkably finer geolocation?
-- 4and20, Aug 13 2021


I think your "good old traditional" tourist information office is exactly this. It's in a precisely fixed physical location (unless it's in a particularly tectonically active region), intended to be easily found by tourists. Usually easily identifiable on paper maps.

Oh, actually (I must be getting old) - wouldn't a traditional paper map also be a really good solution? No problems with batteries, satellites or network coverage... still works in developing countries...

(My grumpy WIBNI rant) - wouldn't it be nice if schools actually taught kids to use maps and compasses?
-- Frankx, Aug 16 2021


//wouldn't it be nice if schools actually taught kids to use maps and compasses?// Hang on though - then what advantage would us old folk have after the zombie apocalypse?
-- hippo, Aug 16 2021


Yeah I don’t ever rely on schools to teach relevant subjects. My dad taught me to read maps and it has helped me to this day.

I also still carry paper maps in the trunk of my car. I live in a rural area and sometimes there is just no service to be found.
-- xandram, Aug 16 2021


But we're spinning through the universe at a phenomenal rate. Here is never the same place.
-- RayfordSteele, Aug 16 2021


//You are Exactly Here// is still true though.
-- Frankx, Aug 17 2021


Define "you." Which part of "you" is exactly "here?"
-- RayfordSteele, Aug 17 2021


//Define "you."//

Sorry, it's too early in the morning for an existential crisis.
-- pertinax, Aug 17 2021


Boned for including advertising.
-- nuclear hobo, Aug 19 2021


One day someone will post an idea:

RealWorld Interaction
Look up from your screen (-15, +1)
This idea is for a semantic and philosophical worldview approach which allows the real world to be parsed by human vision and cognitive systems without the intermediation of glowing screens and electronic information technology networking and processing devices.
&ce...
-- pocmloc, Aug 19 2021


Nah, that’s entirely too ridiculous.
-- RayfordSteele, Aug 20 2021



random, halfbakery