For the glorious and fantastic Mobile Applications Design mid term (and in celebration of the midterm elections of course) I created an application which retrieves location information from a Bluetooth GPS module and displays it on the screen of my mobile device. The application uses the Python programming language and is a proof of concept for a location information visualization and integration with WayMarkr.

First, I created a script where the user selects the GPS device from available paired Bluetooth devices, and, once a socket connection is established, the raw data is printed to the screen. I'm using my N72 with the Holux GPSlim236. The script below will accomplish this.

gps_connect.py

The Holux GPSlim236 transmits NMEA data. Example NMEA data from the NavMan (SirfII chip set) is shown below.

$GPGGA,230611.016,3907.3813,N,12102.4635,W,0,04,5.7,507.9,M,,,,0000*11
$GPGLL,3907.3813,N,12102.4635,W,230611.016,V*31
$GPGSA,A,1,27,08,28,13,,,,,,,,,21.7,5.7,20.9*38
$GPGSV,3,1,10,27,68,048,42,08,63,326,43,28,48,239,40,13,39,154,39*7E
$GPGSV,3,2,10,31,38,069,34,10,23,282,,03,12,041,,29,09,319,*7C
$GPGSV,3,3,10,23,07,325,,01,05,145,*7E
$GPRMC,230611.016,V,3907.3813,N,12102.4635,W,0.14,136.40,041002,,*04
$GPVTG,136.40,T,,M,0.14,N,0.3,K*66
$GPGGA,230612.015,3907.3815,N,12102.4634,W,0,04,5.7,508.3,M,,,,0000*13

Next, the NMEA data needs to be parsed. Specifically, we're looking for altitude, latitude, and longitude.Refrencing the NMEA specification we see that the GGA, GLL, and RMC sentences will give us this (and a few other useful items). Finally, the altitude, latitude, and longitude is printed to the screen. This is demonstrated in the following script.

latLonAlt.py

So what's next? - The next step in this process will be to integrate the location information with the existing WayMarkr system.

Credits/Resources - Jürgen and Nick's web site were used extensively as resources. More information about the NMEA specification is available on the GPS Information web site. Also, for those Eclipse junkies, PyDev is a wonderful plugin which enables Python editing in Eclipse. More on Python. Documentation specific to Python for Series 60 is available on the Nokia web site.

I ran down the stairs, excited. The sun wasn't up yet but who could sleep. I was five and it was Christmas. There was one gift that wasn't under tree. I stood in the living room in awe of the glimmering illuminated screen. An ice skater rotated in sixteen colors. To this day it was the most magnificent screen saver I've ever seen.

The marvel of electronics that stood before me my first computer, a
PC Junior. It packed a whopping 4.77MHz processor and could accommodate 2k to 128k RAM.

My how things change. Considering it entertained me for hours with Kings Quest, Pit Fall, and California Games, looking back it seems like the little engine that could. Looking back, it would be the beginnings of my interests in technology.

Home Star likes California Games Too.

1. Homework
This week in Mobile Application class I built an RSS reader for Flash Lite 1.0. Because Flash Lite can not import XML directly I used PHP as a proxy to convert the RSS feed to Flash vars. Starting with the tutorial on the Macromedia site I rebuilt the RSS proxy using cURL, instead of loading the RSS directly into the simple XML object.

Loading the RSS 2.0 feed via cURL was necessary because most hosts lock down the cross domain loading of XML for security. The next addition I made was adding a zip variable in the URL string so that I could request weather for a specific area from the phone. Minor changes but they seem to be pretty useful. I've made the PHP and Flash source available for download below.

Screen shots - N72 Emulator, N80 Emulator
Code - RSS 2.0 Reader for Flash Lite 1.1 w/ PHP

2. Thinking about the how we interact with everyday objects
In an interview on The Daily Show, Suzan B interviewed the artist Amal. One of the tasks Alam demonstrated was that the RFID implanted in his hand could throw a dead bolt in a door, giving him access to the room. Suzan B replied,"Wait let me get this straight. You're telling me that you can open a door with your hand?". Although this is sarcasm, its somewhat true. Do we an implant to open a door? Could this have been accomplished in a less invasive way?

As I sat in a meeting today I watched all the three attendees take notes on paper. Why, I thought to my self, are we not doing this on our laptops? We all have them. What if technology didn't change the world in the dramatically mind altering ways that the futurists said it would? What if ten years from now we still had printers and took notes on paper? Would we all be sad? I wouldn't be. I've come to the realization that there are qualities or attribute of the physical world that at their fundamental level are human and we can't live with out these things.

3. Midterm ideas - GPS data logger for Waymarkr

Waymarkr continuously captures photographs from your mobile phone as you go about your day to today life. For the midterm I will be integrating GPS data received from a BlueTooth module into the WayMarkr system. The system will build on the existing WayMarkr infrastructure and will continue to use Python. The system will first target the N72 (S60 2nd edition). Ideally the system will be available for 1st edition and 3rd edition phones.

4. Phone of the week - Aeon

Nokia's Aeon concept phone utilizes the entire front of the device for the screen. The object as screen concept is similar to some of the iPod mockups reported on the Mac rumor site awhile back. It looks like everyone is in a rush to get more screen real estate on the mobile device. I personally think think this could be a good idea if the screen has didn't scratch and the usability of changing modes was implemented successfully. While some critic have said the screen would get dirty quickly I think it should be a easy as whipping off your screen now.

More images from Nokia. Original post via Electronista.

In his documentary audio installation Can I get An Amen? Nate Harrison breaks down how a looped break from, Amen Brother, the 1969 B side released by The Winstons, inspired a generation of music. Harrison challenges copyright intentions by demonstrating how innovation is born from the deconstruction and re-appropriation of an existing source. I find the piece inspiring. Being a former DJ and having played many of the songs mentioned in the documentary I was formally unaware of the deep history of this break. Additionally I believe in what Harrison is promoting: that restrictive copy laws limit innovation and diminish potential cultural innovation.

This weekend I went to Wired's NextFest. Overall I had a good time. There was a lot of eye candy, but the people working the exhibits generally had something to do with the projects (as opposed to a trade show w/ sales drones who know only the marketing shtick). I helped out with the Socialight display for an afternoon. The new Socialight software (being released in two weeks) is pretty amazing. Here is my photo set from the event. There were many ITP representatives. James Clar's row of light cubes looked particularly good (photo left). I'v never actually seen them in person.

Still making the blog run, WayMarkr showed up on Yahoo! TV (click on #4). While the Penis Perfect project was
featured on MoBuzzzzzz. And, in WayMarkr news, we released the software for Series 60 3rd edition today. Give it a shot and let us know what you think!