The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), a non-profit, global group responsible for creating the standards that make the Web run, includes a working group for Web-based geolocation. The geolocation group's mission is to create "a secure and privacy-sensitive interface for using client-side location information in location-aware Web applications." In other words, helping your Web browser know where you are, and helping Web applications and other applications on your PC or mobile device use your location to provide location-based information and services.
There are, of course, many applications already providing location-based services, such as driving directions, business locations relative to your position, providing your location to friends and more. But they accomplish this by tapping directly into GPS or WiFi/cell tower position data.
The W3C has created tags and program interface components that will let Web browsers on a PC or mobile device more easily and directly access and use location data. The new tags are included in the HTML 5.0 specification. A working draft of HTML 5.0 was released in the second quarter of 2009. Google has pledged to support HTML 5.0 as it updates its Chrome browser, Firefox promises to support HTML 5.0 fully in its version 3.5, and Microsoft has also said it will support the standard.
As with other location-based applications, developers will need to tread carefully to provide services without violating the security of location data users wish to keep private. I'll be reporting on the 5.0 geolocation standards and what they mean as browsers and programs begin using the tags and interface capabilities.
