GumSpots Positioning System

We admit to being the type of pansies that seek out a trash receptacle to deposit our chewed gum, but for the other nine tenths of society the sidewalk seems to be as good a place as any to spit that Double Bubble. Well now someone has figured out how to put all those sidewalk gum spots to good use with GSPS: the GumSpots Positioning System. You merely take a picture of the sidewalk with your cameraphone and send it to the service, which then determines your location based on the unique pattern of gum spots — ala QR codes — and sends back the image with extra data such as "connect the dot spot" drawings to keep you occupied. They're currently seeking investors to create a social community based around the concept, so bust out your phone and get practicing on those sidewalk pics.

[Via networked_performance]

[Dylan Fan @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

I'm speechless..

[Deluxe @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

I think if you're not intelligent enough to locate yourself in a place that's probably fairly well built, with enough people to produce enough gum-spots that you'd need - chances are you're not going to be able to dial even an emergency number on a mobile phone, let alone work an application as pointless as this.

[JTB @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Funny, geeky concept, but the reasons why this will never work are as countless as the actual gumspots in NYC.

[Pal @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Ugh, I hate people who spit gum on the sidewalk.

This system will be utterly useless in Singapore.

[dale @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

I'm thinking there's better use for this amazing technology than connect the spots.

Take a picture of sidewalk poo with the location included and then receieve advance warnings of major poo incidents on the route ahead?

[yelohbird @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Unless their database somehow dynamically tracks gum-spit activity on every street tile (live satellite imaging, perhaps?), this system is only one new spit of gum away from not working.

[alienhead @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

I'll call this one......Bullsh!t

[kegsofduff @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Even if is is Bullshit, it's a pretty inventive idea, just as a concept. Walking around Chicago it's hard to fathom that all those damn black dots are actually individual pieces of gum.

[Metfuel @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

yeah but i watched an episode of dirty jobs that have an actual company who cleans up all of the gum spots on the sidewalks for a price. so what good is this :o

plus you have more gum that gets added.

this has got to be fake

[Camp @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Natch.

[Jason K @ Dec 19th 2005 2:31AM]

Hi there,

This is Jason, I made the GumSpots Position System. First off, it works. We will demoing it at the NYU - ITP Winter show, Dec 18th and 19th.

In regards to new Gumspots being added, the system adapts to new spots being added.

We are currently scanning and documenting 'Ripe' areas of Manhattan to be used with the system.

Come to the show to see it for yourself!

- jason