A common simple approach to identifying a user’s location is to give them a text box, and ask them to type in where they are.
It’s not that easy, as I was reminded last night.
I’ve been using brightkite for some time now – a web service for sharing your location.
The mobile site m.brightkite.com lets you update your location from your phone.
I tried updating my location last night from Southampton Airport Parkway train station while waiting for my train home from Open Hack London.
I typed “Southampton Airport Parkway”.
When brightkite isn’t sure where you mean, it offers a list to choose from.
If it thinks it knows where you mean, it shows that one alone.
Brightkite decided that I meant…
Partido Judicial de Pamplona.
In Spain.
Erm… not quite.