Field Trip (application)

Field Trip
Developer(s) Niantic Labs
Initial release September 27, 2012 (2012-09-27)
Operating system Android, iOS, Google Glass
Website www.fieldtripper.com

Field Trip is a location-based mobile app developed by Niantic Labs for the Google Glass, Android and iOS devices first released in September 2012. The first application published by the developer, it utilizes user location and various databases in order to provide information and recommendations about various points of interest in their surroundings.

Overview

Field Trip acts as a "virtual tour guide" - using the user's location in order to recommend nearby landmarks and various points of interest, providing information about them ranging from historical tidbits to restaurant reviews.[1] Upon approaching such points of interest, in-app "cards" would pop up with information regarding the location. The application also allows its users to customize the app's features, whether it to adjust the frequency of notifications or to prefer certain types of locations.[2]

The application uses GPS and cellular signals to determine the user's location, although in some cases triangulation from radio towers and Wi-Fi emitters are used to conserve battery life.[3] In order to obtain information regarding the landmarks and points of interest, the project's developers relied on external partners like Atlas Obscura, Thrillist,[4] Scoutmob[5] and Dezeen[6] in addition to internal Google structures such as Zagat.[7] In an August 2013 interview with CNN, Hanke mentioned that the application gathered information from 130 databases.[8]

Development

Following the acquisition of his company Keyhole, John Hanke created Niantic Labs within Google as something resembling a startup within the latter's structure. Hanke stated that he wanted users to "explore the beautiful stuff around them". The application was developed with hardware like Google Glass in mind.[9] Field Trip would become the first application released by Niantic.[5]

In August 2014, Field Trip's functionality was rolled into Google Now, although the standalone application remained.[10] Points of interest collected within the app were used in later applications by the developer, such as Ingress.[11]

Release

The first version of the app was released exclusively for the United States on 27 September 2012 for Android phones,[7] with a release for the United Kingdom in December that year.[12] An iOS version was released in March 2013.[6] By May 2013, the release had been expanded to include 80 countries with support for 30 languages.[13] In August 2013, a version was released for Google Glass, being a simpler version of the smartphone app.[14] Android Wear versions were released in 2015.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "Google Field Trip app acts as a virtual tour guide". SlashGear. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  2. ↑ Rosenblatt, Seth (21 August 2013). "Google Glass finds fellow traveler in Field Trip". CNet. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  3. ↑ Bailey, Brandon (2 November 2012). "Mercury News interview: John Hanke, vice president and head of Google's Niantic Labs". The Mercury News. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  4. ↑ Ingraham, Nathan (27 September 2012). "Google releases 'Field Trip' app, a location-aware guidebook to your surroundings". The Verge. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  5. 1 2 Dickey, Megan Rose (23 January 2013). "There's A 'Sphere Of Weirdness' Hidden Deep Within Google". Business Insider. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  6. 1 2 Koetsier, John (8 March 2013). "Google's awesome 'Field Trip' app launches for Apple's iPhone". VentureBeat. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  7. 1 2 Heater, Brian (27 September 2012). "Google's Niantic Labs launches Field Trip app for Android, helps the working world play hooky". Engadget. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  8. ↑ Frum, Larry (27 August 2013). "At Google, apps to help discover (and conquer) the world around you". CNN. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  9. ↑ Swanner, Nate (21 March 2013). "John Hanke of Niantic Labs talks about Field Trip". Android Authority. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  10. ↑ Nield, David (17 August 2014). "Google plugs its Field Trip app into Google Now". Digital Trends. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  11. ↑ Ingraham, Nathan (25 September 2014). "Google's 'Ingress' will soon let players build scavenger-hunt missions across the globe". The Verge. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  12. ↑ Dobie, Alex (18 December 2012). "Google's Field Trip app now available in the UK". Android Central. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  13. ↑ Racoma, J. Angelo (16 May 2013). "Field Trip goes global with support for 80 countries and auto-translate". Android Authority. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  14. ↑ Etherington, Darrell (21 August 2013). "Google Brings Field Trip To Glass, Turns Out The Travel Guide Was Conceived As A Glass App First". TechCrunch. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  15. ↑ Kamen, Matt (16 April 2015). "Google's Field Trip app now lives on your smartwatch". Wired. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
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