Google Latitude Screenshot

Today I installed Google Maps on my BlackBerry Storm and activated Google Latitude. For those of you who haven't heard of Latitude yet, it's a new service by Google that allows you to share your location in semi-real time with anyone you choose; be it co-workers, friends, family, or clients. Installation of the software was easy, and setting up latitude and inviting my friends to see me was a snap, but... what concerns me about this particular piece of software is the true value of it.

If you look at the screen shot above, you'll notice my face in the center of a blue circle. This is what people who are trying to figure out where I am would see, and it tells them that I am somewhere within that circle. That circle radius is roughly 2 miles (3600 meters), and while it's neat to see that I am "somewhere" around there, it doesn't really tell you anything of value. For those familiar with the area, there are lots of things located within this blue circle including: a mall, a hospital, countless shopping centers, my office building (and many other office buildings), at least 10 retail stores, and probably 200 houses.

So, where am I really? I'm actually at my office, which is on the lower left of that circle. I will try more tonight and this weekend to test the accuracy of this tool, but if this is as good as it gets then I can't say I see the true value of it for any practical use like: keeping tabs on employees, children, or relatives.