Technology

Meet the ‘Sixth Sense’ iPhone App That’s Exciting Social Media Gurus and Worrying Others

The South by Southwest (SXSW) conference has helped launch popular social media sites and applications, such as Twitter and FourSquare. The contender for the heart of this year’s social networking conference, which is wrapping up in Austin, Texas, is an iPhone app called Highlight.

Highlight and Other Location Based Social Networking Apps Raise Privacy Concerns

Highlight is a social media app that “lets you learn more about the people around you” — literally. Highlight describes itself as giving you a “sixth sense” about those in your proximity who may also have the app. Here’s essentially how it works:

If someone standing near you also has Highlight, their profile will show up on your phone. You can see their name, photos of them, mutual friends, and anything else they have chosen to share. When you meet someone, Highlight helps you see what you have in common with them. And when you forget their name at a party a week later, Highlight can help you remember it.

Highlight is in a class of apps that its founder Paul Davidson describes as “social discovery” apps — a buzz word in many discussions at SXSW this year. These types of apps, most simply put, streamline how a person finds other people based on factors such as location or age.

Davidson said that up until recently, the way individuals found each other on social media was “horribly random and inefficient.” Davidson goes further to describe how social discovery apps, such as Highlight, tie our social media world to our physical being. He compares reality to a “bizarre version of Facebook where every profile is just a single photo” — our body — with no other information attached to it.

Watch Davidson explain more about the app in this Forbes report:

As you might imagine, there are a host of privacy concerns that would come along with this app. MSNBC‘s tech blog explains that Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Parker Higgins takes issue with some of Highlight’s elements because it’s continually streaming your information to fellow Highlight users without having a “check in” feature, which would allow you to control when it was turned on, although it dose have a pause function. Higgins also mentions some flaws in the privacy policy — or lack thereof — for data and how long information can be kept by the company:

It doesn’t take much imagination to figure out how sending such a steady stream of location data to a third party with no posted privacy or data retention policy could go very wrong: the application could be indefinitely storing location histories on their servers for every user, including likely interactions between them. Further, Highlight has access not only to locally stored personal data but also can access the Facebook photos, profile details, and other data on that service.

John Biggs writes on Tech Crunch (via MSNBC) that he received an invite to Highlight from an acquaintance via a SMS, which also contained the names of 141 other people whose numbers he could see. Biggs states if Highlight is going to allow spam invites such as this, then it should at least provide encryption of phone numbers of those on the invite list.

Highlight and Other Location Based Social Networking Apps Raise Privacy Concerns

Shontell explains that Highlight showed her that Dave was nearby and that they have Glee, Kenny Chesney and Love Actually in common. (Image: Business Insider)

Business Insider’s Alyson Shontell joined the club but shortly afterward deleted the app when she found it was draining her battery and she felt like she was being watched. Still, she eventually came back to it. Here’s why:

On my flight to SXSW, I had a change of heart.  I looked around the terminal and realized most of the passengers were heading to the conference. Some were familiar faces but I had trouble placing names. So, I downloaded Highlight again.

I pulled it open and tried to be stealth in my stalking.  The director of a startup I’ve covered was close by.  I glanced up sheepishly trying not to get caught. Then I spotted him.

A few feet away was a TechStars NY team I had met once before.

In the past three days, Highlight has found 116 other users in my vicinity, including Rick Webb and Dave Morin, two people I would like to meet.

One of the benefits of Highlight in addition to networking, Shontell points out is as the next generation of online dating. Instead of hoping the profile picture on an online dating sight really portrays how an interest looks, if you see someone in public who catches your eye, and they also have Highlight, you can get some background info before deciding to pursue them.

Other location-based social networking apps buzzing around the conference have included Glancee, Ban.jo, Sonar, Intro and Kismet. Each have their own location-based nuances.

Glancee founder Andrea Vaccari, for example, said finding the right balance of public and private information will be the key element that separates one app from the pack. Glancee doesn’t display exact locations but uses approximate locators, like “10 miles away.”

Ban.jo has been around longer than some startups and has, it says, a larger network of users than all the new apps combined. It pulls connections from Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Instagram and others, and relies on public check-ins, rather than exposing user location.

Damien Patton founded Ban.jo after a missed connection of a nearby friend at an airport.

“I decided at that moment that that was never going to happen to me again,” says Patton. “That’s why I started programming literally that day.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Comments (19)

  • abird
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 3:16pm

    Wow, another stupid app for people who want more false sense of connection with people they don’t know based on some stupid facts about them. “Oh my God, I just met this new friend who has this app that says he likes puppies too…we’ll be friends forever!”

    I’d like and app that sees what other people like and changes my profile to match their interests automatically just to mess with them.

    Report Post »  
  • alexegz30
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 11:50am

    Does this make the user give up their privacy? Yes. Will many use it? Oh, yes. There are plenty of social media users who think nothing of their privacy. Just look at YouTube and all the insanity being uploaded for the sake of being seen. Be it and embarrasing incident or a drunken guest at a party. Sharing information is the norm with the youth today.

    Also, there are those who are seeking like-minded people and struggle everywhere they go. I have been using Facebook less and less although I still ‘tweet’ comments once in a while, but overall, I’m not as savvy as others when it comes to social media. I see both sides and understand the drives of each. With the constant connections available, it is only a matter of time before we have access to the world with the same scanning abilities as computers do with facial recognition. Scary, but soon it will be here. http://www.ted.com/talks/pattie_maes_demos_the_sixth_sense.html

    Report Post »  
  • jebar
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 11:26am

    “As you might imagine, there are a host of privacy concerns that would come along with this app.”

    No, really? If you‘re that concerned about privacy then don’t use it. Social media isn’t about privacy – it’s about being social. This is a ridiculous idea and I’ll never use it, but don‘t blame others for your lack of privacy if you’re stupid enough to download it.

    Report Post »  
  • kennycannon
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 10:04am

    For all the people saying this is “scary” or “only idiots would use this” you obviously don’t understand what Highlight is and what it does. First, most social apps and social spaces being created today are just a combination of other already created apps and spaces. For example, Tumblr is a combo of Twitter and WordPress. Highlight is just a combo of services like Yelp and Foresquare, it then adds a Facebook login and forces Push Notifications. It’s actually a pretty simple idea and all the stuff that Highlight does is already happening. Highlight just lets it happen all in one place.

    Go on Facebook, Yelp, Foresquare, Etc. and see how many people “Check In” using Push Notifications all day long. All Highlight does is FORCE this to happen and notifies other users when it does. Everyone could accomplish the same exact thing by keeping their Facebook open on their phone and “checking in” every place they go.

    Report Post » kennycannon  
  • mpierce
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 7:19am

    More social media stupidity. Next it will be socially unacceptable to speak to someone before you have reviewed that public profile. OMG you are so out of the times.Get with it geyser.

    Report Post »  
    • Christhefarmer
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 9:33am

      In Japan they have cell apps like this. Sign up for a dating thing, wander around the city, when you get close to someone else who is also signed up to date your cell goes off. It shows you a pic of them with a little bio, if both people click “sure they are cute” it then gives you directions to each other. Then you can cosplay all night or whatever they do….

      Report Post »  
  • Ramv36
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:34am

    Why not just skip a step and program an app that automatically hacks the bluetooth connection of every smartphone within range and downloads their entire call history, contact list, and emails…oh what? That’s already in development? @#$%

    Report Post »  
  • pamela kay
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 3:57am

    I agree that only a moron would put this on their phone but I bet cha millions will.

    Report Post » pamela kay  
  • Old_Warrior
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 1:56am

    I wonder how fast I’d land in jail if I got something like that and then loaded a masked maniac for the picture with the message…”I see you, my pretty. Feel free to go home anytime. I will follow.”

    Report Post » Old_Warrior  
  • Free_Thinker
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 1:04am

    Scary stuff, and the stupid kids will eat it up…….

    Report Post » Free_Thinker  
    • VoteBushIn12
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 2:31am

      Please explain why you find this scary. I literally do not understand.

      An app makes people’s public information public. In your mind this will lead to… what?

      Report Post » VoteBushIn12  
    • Ramv36
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:29am

      @VoteBushIn12, who asked “Please explain why you find this scary.”

      One possible outcome: Serial killer downloads Highlight and posts in a public place. Using the app, he scans the crowd for likely victims conveniently based on his pre-selected criteria, and the app displays only those results. Now he has her phone number and photograph. Quick web background/reverse number check, he now has her address and probably her employer. He then proceeds to facebook for a list of her friends and family, her living situation, and what hobbies and activities she prefers…and he can watch her status to know when she’s alone.

      It’s the most full-featured, convenient stalker app EVER!!

      Report Post »  
    • taksavillage
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 9:17am

      Notice that the person who still hasn’t given up the anti-Bush mantra can’t comprehend how this can turn into a problem. BUT……..he/she (or both) thinks that he/she is more politically astute and probably went around railing about the Patriot act and the “lost privacy”.

      Report Post »  
    • VoteBushIn12
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 11:33am

      @RamV36

      First of all wow… Don‘t you think you’re being a little absurd? You think this app is going to somehow make a serial killer’s life easier? A bit of a stretch no?

      But, lets presume it DOES make their serial killing easier. Here are a list of technologies that also make a serial killers life easier

      Cars – now serial killers can take you far away much faster.
      Guns – Think how much easier they can kill you now!
      Shoes – If you’re trying to escape through the forest, the foot protection comes in handy… for him!
      Clocks – What better way to schedule his killing? Now he knows exactly where to meet you after work.
      Indoor Plumbing – He can hold you captive in the same location without having to find water

      At the end of the day, if a technology makes everyone‘s life easier you can rest assured that it also makes a serial killer’s life easier.

      Report Post » VoteBushIn12  
    • VoteBushIn12
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 11:38am

      @RamV36

      Also, I just thought of this one too.

      So a Serial Killer kills 5 people that he met at random locations through the app’s suggestions. The app can be used to reverse a profile instantly by matching victims with mutual acquaintances. And your Serial Killer will become the common link between all of them.

      Now the app is CATCHING serial killers! Your next argument please.

      Report Post » VoteBushIn12  
  • MonkeyBeagle
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 12:33am

    Now I can finally figure out who exactly is still voting for Mitt Romney, Mitt Romney voters are like Big Foot.. they have to be out there some where cause he keeps winning… I just havnt found one yet.

    Report Post »  
  • MonkeyBeagle
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 12:32am

    Cool!.. jk.

    Report Post »  
  • randy
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 12:09am

    Anyone who puts this stupidity on their phone, gets what they deserve.

    Report Post » randy  
  • GPS-Tech
    Posted on March 12, 2012 at 11:47pm

    Where you have been and who you came into contact with. The ultimate big brother application.

    Report Post » GPS-Tech  

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