NearUS is a mobile communications system enabling messaging, chatting and image sharing. The system is to be applied in locations with spatial and temporal boundaries defined by an induced network of non-registered users.
NearUs is a location and temporal based service inspired and enhancing the traditional “walkie talkie” experience. As in the “walkie talkie” world, users do not face registration barriers but can be identified through their phone number. In addition, they can be spatially and temporally located.
By activating Wi Fi, cellular and/or GPS connections, an estimate of the user's location is defined. The location is represented by a dot in the screen. The dot may be seen as a node in an imaginary network. By selecting a radius, each user selects his or her "communication space". By activating this space, he or she discovers the other active users represented by nodes.
Each space is associated to an event. Events can be limited in time (a rock concert, a sports event) or unlimited (chatting at a circumscribed space such as a university or shopping mall) There will always exist a default communication space defined by the spatial boundaries associated with the event.