Could technology revolutionize the way we navigate office spaces? This paper introduces a novel system for tracking individuals within an office environment, employing active badges that transmit location data to a centralized service. The system, utilizing a network of sensors, raises intriguing possibilities for applications like telephone call routing and personalized services. The paper also addresses design considerations and alternative location tracking technologies. Staff members equipped with these badges effectively create a dynamic map of the office, enabling the system to pinpoint their real-time location. This location data can then be leveraged to optimize various office functions, such as directing telephone calls to the nearest phone or providing context-aware information to employees. While acknowledging privacy concerns associated with location tracking, the paper emphasizes the importance of addressing these issues in the design and implementation of such systems. The active badge location system represents a significant step towards more intelligent and responsive work environments.
Published in ACM Transactions on Information Systems, this article is highly relevant to the journal's focus on information retrieval, human-computer interaction, and system design. By presenting a novel location system, the paper offers a valuable contribution to the field of information technology in organizational settings.