computer science

Geomium

Geomium is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Geomium rather than just read about it. In short: Geomium is a location-based social networking website, and iPhone application, founded by Ben Dowling and Michael Fergusson. Unlike many other location-based services which focus on a single type of information, such as places or events, Geomium combines places, events, deals and people all into a single application.

Key takeaways

Geomium belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Geomium to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Geomium from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Geomium is a location-based social networking website, and iPhone application, founded by Ben Dowling and Michael Fergusson. Unlike many other location-based services which focus on a single type of information, such as places or events, Geomium combines places, events, deals and people all into a single application. It aggregates its information from sources such as Yelp, Qype and Eventful. The service launched to the public on 29 September 2010, focusing initially on London, UK, with more cities and mobile platforms are planned. In addition to all of the aggregated local information Geomium provides real-time location updates, allowing users to see exactly where their friends are, rather than the last location they checked into. In addition to private member-to-member communication the site features "shouts", public location-tagged announcements and recommendations that other users can comment on. Geomium doesn't offer "badges" or other game mechanic type rewards that are currently popular among location-based services. Instead it is aiming to be a useful application that is attractive to the mass consumer, and aims to "connect people with the people and places around them, creating a social awareness that does not currently exist". According to Ben Dowling, Geomium was discontinued in November 2011, with an open email to 50,000 users from its founders. Later on, in April 2013, Ben Dowling founded another location-focused business, an IP address data provider, IPinfo.io.

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Geomium

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Geomium claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Geomium before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Geomium ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Geomium

In research: Geomium appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Geomium in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Geomium is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics British social networking websites, Geosocial networking, IOS software, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Geomium outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Geomium in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Geomium means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Geomium out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Geomium in simple terms?

Why does Geomium matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Geomium?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Geomium.