Developer Scott Garner developed the 'Hell is Other People' app in order to help you stay away from people that you know. The app analyzes FourSquare check-in data in order to see where people are congregating around the city. The app then plots out safe friend-free areas so that you can go about your business in peace.
Hell is Other People starts by plotting out all check-ins from FourSquare users that you know. Upon finding everyone's location, the app calculates "optimally distanced safe zones" and marks them with green dots. Each safe point can be clicked in order to reveal the latitude, longitude, address and Google Street View picture.
Garner developed the app not as a serious tool, but as satire and social commentary.
Friend-Avoiding Apps
The 'Hell is Other People' App Tracks Your Friends to Help You Avoid Them
Trend Themes
1. Friend-avoiding Apps - Developing apps that help users avoid interacting with people they know.
2. Analyzing Location Data - Using location data from apps like FourSquare to analyze people's movements and identify safe friend-free areas.
3. Satirical and Social Commentary Apps - Creating apps that use satire and social commentary to highlight societal issues.
Industry Implications
1. Mobile App Development - Opportunity to develop innovative apps that cater to people's desire to avoid social interactions.
2. Location-based Services - Leveraging location data to offer new services that can benefit users in various ways, such as finding safe spaces.
3. Entertainment and Media - Exploring new ways to use satire and social commentary to engage and entertain audiences through technology.