Google Tracking Data (geolocation)

Have you ever got a traffic infringement and couldn’t figure out what it was about?  Have you wanted to look back at what you did some day in the past, and wished you had a record of some form?

Well, if you’re not too sensitive about tracking systems data; you might find google maps timeline feature really very useful.

Whilst you need to turn it on, the means to have the data about where you were at a particular time in the past; might be more helpful in the future than you might otherwise know.

The google maps system uses your Geolocation information from your phone that is otherwise tracked by telecommunications companies and apps on your phone. Google Maps timeline is a way you can have access to that same data.

Better yet; it’s downloadable.

It’s important you don’t use this functionality on an account that is not yours and that you have no right / permission, to use or obtain.  Whilst considerations about privacy and surveillance is different in different jurisdictions, it’s generally not a good thing to do to another person unless they’ve explicitly asked you to do so.

Advanced Search & Discovery Tips

It’s amazing what you can find simply by searching the web.  Advanced techniques for searching the web have an array of tools and tips, that we’ll try to cover here.  In the first instance, i’ll highlight some of the more advanced capabilities of Google and how to use it.

Google Custom Search Engine

Google Custom Search Engine is a tool that can be used to create parameters around a type of search using the linked data markup that’s often embedded for SEO purposes using Schema.org or by specifying a particular type of syntax that restricts the search to a particular zone.  For example, if you are searching for information about a person; then in your advanced options within your custom search you’d add the schema concept Person.

or if you wanted to find information within a particular zone, for instance on Australian Websites then you’d put in the *.au. Not all websites use schema.org mark-up and if they do, they don’t necessarily do it well.  So this may restrict the results you get if you get more specific than web developers have otherwise considered.

Advanced Search

Google knows how to search more than simply entering a word or sentence. Here are a few examples.

The first important consideration is the use of “to declare particular words”.  For example, if we search “telecommunications law” we’ll get one set of results.  If you wanted to find a particular document, then you might also add filetype: (then extension) for example: “telecommunications law” filetype:pdf

Other examples have been listed here noting that these methods can also be used with Google Advanced Search.

Making things even more interesting; once you’ve figured all that out; you’re then able to set-up an Alert which will do the search and provide you any new results into your inbox when they become available to search, on a frequency you choose.