Life360: Modern Location Sharing
The following will be an investigation into the applied functionality of the Life360 mobile application, a “Family Tracking App.” This evaluation falls under Category A Topic 1, Scope of the Field and Capabilities of Ubicomp: “Evaluate an existing ubicomp system,” as an assessment of the usefulness and shortcomings of Life360.
Life360 allows for advanced location-based tracking of family members through use of their Android, iOS, and Windows applications. Life360 also offers crash detection and identity theft protection. A hallmark of Life360’s program is the concept of complete visibility; All users within a “circle” have access to location data for their counterparts therein. Position and battery life of the included devices are displayed readily and can be accessed via obvious indicators when the app is opened. Location history and driving speed are also instantly available upon purchase of the company’s fixed-rate subscription plan. Modern GPS, along with integrated group-chat and poke systems, enable Life360 to accurately model the world map while supporting social engagements with respect to relevant personal positioning data.
Life360 is trusted with emergency response and roadside assistance dispatches, in cases which necessitate these services. They also monitor the dark web for information akin to that of their users, to help prevent identify theft. The app’s clean, intuitive GUI provides reliable functionality in both social and high-risk use cases, making it an effective networking and safety tool. A comprehensive settings directory allows for custom notifications, in the form of alerts about location, speed, and battery life of fellow users. Accompanying service documentation and FAQs enable users to quickly discern any necessary information about Life360 at-will.
An obvious downfall of Life360 is the potential it generates for abuse. A plethora of misuse claims cite cases in which users, especially parents of young adults, employ the app excessively in a way that, allegedly, causes significant and unnecessary emotional distress. This issue is inherently difficult to avert with a tracking service, but the fundamentally reciprocal nature of Life360’s monitoring does take a step towards limiting such abuses. In terms of feature implementation, Life360 is nearly compendious. Crash reports are generated automatically, round-the-clock operators take distress calls for emergency and assistance cases, and the app itself performs its tracking and protection functions reliably, according to user reports. A hole in the company’s service is the lack of provision of Multi-Factor Authentication to its users, many of whom are not legal adults. This must be implemented for the service to be trustworthy today.
An extension of Life360’s primary service could involve further integration of both security and social functions, possibly including an ability to set one’s activity status, call contacts through the app directly, and report suspicious behavior in certain areas for anonymous public display. Life360 centers its marketing on family connectedness, safety, and trust. This is highly effective, but the strategy could benefit from an extension to more generalized advertisement of the platform as a social correspondence implement. Overall, Life360 provides an effective service, but is noticeably behind the curve regarding user security. The app could be improved upon to increase the safety of users.
To examine Life360 in depth, with specific regard to Nielsen’s methods of heuristic evaluation, we will proceed with a scrutinous and implement-minded lens. Beginning with the visibility of the system status, defined in context as the accessibility of the app’s tracking function, it is clear to see that Life360 accomplishes high visibility and usability, without functional sacrifice. The following graphic displays the main user interface, where essential information about the user’s circle members can be readily accessed.
In addition to a clear and immediate view of the ubicomp system’s current functionality, this display also satisfies the requirements of the second usability heuristic, employing modern GPS and mapping to comfortably fit the locations of nearby users onto the primary screen. In terms of control and freedom, the app allows for free-zooming and quick access to all features. The UI is intuitive and clean. The conventional threshold for consistency and standards is met in terms of the app’s primary service, but a lack of two-factor authentication capability detracts from the otherwise modern, well-documented security and privacy practices. The fifth heuristic, error prevention, is fundamental to the Life360 service and is covered therein accordingly. Human operators wait ready to respond to cases of emergency or severe concern, and the software itself is highly fool-proofed to allow for effective access by users of all kinds. However, a lack of direct parental control implementation does make the circle system one built on trust. Alternatives might be worthwhile for curious parents if their children do not appreciate persistent location sharing, as any member of a circle can disable this function. In such a case, an alert is sent to other members, as respectively configured.
Recognition over recall is achieved via a well-branded, simple and effective interface. Flexibility and efficiency of use are principles integrated into Life360’s service at the most basic level: Accessibility and intuitive design define the implementation. User attention is drawn quickly to where it is needed, while the aesthetic profile of the app matches modern demands and undertones its provisions well. Error messaging and user resources are presented clearly and neatly, with the prior occurring rarely inside effective service ranges.
Under the broadened scope of heuristic evaluation principles defined by Keintz, et al. in “Heuristic Evaluation of Persuasive Health Technologies,” Life360 duly holds true in its strengths. Appropriate functionality is provided, without irritating the user or infringing upon his privacy. There is an argument to be made for the service embarrassing particular groups, via questionable application by parties holding external power over circle participants. This is hard to solve for within the scope of the app. Positive motivation and aesthetic appeal are seemingly not prioritized but achieved nonetheless, through optimistic practical messaging and succinct design. Locational and device information are accurate and accessible upon desire, satisfying principles six and seven under the updated heuristics. Visibility of user status is shown clearly at all times. Customization options — which necessarily pertain to the configuration of circles and notifications therefore — are comprehensive. Brief tutorials are offered immediately when first opening the app, and usage documentation is easy to find thereafter.
Overall, Life360 is a highly reliable, efficient, and user-friendly location tracker. It lacks modernized login functionality but serves well its purpose of connecting families and friends through its innovative location-sharing UI. The basis of the Life360 application allows for expansion into service areas which could potentially increase user welfare. The primary functions of safety and connectivity are well-met, barring the inadmissible issue regarding Multi-Factor Authentication. With an update to address this, accompanied by continuous security testing, emergency response monitoring, and user report insight, Life360 should maintain its place as a prominent ubiquitous computing service.
