Overview
Location Naming System (LNS™) does for the physical world what DNS does for the internet. Where DNS resolves mostly arbitrary human-friendly names to IP addresses, LNS™ resolves mostly arbitrary human-friendly names to StructureLocators.
The location names used are only mostly arbitrary – there is structure that location names must adhere to. This structure keeps LNS™ computer friendly, while at the same time letting humans use names they find meaningful and are comfortable with. LNS™ acts as a semantic bridge for notions of location, letting people and computers finally talk easily and precisely about the same thing.
How can I start?
The simplest way to start using LNS™ is by visiting the QA Locate Map and creating your very own PointCode. Simply query any street address, then click the “!” button. No account needed.
To reserve and purchase LNS™ entries simply create a free account at https://ui.qalocate.com.
A Simple Example
Let’s say you host a monthly trail ride for mountain biking. The trails change every so often, but you want folks to have a consistent way of finding the group each time. LNS™ neatly solves this problem by letting you attach a name to a location. For example, you could register “!eager-cyclists”, and then each month update that entry to point to the exact trail you would be riding.
The value of LNS™
Memorizing things is hard work, and if we have to memorize something, then words and names are better than digits and symbols.
The building blocks of location are either geo-coordinates, usually expressed either as GPS coordinates or as latitude/longitude, or street addresses. Most people will never bother with memorizing more than a few street addresses, and will likely never memorize a single lat/lon coordinate to any significant precision. Yet, the average person can navigate to dozens to websites without hassle.
This is the value of LNS™.
It is a world where every location can have a short, memorable name. Where every business, no matter how out of the way, is as easy to find as a Las Vegas casino. Where packages are delivered without error by drone, and a change of address takes 30 seconds. Where rideshare drivers are always on time and always know the perfect place to drop you off. Where first-responders never have to guess where the emergency is located.
Semantic Model
DNS is a hierarchical system of naming. For example, the name “foo.bar.com” resolves the name “foo” by asking DNS at “bar.com” what the name means. LNS™ is similar but extends the model to include semantic information about the entries themselves.
The result is that entries in LNS™ can themselves be domain names, telephone numbers, email addresses, and more. Only valid entries for a particular type of entity are allowed and, where necessary, a validation step is required to prove ownership of the resource.
This opens up a variety of interesting and powerful use cases.
Record Model
DNS typically resolves domain names to IP addresses using what is called an “A” record. In the real world, many different kinds of record types are commonly used.
Similarly, LNS™ allows for a number of different record types to be associated with a given entry. The basic record types are:
This allows one to associate either a particular structure to an entry, or some arbitrary coordinate with an entry.
More record types are in development.
Use Cases
PointCode
PointCodes are a simple way for anyone to refer to a location or structure. Every PointCode starts with “!” followed by up to 63 characters. No white-space is allowed and PointCodes are case-insensitive. “!tacos” is a valid (and tasty) PointCode.
PointCodes are a great way to share a hard-to-find location with friends, specify the location of an event, or keep track of interesting places.
PointCodes are free to register and they remain active for up to 12 months!
To register a new PointCode simply visit https://ui.qalocate.com/#/map.
Email Address
With LNS™ you can register your email address as an LNS™ entry, and attach a location to it. Using your email address, vendors can now automatically populate your shipping (and billing) address without you having to ever fill in another form.
End up moving? Simply update the location your email resolves to and you are done.
Domain Name
Having a website is a 21st century must for every small business. Even so, businesses can still be difficult to physically track down even with a street address listed. What if there was a better way?
With LNS™ you can register your domain as an LNS™ entry, and attach a location to it. Mapping services can now clearly direct customers to a precise location, without having to rely on faulty and confusing street addresses. And if your business ends up moving, a simple LNS™ update and all your customers know exactly where to go.
And more!
We’ve barely scratched the surface on what is possible with LNS™! If you have location problems you think LNS™ can help with please contact us.