This application was conceptualised in late 2009, just before the iPhone 3G was introduced and revolutionised the use of mobile phones. I need to update a number of the ideas about how the user interacts with the system, but the basic concept remains the same.
My application concept for an internet based hitch-hiking community utilizes the next generation of GPS based navigation systems that will have wireless internet capability, which is another Product Concept.
Hitch-hikers send their current and destination location either via SMS or enter it into the hitch-hiking community web-site using a smart phone, laptop at a wireless hotspot, internet cafe, etc. and vehicle drivers will submit their GPS planned route to the web-server, which is sent from their wireless enabled GPS Sat. Nav.
The web-server then matches hitch-hikers to the drivers coming closest to them and going to or close to their destination. Drivers are sent details of the hitch-hikers that are looking for rides on the routes they are taking. This information can presented to them using the Sat. Nav's. voice synthesiser.
When a hitch-hiker's details are presented to a driver the driver can also access the profile of the hitch-hiker, similar to the user profiles on e-Bay and Amazon.com. The hitch-hiker's profile would cover general things that would enable the driver to determine how compatible the hitch-hiker's personality is with theirs, e.g. how chatty, hobbies, etc.
The estimated pick-up times and profiles of drivers offering to pick-up the hitch-hiker are sent to the hitch-hiker who selects the driver they want to travel with. Once confirmed, the web-server will download the required change of route to the driver's Sat. Nav.
If you are interested in licensing commercially or in commercialising this Application Concept, please e-mail me referring to my Internet based hitch-hiking community application concept, (reference AC09-001).