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> To claim they should simply not return any data if they do not have an accuracy level to your arbitrary standards would make the service useless Ideally they
by redcalx 10y ago
> To claim they should simply not return any data if they do not have an accuracy level to your arbitrary standards would make the service useless
Ideally they'd offer version of the service that gives a probability 'heat map', but in reality 99% of users would use a simplified version with an app configured threshold for what constitutes useful info for that app, and also how to convert a heat map to a single point (since that what most people seem to want) or a very localised region (e.g. within 100 meters or so).
In reality the simplified version would be provided as a service with a default threshold, anything under the threshold would not report a position, but could still report a country ISO code and perhaps state, county as optional extras. These are workable compromises to the ideal of everyone consuming a heat map in a sensible way (IMO).
- syshum 10y ago>Ideally they'd offer version of the service that gives a probability 'heat map' that is not "ideal" at all, one of the first uses of this data was for real time CC fraud Detection, giving a computer processing CC info a graphical "heat map" is less than useless. Most geolocation API data is consumed by computers that use it for many things, not presented to the user directly. >In reality the simplified version would be provided as a service with a default threshold, anything under the threshold would not report a position, but could still report a country ISO code and perhaps state, county as optional extras. It appears you believe this data is only for Human Consumption. If an API is designed to return LAT and LON and Accuracy, then that is what is should return, not an ISO country code. I get you believe no API should be designed this way, but I as a developer that consumes these services prefer it that way, makes it easier to write against I as a developer am asking for Max Mind to give me Lat Lon and Accuracy, not a ISO Country Code or Heatmap
- redcalx 10y agoThe heat map is the baseline data model; from that it's possible to derive simpler models for simpler use cases. However, providing access to the baseline model will likely be useful for some use cases. i.e. if you want something more nuanced than lat/long. > It appears you believe this data is only for Human Consumption. Most human's I've encountered don't refer to countries by their ISO code... most.
- socksy 10y agoBut MaxMind already do return ISO codes... The developers are picking and matching which returned values they want to consume.