FAQ

Q. What is the purpose of your research?
A. Basically, to discover if wireless laptops and mobile devices locations can be tracked when they are online.

Q. Why must I register as a user?
A. This is for several reasons. First, so that you can access the tracking tools in your My Whami - Control Panel (CP), secondly so that you can register the software licence and lastly, because under the terms of the research the auther needs to record user consent as well as participation in the project.

Q. What platform does whami work in?
A. The software has been tested under Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Vista, the software does not support Mac OSx.

Q. What do I need to participate?
A. You will need an IBM compatiable laptop computer and Internet access via a wireless or wired connection, You can install the software on a regular PC if you wish, however that's not going to be very informative research.

Q. Does whami work with mobile broadband?
A. No

Q. You talk about geodata what is that?
A. Geodata is the methodology of storing geographical coordinates and other information about that location. The basic information stored is latitude and longitude.

Q. How are locations kept unique?
A. Every network device including Wi-Fi access points (AP) have a unique label called a MAC address; it is this addressing scheme that will identify the location of the AP.

Q. What applications do you propose for the solution?
A. There are 3 core applications; Personal reassurance and location tracking to the end user, assisting law enforcement agencies in hi-tech crimes and mapping Wi-Fi locations.

Q. What are the ethical & legal implications?
A. Wi-Fi APs are openly advertised usually in windows and doorways of shops, cafes and hotels, and therefore doesn't constitute an issue. Users do however have to abide by the laws of privacy in their country and therfore must abide by the Terms & Conditions of use.