We all know there’s an app for everything, so I guess the question is, should there be? At least that was our question when we first heard of an app that allows users to warn others of mosquitos in their area.
Developed by a team at the University of Manitoba, the M Tracker—available on both iPhone and Android—lets users rate mosquito activity in an area, which is then uploaded to a map that can be seen by all of the app’s users.
According to a report by MSN Canada, the app was inspired by similar ones used to track traffic congestion and the spread of influenza. Naturally, a group of Manitobans applied the technology to mosquitos.
“If you’re going to a park or something with your family, and you don’t know if you’re going to bring mosquito spray, you can take a look at the app,” says engineering student Rory Jacob, who worked on the app with a professor and fellow student. Of course the app’s usefulness is largely going to be determined by the number of downloads it gets.
“Realistically, the more people you get, the better the data is going to be,” says Jacob.
So if you really want to be sure to keep the bugs away, we recommend throwing on some bug spray anyway.
How effective do you think an app like this would be?
