Checking in. It’s so universal these days, even Facebook is now implementing a Places API. But is checking into places you visit the future? Is this where location should be taking us?

I really must insist that no is the answer to both of these questions.

Location is an integral component to what I’d quantify as Personal Internet. It’s a tool that, when used correctly, aids you by finding things, showing you opportunities/bargains and connecting with your everyday life.

Checking in is merely a transitionary phase. It’s self-absorbed, self-important and requires an unnecessary degree of attention to use. It’s the sort of feature that says: “Hey, look at me. I have nothing better to do, so I make sure I let everyone know where I am all the time manually. I’ve been to places so much I’m the Mayor, so I’m just cooler than most people because my finger is glued to the Check In button.”

Ideally, location must be seamless and hidden away in the background, an invisible ally throughout your day. Let me paint a brief picture of what location should be.

You’re currently on vacation in Paris from your home in Vancouver, Canada. As such, your mobile device and tablet have automatically adjusted time zones accordingly, and have added forecasts for the area to your weather app. Your news app now displays local news. Your calendar changes the times of your events to their equivalents in your current time zone. Your Personal Assistant app has automatically added locations of stores you like nearby. Stores that carry items on your personal Wish List have also been added to the list. On further inspection, you see that it’s your mother’s birthday in a week, and an item on her shared Wish List is available at a store half a mile from your hotel room. The tap of a button, and directions appear.

Sounds pretty incredible, doesn’t it? That’s what location can do, if we continue to develop it. Checking in may be the in thing at the moment, but it’s not where we should be going. We can strive for something better and more meaningful.