MarcoPolo (software)

MarcoPolo

Developer(s)	David Symonds
Stable release	2.5 / November 19, 2007
Operating system	Mac OS X
Type	automation (utility software)
License	GNU GPL
Website	http://www.symonds.id.au/marcopolo/

MarcoPolo is an application which brings context-aware computing to computers running Mac OS X. It allows the computer to determine its context through gathering evidence from the environment (evidence sources), using flexible rule-based fuzzy matching to make an educated guess (rules), and then performing arbitrary actions upon changing context (actions).

In the Macworld review, it states "MarcoPolo constantly examines various sources of data about your computer; you set rules based on these sources, assigning a degree of confidence to each rule." ^[1]

Evidence Sources include:

• Time
• USB port
• WiFi network (not working in v2.5- find v2.5.1 or wait for v3.0 rewrite)
• Ethernet port
• Bluetooth
• Monitor
• Light meter reading
• Power source- battery or AC
• Currently running application

Actions include:

• Running an AppleScript
• Setting Network Location
• Launching or quitting an Application
• Changing the desktop background
• Activating or deactivating a network port

MarcoPolo's concept of contexts is a generalisation of a location, and encompasses more than just where the computer is located. A context might represent what you are doing, or what else is going on around you.

References

1. ^ Glenn Fleishman, Macworld.com,April 30, 2009, "MarcoPolo Review, May 11, 2010

External links

• MarcoPolo homepage
• Macupdate entry