Foursquare Allows Users to See (and Search) Into the Future

Google and Yelp have changed the way people navigate their urban environment over the past several years by utilizing GPS to help users locate nearby goods and services. But what do you do when you want to search where you will be, not where you are?

2 minute read

February 16, 2012, 5:00 AM PST

By Anonymous (not verified)


Urban navigators who rely heavily on apps such as Google and Yelp to locate the closest donuts and dry cleaners have likely found themselves, at some point, frustrated by the inability to search outside where they're standing. Enter Foursquare, the social networking app that allows people to "check-in" everywhere they go, keeping friends abreast of their every move. A recent upgrade to Foursquare's Explore tool will allow users to drag the proximity sensor to their desired location and easily search nearby recommendations based on other users' check-ins and reviews. Fast Company writer, Austin Carr, describes the updated user interface:

"Foursquare's drag-and-select map feature is much easier to navigate than searching "near" a street address; it provides results that have a much more narrow and personal focus."

An exciting development, but Carr points out that Foursquare has to make some headway on the data front before their Explore tool can reach its full potential. With a mere 15 million users, Foursquare doesn't stack up to Google's heavy traffic or Yelp's endless index of reviews. This careful attention to the needs of the user, however, may position Foursquare as a competitor, especially in high density locations where a Google Maps search for coffee can return an unwieldly number of points on a map. Carr applauds Foursquare for recognizing that "users don't want a complicated experience filled with endless results, nor an experience based on census tracts."

Thanks to Jessica Brent

Monday, February 13, 2012 in Fast Co. Design

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Cobblestone street with vintage street lamps in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah Reduces Speed Limits on Almost 100 City Streets

The historic Georgia city is lowering speed limits in an effort to reduce road fatalities.

May 20 - WJCL

Sign for Loma Alta Park in Altadena, Los Angeles County.

A Park Reborn: Resilience and Renewal in Fire-Stricken Altadena

Rebuilt in just two months after the devastating Eaton Fire, Loma Alta Park now stands as a symbol of community resilience and renewal, even as some residents hope recovery efforts will continue to support housing stability and long-term equity.

May 20 - Pasadena NOw

Colorful historic homes in Madrid, Spain.

Spain Moves to Ban 66,000 Airbnbs

The national government is requiring the short-term rental operator to remove thousands of illegal listings from its site as part of an effort to stem a growing housing crisis.

May 20 - The New York Times

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.