Cloak app: For those who want to hide in plain sight

Now here’s an app that might actually get me to smarten up my phone.

As Wired reports from Britain, a new app called Cloak lets you harvest data from the Foursquare and Instagram social media check-in apps, and set up alerts for when someone you’re trying to avoid drifts into your real-world socializing space.

Imagine the potential. Don’t want to stumble across your ex? Avoiding that annoying twit from college? Hiding from the boss (not that we’d ever do that, mind you, just citing it here as a “for instance”)? A little buzz in your pocket and you’ll have plenty of time to take evasive maneuvers.

Yes, it’s the antisocial network, as Cloak says. Though it does beg the question of why, if you’re seriously trying to avoid someone, they’d be part of your online social network in the first place But still. As Wired sums it up:

“Everyone’s got that one person they want to avoid,” explain Brian and Chris, the creators of Cloak. “Usually exes. Or friends of exes. So we imagine there’s a wide use case for users of all types. Not to mention those times like when you’re out on a first date, and just don’t want to see anyone.”

On loading Cloak you’re presented with a green and black map -- if any of your friends are nearby, a small circle containing their profile picture will appear at their location. You can even tell the app to alert you of a specific friend’s presence when they come within a certain distance of you. For instance, if you really hate John, Cloak can buzz you when he’s within a ten-mile radius. Poor John. What did he do?

Now excuse me, I hear someone coming I’d really rather not talk to right now ...

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Follow Scott Martelle on Twitter @smartelle