PinSight User Manual

Last Updated: May 22, 2026

PinSight is a live visibility platform designed to share "what is happening at a specific location right now" through photos, location validation, and answers submitted by local users. It bridges the gap between static statistics and real-world conditions via location-based requests and responses on an interactive map.

1. Quick Start 🚀

1.1 Sign Up / Login

Upon launching the app, a new anonymous account is created automatically, directing you straight to the map screen. No passwords, personal details, or email registration are required.

1.2 Initial Points

All newly registered accounts are instantly credited with 50 pts (points). You can use these points to request tasks or unlock and view answers posted by other users.

2. Map Navigation 🗺️

The home screen is built on Google Maps.

• Location Tracking: Tap the location tracking button (crosshair icon) to center the map on your current location.
• Manual Reload (Refresh): To save bandwidth and optimize performance, map pins do not update automatically in real-time. If pins do not display correctly or you want to retrieve the latest updates, tap the Reload (Refresh) button at the top of the screen.
• Location Search: Enter coordinates in the search bar at the top to jump directly to that location. Acquire the latitude and longitude of your destination from Google Maps.
• 📍 How to get coordinates from Google Maps

  • Mobile App: Long-press on the target location to drop a red pin. Tap the coordinates (e.g., 35.6895, 139.6917) shown in the location details to copy them.

  • How to Search: Paste the copied coordinates (e.g., 35.6895, 139.6917) directly into the search bar in PinSight and search.

• Marker Pins:
  • 🔵 Request Pin: Locations where you or other users have requested information. The marker color changes based on status (Open, Answered, Resolved).
  • 🟢 Offer Pin: Locations where you or other users have flagged "I am currently here" as a Spot Offer.
• Clustering: Overlapping markers in dense areas are grouped into a circular cluster displaying the count. Zoom in or tap the cluster to expand it.
• Stacked Markers: For pins sitting at the exact same coordinates, tapping them displays a bottom list sheet allowing you to select individual requests.

3. Requesting Info (Creating a Request) ❓

If you want to know current conditions (crowd levels, prices, stock availability) at a place, post a request on the map.

3.1 Creating a Request

1. Specify Location: Drag the map to place the center crosshair over your target location, or long-press anywhere on the map.
2. Fill in Details:
   • Title: Keep it short and descriptive (e.g., "Strawberry prices at XX Store", "Current queue at Parking Lot").
   • Details (Optional): Describe specific details you want the responder to check.
   • Custom Questions (Up to 5): Define questions responders must answer (e.g., "How much is it? (number)", "Is it sold out? (text)").
   • Reward Points (R): Set the reward amount. The **minimum reward is 20 pts**.
3. Post: Tap "Post Request". The reward points R are immediately deducted from your balance and held in escrow.

3.2 Deleting and Refunds

You can delete your requests at any time from the request detail screen.

• If you delete a request with no responses (status: open), the escrowed reward points R are fully refunded.
• If responses are already posted (status: answered) or if the request is resolved (status: resolved), no refund is issued.

3.3 Request Expiration and Visibility Period

To maintain information freshness and keep the map uncluttered, the following clean-up rules are applied:

• Expiration Period: Active requests expire 3 days (72 hours) after creation. Once expired, they disappear from the map and can no longer receive new responses.
• Auto-Purge: Expired requests and their associated responses are permanently deleted from the database 7 days after posting.

4. Submitting Answers (Posting Responses) 📷

Find blue request pins near your physical location to submit answers and earn points.

4.1 Steps to Respond

1. Tap a request pin on the map to view details.
2. Tap the "Respond" button.
3. Take a Photo: Capture the scene using your device's camera. To prevent fraud, uploading photos from your photo library is disabled; photos must be taken live at the scene.
4. Answer Questions: Fill in the custom questions set by the requester and add optional notes.
5. Location Check: Your physical GPS coordinates must be within a designated radius of the request location.
6. Tap "Submit Response".

4.2 Deleting Answers

You can delete your responses at any time, which also deletes the image from Cloud Storage. Note that points distributed or unlock records created prior to deletion are not rolled back.

5. Viewing Responses (Unlock & Entitlement) 🔓

To view response details, users must spend points to unlock them.
※Requesters can view all responses to their own requests completely free of charge.

5.1 Unlock Tiers

• Once unlocked, you can access the content permanently without additional charges.
• In Tier 1, even if multiple custom questions exist, only the first question's answer and the beginning of the note will be shown. Unlocking Tier 2 is required to view the remaining answers and the full note text.
• Responders can view their own answers for free without unlocking.
• To prevent self-reward exploitation, no point distribution occurs if the viewer is the requester or responder themselves.

6. Points System & Eco-Cycle 🪙

Points (pts) act as the circulation fuel of the PinSight ecosystem.

6.1 Earning Points

• Rewarded Ads: Watch a video ad from your points history or map balance badge to earn 10 pts. Daily view limits and cooldowns apply.
• Response Reward: If the requester approves your response as the "Best" answer, you receive 100% of the escrowed reward points R.
• Unlock Royalties: When other users unlock your requests or responses, points are automatically distributed to you as described in the unlock tiers.

6.2 Royalty Caps (Inflation Prevention)

To keep the point economy balanced, maximum payouts per request are capped:

• Requester Royalty Cap: The sum of all Tier 1 and Tier 2 royalties paid back to the requester is capped at R × 50%.
• Responder Royalty Cap: The sum of all Tier 2 royalties paid to a responder for a single answer is capped at R × 100%.

6.3 Best Selection & Auto-Resolve

• Manual Resolution: Requesters choose the "Best" response. The escrowed reward points R are transferred to the responder, and the request transitions to resolved.
• Auto-Resolve: If a requester fails to choose the Best answer or close the request within 48 hours of the first response:
  • The system automatically selects the answer with the highest "Likes" count. Ties are broken by the earliest creation timestamp.
  • The selected responder receives 100% of R, and the request is marked resolved.

7. Spot Offer Feature 🙋

"I am here right now. If you need details, ask me directly!" — This feature allows responders to advertise their presence.

• Creating an Offer: Place a Spot Offer pin at your current or custom location with an active duration (15 to 120 minutes).
• Map Display: Green offer pins 🟢 appear on the map and automatically expire when the duration ends.
• Direct Request: Users can tap your green pin to create a request targeted directly to you. This request is shown exclusively/prioritized to you for the first 15 minutes.

8. Safety & Moderation (Reports & Blocking) 🛡️

PinSight keeps the community safe through easy report and blocking functions.

8.1 Report Feature

Report inappropriate requests, offers, or photos via the detail screen menu. Reported content is queued for administrator review.

8.2 Blocking Feature

Block users whose content you do not wish to see.

• Effects of Blocking: Blocked users' requests, offers, and answers are hidden from your map and list views.
• All major interactions (such as responding, unlocking, liking, and Best selection) between blocking/blocked users are rejected by the server.
• Special Refund Rule: If all responses to your request belong to users you have blocked, you can resolve the request without selecting a Best answer and receive a full refund of your escrowed reward points.

9. FAQ 💬