Privacy Debate Goes On and On

Protect Yourself, but Use to Your Advantage

Any time someone brings up the issue of privacy and security one of two reactions is almost always observed:  anger or apathy.  This polarizing topic has many up in arms these days because there are more ways to breach your privacy than at any other time in history.

GPS Tracking systems are also in the mix of these debates.  In fact, talking about the vulnerabilities of using GPS Tracking is a good thing.  You need to know that you are vulnerable and at what point you are being put at risk so that you can take measures to protect yourself.  Here’s what you should know about GPS’s dark side:

Here’s What You Should Know

GPS Enabled Cell Phones Make You Vulnerable.  When you turn on the GPS feature on your smartphone, you can be tracked.  This means that you need to be aware of the times when you need it and when you don’t and then turn it off.  Or, just face the prospect that someone could hack into your phone and monitor your location in real time.  Turn the feature off, and be sure to password protect your phone’s functions.

GPS Tracking of Your Vehicle Makes You Vulnerable.  Movies used to be the only place that we saw devices that were used to track a car’s movements.  That is no longer the case.  Devices can be attached to your car without your knowledge (it only requires two wires).  If you are in a legal dispute with someone, in a divorce for example, it would not be unheard of to have your car tracked by a spouse or ex-spouse for the purpose of collecting information that could be used against you.  Be extra aware if you are in these situations. Read the rest of this entry »

Business Uses of Devices Show the Way

No Longer a Nice-to-Have Technology – Now Mandatory

Technology is being deployed into more places in our society than ever dreamed possible.  In fact, if it were not for some of the uses and implementations, it is not a stretch to say that businesses in our economy would be in worse shape and many more would have closed their doors by now.

Proof is in the Numbers

Farfetched reasoning?  Not if you consider the following ways that GPS Tracking is impacting businesses.

Fleet Operations Management.  Is there a better tool for monitoring and managing fleet operations?  Name one system that has had the kind of impact on this type of business.  Maybe the cell phone, but even at that, it does not provide location information.  Being able to turn your operations on a dime during business hours to better serve your customers is made possible by the use of GPS Tracking systems.

Greater Control over Assets.  It used to be that once your vehicles left the business site, you were in the dark about how they were being used and where they were going.  The effect on control alone has been a great advantage for businesses who are trying to squeeze every possible penny of profit from their business that they can.  Not to mention the ability to be able to recover from theft in a matter of hours rather than days, weeks, months or maybe never.  Insurance companies, too, are throwing their weight behind these tracking devices to by offering reductions in insurance premiums. Read the rest of this entry »

Implementing these Systems is Great, but What About Monitoring?

The Full Cost of Using Them Must Be Examined

With blinding speed, GPS Tracking devices for convicted sex offenders and now domestic abuse offenders are being implemented around the country.  Two more cities in New England are the latest to adopt and embrace these devices.

A growing problem is that although they provide a great way to keep track of the most serious offenders, the sheer numbers of those who are being monitored is adding too much of a load for those who are responsible for monitoring on an on-going basis.

Important Points

Here is why this is so important and what could be done about it.

Offenders Can Strike Again.  Monitoring offenders via GPS Tracking devices can be more challenging than watching inmates in prison.  These offenders are moving about in cities and towns and need to be watched more closely because of that fact alone.  Risk assessments must be performed to help make sure that the worst offenders are not allowed to be given home detention.  But, even this is no guarantee that offenders will not commit crimes again while being monitored. Read the rest of this entry »

Small Aircraft can be Difficult to Find in Crashes

GPS Tracking is a Perfect Fit for Small Planes

We hear too many stories of small planes that take off and disappear from the sky and end up in horrific crashes.  One that captured attention recently happened in rural Montana.

In this case, antiquated equipment hindered the locating of the aircraft.  It was a 1968 Piper plane and while they can be outfitted with newer technology, the owners decided against it leaving the plane with an older technology locator beacon which is only helpful at very close range.

Second Guessing

While playing ‘what if’ is very easy in these situations, the obvious questions are asked because they bring up valid points.  GPS Tracking is perfect for smaller aircraft and the sooner there is a law requiring them in all aircraft of this size, the better. Read the rest of this entry »

Those Who Travel Can Find Many a Treasure

Both Fun and Engaging, Geocaching Has Caught On Big Time

It’s a new twist on an old game that was adapted by the invention of a new technology.  GPS Navigation devices have provided many with information that they need in the way of maps, etc.  But, one of the best reasons to have one is to join in on the fun of a high-tech version of treasure hunts.

Makes Trips Fun

Geocaching for RV owners and operators provides them an exciting reason to keep travelling the open roads.  Finding and adding to the game makes it engaging and a great part of any trip.

Furthermore, being able to track and log discoveries on www.geocaching.com makes it even more exciting because of the sharing opportunities with other ‘geocachers.’ Read the rest of this entry »

Navigation Devices Report Speed Limits Inaccurately

Drivers End Up with Speeding Tickets

In a recent column, hint queen Heloise forwarded a suggestion from a drug-interdiction officer who told of many people who, when pulled over for speeding, objected loudly saying that their GPS Navigation systems told them the speed limit on the streets on which they were travelling.

Road Signs Trump Navigation Units

His point was that these devices are not accurate enough to be used as a notification of what a speed limit is in a given area.  They might be better thought of as approximations of the limits.

This officer brings up a legitimate point: no one should rely entirely upon a GPS Navigation device for critical information.  Even the more reliable GPS Tracking devices should be used with caution.  There are several reasons for this:

Accuracy is not their forte.  GPS Navigation devices are not meant to display super accurate information.  Even though GPS satellites provide accuracy to within a few feet of actual location, you have to take into consideration other factors, such as signal latency and even electronics of the device itself.  You can liken these devices to a guy standing on the side of the road motioning for you to go in ‘that’ direction (as he waves his hand to the right).  That’s about as good as it gets for now, until the newer satellites are placed into orbit which will provide much more accuracy. Read the rest of this entry »

Theft of High Priced Items is Priority

High Tech Answers Being Deployed

You know those semis that you pass on the Interstate systems around our nation are carrying lots of merchandise – many thousands of dollars of merchandise.  Groups of thieves have been targeting these trailers for the goods that they carry so that they can steal and profit from them on the black market.

The most popular items to steal are electronics, with food and drinks about even.  The reason is because electronics are in such high demand by consumers, and the food and drinks are very easy to move once they have been stolen.  Pharmaceuticals are popular, too because of their high street value.

Thieves are smart, though, and so a concerted effort is needed by the manufacturers, logistics industry, law enforcement and government to stem the tide of these types of theft.

The First Line of Defense

GPS Tracking devices are considered the first line of defense because they can be used in three ways.  First, to track the big rigs, large ships, and rail engines that provide the horse power to pull their cargo.  These vehicles have already been using satellite-based navigation systems to help monitor the shipping departure and arrival times of their cargo. Read the rest of this entry »

The Choice Can Have Far-Reaching Results

Look for Devices That Offer Protection and Recovery

Most of us don’t pay attention to protecting our vehicles from theft.  We just hope that with standard manufacturers’ theft deterrent systems all will be ok and that nothing will happen to us.

That is faulty for several reasons.  First, by burying your head in the sand with this attitude, you become less informed and possibly an easier target.  This is especially true if you live in major cities and towns.  There are roving bands of thieves that do nothing but target vehicles that are easy to steal, strip down and sell for parts on the black market.  And, they are not necessarily looking for expensive or exotic cars and trucks.  They want every day, common vehicles because they are easy to strip and sell quickly. Read the rest of this entry »

Escaping a Tracking Device Makes You a Target

Systems are Only as Good as the Enforcement

Another incident of a convicted person removing the court-ordered tracking device was recently recounted in the Boston area.  We are seeing a few of these stories come up and while they cause alarm among citizens who are connected to them, they also bear out two other points worth considering:

The System Works

First, GPS Tracking is making a large impact in the criminal justice system because it helps weed out those who have committed crimes that are not worthy of jail time from those serious offenders that need to be kept behind bars.  Tracking devices are providing home-detention type of sentencing that allows convicts to work out their sentences while still being able to make money and remain a productive citizen.  This helps lower recidivism rates.

It also keeps prison costs lower by reducing the number of criminals held behind bars.  Some opponents to court-ordered tracking say that there is no cost savings but that is not true when you take every cost into effect. Read the rest of this entry »

The Next Generation of Driving?

How Practical is It?

Vehicle manufacturers seem intent on putting more technology into cars than ever before.  Drivers already have to contend with some pretty fancy infotainment systems that can add to incidents of distracted driving.  But this latest in developments attempts to assist in the process of driving, rather than take attention away from the driver.

Audi is working on a system that interacts with the driver called Travolution.  This technology is connected both outside of and inside the vehicle.  The goal is to provide safer driving experiences and convenience as well.  Here’s how Audi is trying to accomplish this with their new system:

Interactive Controls

The system in the car hooks up with traffic lights and knows when the car needs to slow down to prevent having to stop at the next distant light.  Fuel consumption can be reduced with this because starting from a dead stop uses more fuel than slowing down and accelerating back up to speed.  Audi says that fuel consumption can be improved by 17% using this feature. Read the rest of this entry »