GPS Tracking

Any parent knows that the experience of children transitioning from adolescence to teenage years is often difficult. It is not uncommon to want to control many of our children’s decisions during this period as we experienced these events ourselves many years ago. It may also reflect the fact that we just do not want to let go. Regardless of the strain between parents and their independence-seeking teenage children, the underlying fact is that parents are concerned for their safety and welfare.

With all the growing pains, all parents fear the dreaded driver’s license. This event is inevitable but parents now have a unique tool to ensure their child is responsible behind the wheel. Teen tracking using GPS technology provides a level of security from the comfort of home using a computer and internet access. GPS tracking captures and transmits time, position, and speed just seconds apart to a central web browser. Several GPS tracking companies overlay the live and historical positions over high resolution satellite images such as Google Maps®. This makes the tracking experience easy to follow and intuitive.

Since speed is a major concern, alerts can be sent as a text message or email when a user-defined violation occurs. In addition to speed, location alerts also provide notification of arrival and departure. Even if you do not have access to a computer or are out of town, GPS tracking devices can notify you when your child arrives at school, home, etc. This provides a simple and logical solution for less than a cup of cheap coffee per day. Teen tracking continues to grow in popularity and even provides a financial benefit. Many insurance companies recognize GPS tracking devices as a theft recovery solution and offer a policy discount.

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If you have been seeking a creative and unique gift idea for a special person in your life, consider gifting him a real-time GPS Tracking Device.

Not to be confused with the ubiquitous navigational GPS systems found in many vehicles, real-time GPS Tracking Devices function primarily as recording devices.  GPS Tracking units log information such as position, date, time, speed, etc., and they transmit this data to a server, which users can access through their own personal computers.  Starting at under $200, the practical applications of a real-time GPS Tracking Device in daily life are endless.

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System Provides Multiple Purposes

Safety, Communications and Monitoring Made Easy

It used to be that when one went on a vacation abroad, communications were few and far between.  Now that has all changed with the advent of the cell phone.  Additionally, once a person experiences travel with wireless communications, it seems like less of a trip since constant contact can be kept with those left behind.

There is a program, however, that is making the best use of GPS Tracking and communications options for students who take part in their global travel experiences.  The People to People Ambassador Programs is in charge of the system and uses it in important ways.

Keeping Track of the Program

The programs are designed to give students a wide range of experiences in other cultures and locations.  Because of the inherent dangers that exist in such programs, the addition of GPS devices makes a lot of sense.

Key features of the system include:

GPS enabled cell phone for the instructor in each group.  This not only allows the instructor to keep in touch with the company on the progress of the trip, but also allows them to have instant access to parents and guardians if necessary. (more…)

Student Learns How To Use Technology to Solve a Crime

Fighting Back Against Crime with GPS Tracking

Source acquired via Seaholm Highlander, May, 28, 2010, Seaholm, England – Stealing any object these days is nearly impossible thanks to GPS tracking technology. Stealing an iPod and a cell phone from a teenager is a crime that the best criminal won’t easily get away with. Seaholm high school freshman, Jacob Rothenberg’s cell phone and iPod were stolen from his locker – using GPS technology, Rothenberg tracked the items, and asked his mom to retrieve them.

Tracking His Cell Phone

After using the Sprint family locator that was included with his cell phone, Rothenberg was able to track the phone’s location. He wound up tracking his phone to an address in Bloomfield Hills. When he reached the address, Rothenberg did what any high school freshman would do – he called his mom. Rothenberg’s mother, Carol Harlow, went directly to the door of the home where she was greeted by one teenager and his girlfriend. (more…)

Mountainous Challenge No Match for This Teen

His Example is a Huge Boost for Others

Source acquired via The Associated Press, May 24, 2010, China – 13-year-old Jordan Romero has proven to the world that you’re never too young to accomplish a daring feat. Romero is officially the youngest person to climb Mount Everest – and he’ll soon be the youngest person to climb the highest peaks on all 7 continents. As her son climbed the treacherous mountain, Leigh Anne Drake watched his progress from her computer with the help of a GPS tracking device. (more…)

Taking Technology Along

The Best Uses of GPS Tracking

Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world at 29,035 feet high.  A teenager, 13 year-old Jordan Romero, trekked to the peak and proceeded to call his mother from a satellite based phone to tell her the wonderful news: “mom, I’m calling you from the top of the world.”

The mother, of course, was happy – especially that he had made it safely.  The way she knew this was from his call, but also she tracked his progress via a GPS tracking system. (more…)

We’ve touted the benefits of passive tracking devices before.  In specific situations they provide a solid source of information.  These include using them when time critical data gathering is not crucial.  Most often this means tracking for historical purposes.

In the family of GPS tracking devices exists the Tracking Key Pro which delivers even more reasons to use these over active tracking devices.  Here’s why:

Less can be more. In active tracking, one expects certain things from the device which can incur a cost.  For example:  instant location information.  Or, even geo-fencing notifications.  While there are devices that can and will deliver information when it is demanded, sometimes that is a non-factor. (more…)

Navigation Devices Go Chic to Capture Attention

Vying for Attention Along Side DVD Systems

Source acquired via Market Watch, June 17, 2010, Concord, Massachusetts — Parents who try to keep kids entertained during long car trips will love TomTom’s latest creation: SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer navigation voices. TomTom users can now choose to listen to navigation commands from Dora or SpongeBob thanks to TomTom’s new partnership with Nickelodeon.

Popular Voices Capture Attention

Senior Vice President of TomTom, Tom Murray, told press that “…the voices of Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants arrive just in time for TomTom users to enjoy during their summer adventures – from camp carpools to vacations – and keep the whole family entertained along the way.” Not only can parents activate Dora’s or SpongeBob’s voices, but they can also download a picture of either character by visiting TomTom’s website. (more…)

Lower Power Consumption and Size Reign Supreme

Privacy Matters More than Ever

It is inevitable:  You will be tracked via GPS tracking devices and the main concern will be privacy.  Fastrax has launched their smallest GPS receiver for navigation and asset tracking.  They say that it takes up about half the space of their earlier module which allows it to be sealed in tiny casings.  How small?  Try 10.4 x 14.0 x 2.3 mm; which allows integration into most battery powered consumer devices.

Size Matters

Why is size so important in this market?  Here are the main reasons: (more…)

Florida Power and Light Ready for Storms

Proactive Planning Helps Insure Superior Responsiveness

Florida Power and Light has implemented a new GPS tracking system that allows them to be more responsive in the event of a storm system that knocks out power to its customers.  The system is a home-grown implementation that allows those who monitor it to view where trucks are located in relation to where power outages occur as well as closed streets, power lines that are down and other hazards.

This is important because it shows how another organization has adapted the benefits of GPS tracking devices to a customer service system.  This helps increase customer satisfaction while making the safety and security of a community a high priority.

What Happens After the Storm?

After a storm the new system might not be immediately available, but once it comes online, then it will begin to make a big difference.

Another way that this system can be of assistance to customers is that it can send out alerts to areas without power as to when they might be turned on again.  These alerts can be sent via cell systems as text messages, or via cell phone calls and emails for those with Internet access.

Florida Power and Light serves the South Florida area and has already tested their system in an effort to be prepared for severe weather instances.

Other emergency agencies can benefit from GPS tracking systems, too.  Being able to track where vehicles are or have been during the aftermath of a storm helps them to accumulate data on where hardest hit areas might be and then be able to deploy the strongest assistance to those areas first. (more…)