A phenomenal Amount of Data on Migrating Habits is being Gathered

Maritime Wildlife Tracking is Very Telling

We have heard of tracking wildlife in the wilderness and the interesting things being discovered there, but now, going submersible on the back of a great white shark is proving to be just as exciting.

In New Zealand, a great white shark named Grim, has been tagged with a GPS Tracking device that follows his every move.  The dorsal fin holds the device which provides the data updates every time the shark breaks the surface of the water.

What GPS Reveals

What researchers are watching is how far Grim roams and the locations to which he visits and even his feeding habits.

Surprising to those monitoring Grims’ adventures is the distances that he covers.  In just 11 days, he had traversed more than 1,100 kilometers through the ocean.

Other important data from other devices that are attached to similar marine wildlife in the program include depth, temperature, and even light levels which are useful for long distance mapping of the ocean floor.

Much like mapping that is done on dry ground; GPS Tracking of the ocean floor is helping maritime scientists study locations of sea-going creatures and underwater plant life.

Curiosity Persists

It all goes back to assisting in our understanding of how things work in our world.  And GPS Tracking is one of the best methods of satisfying our curiosities.

Some of the goals that are met with these kinds of programs include: Read the rest of this entry »

Product Has Not Been Released, but Looks Promising

New Innovations Help the Disabled

As we plumb the depths of how GPS Tracking devices can provide assistant to various entities around the world, there are some proposed devices than will also help those with disabilities to better cope with the world.

One such device that has been shown as a possible help to the visually impaired is called the na:vi.  It is a GPS navigation system for those with challenged vision.

Multiple Technologies Come Together

The idea behind the system is that from the availability of GPS signals a person with limited or no vision can use a device that is attached to their forearm to get direction from internal gyroscopes, an integrated laser range finder, and a 3D user interface.  The interworking of these features will help provide accurate directions in a safe manner for the user.

Future Advances for the Disabled

Still under early development is GPS Tracking for power chairs and mobility scooters.  This is right around the corner, however.  You will see systems that have built-in functionality and those that use outside technology (like smartphones) that will provide the brains for such systems.  The benefits will be to be able to monitor movement and keep in closer contact with those who use these systems. Read the rest of this entry »

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. Read the rest of this entry »

Enterprising Shipping Entities Realize the Benefits

Recovering from Theft that Runs in the Millions of Dollars

A change is taking place in the cargo shipping industry.  This change is for the betterment of the business segment and will help keep them profitable for years to come.  The focus of this change comes in the form of GPS Tracking systems that are being implemented world-wide.

Further proof of this change is realized from stories of businesses that provide tracking to those that move freight on a daily basis.  Faced with pressures to reduce cargo theft and improve service these alliances are proving quite formidable in monitoring and following up on the theft of product.

GPS Tracking for Short or Long Runs

These efforts have made GPS Tracking a must-have for cargo transporting whether across the country or from continent to continent.  The main thrust of these systems is the ability to monitor shipments as they traverse the globe in real-time.

Then, the ability to react quickly to attempts to steal the cargo has helped minimize losses while protecting profitability.  Here’s how it works:

GPS Tracking Devices Deployed.  As shipments are prepared for movement from one location to another, they are outfitted with GPS Tracking devices.  These are hidden among the goods and are then activated for real-time tracking. Read the rest of this entry »

As Smartphone Use Grows So Too Does Risks

The High Price of Open Source Technology

As the computing world begins a slow migration from desktop and laptop PCs to hand-held tablets and smartphone devices, one thing is sure:  the risks will follow.  Opportunities for identity theft, phishing, stealing of data, virus and malware incidents will increase.

Viruses and the like have been dealt with almost since the inception of the personal computer.  Opportunists and outright thieves find ways to exploit holes in security to their own gain (mostly financial).

Smartphones are Vulnerable

Already stories are being written about the vulnerability of the Android operating system in smartphones and the risk that is posed by those who wish to exploit the system.  While the ‘open source’ operating system is not at fault, the ease at which these systems can be opened to malware and other bad things is astonishing.

The principles are the same:  Find a hole, exploit it, and benefit from it financially.  There are some things that can be done to help minimize exposure and possibly becoming a victim. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the Best Features of GPS Tracking

Systems are Customer Service Focused

This is a fit made in heaven, it would seem: the marriage of GPS Tracking with Public Transportation systems in the form of Buses.  While other systems try to use GPS Tracking to help make a better customer service experience, bus systems trump them all.  Here are the reasons why:

Are You Late or is The Bus Late?

The Need is Real.  Trying to catch buses on schedule can be a nightmare.  Just ask college students who do not have a vehicle or cannot drive theirs on campus for classes.  Mix in their penchant for being late and you will soon see the need for a system that allows instant interactivity with buses and their schedules.  Now, translate that to the many bus systems that operate in large cities around the world.  The need for better service has been the cry on the lips of riders everywhere.  So, there is no doubt that this was a real need and that it would be well accepted. Read the rest of this entry »

Robust Security Seeks to Thwart Baby Kidnapping Incidents

Abduction Attempts Have Been Prevented

One of the most horrific stories that we hear about in the news is of an abduction of a baby from its mother in a hospital setting.  Most of these incidents end up with a positive result of getting the baby back, but that is not the point.  The point is that these infants must be protected as much as is humanly possible during their stay in local hospitals.

High Security a High Priority

Security is tighter than ever in these hospital settings.  It used to be that the bracelet or anklet would set off an alarm if the baby passed through one of the door ways.  This was the standard for a long time.  But, this system is too passive and easy to defeat.  By cutting off the bracelet or anklet, the abductor could make a clean get-away before anyone knew what had happened.  Now that has all changed.

New systems exist that make it more difficult to ‘steal’ someone else’s baby.  Stanley (yes the name you know for good quality hand tools) has a division called Stanley Health Care Solutions.  They offer a system that is much more active and interactive when it comes to monitoring tiny patients in a neo-natal care unit in a hospital. Read the rest of this entry »

If You Have a Portable Device, Battery Power Will Be an Issue

Looking for New Battery Technology to Take to the Next Level

How many of us can relate to the desire to purchase stock in battery companies?  The reason is that we have become so dependent upon them in our society.  And, not just for toys, either.  No, we’re talking about devices that sustain life, improve quality of life and assist in important tasks like safety and security.

The One Achilles Heel with Batteries

GPS Tracking devices are caught up in this discussion, too, because of the need to power portable devices via battery when there is no outside power source available.  If the battery dies in a tracking device, you are out of luck in finding and maintaining contact with the unit.

This affects businesses and organizations whose responsibility it is to keep track of important equipment and assets via GPS Tracking. Read the rest of this entry »

Maritime Uses of GPS is Increasing

Installing a Dedicated GPS Device Did the Trick

Source acquired via NBC, June 15, 2010, Punta Gorda, Florida – Stealing boats and bringing them to Cuba is a popular pastime for thieves in Miami. This trend has started to move towards Southwest Florida, as one Punta Gorda family recently learned.

Expensive Yacht Discovered

While on vacation, one Punta Gorda Isles family’s 50 foot yacht was stolen. After learning that their yacht had been taken to Cuba, the family was able to track the location of the yacht using a recently installed GPS tracker. The yacht in question is worth half a million dollars, and recovering it may take some time. Even with the GPS tracker that was installed on the yacht, authorities must cross international waters in order to retrieve the yacht. In short, the family affected by this theft will have to wait until Cuban authorities can locate the thieves.

A neighbour of the Punta Gorda family told press that the family “…lived on that boat more than the house…” Once the boat had been identified by the United States Coast Guard, Cuban authorities were notified. The family was told that the boat had been “…intercepted by the Cuban border guard…” (as one Punta Gorda police officer told press), yet the boat has not been returned to its rightful owners. Neighbours who have been in touch with the Punta Gorda family told press that they have not heard from either Cuban or U.S. officials. Read the rest of this entry »

Police Use Bait Trailer

Moveable Assets are Best Candidates for GPS Tracking

Source acquired via KOCO Oklahoma, June 17, 2010, Midwest City, Oklahoma – Police in Midwest City, Oklahoma, have recently arrested Michael Sanders based on possession of methamphetamine and suspicion of grand larceny. After suspecting Sanders of stealing numerous trailers throughout the Midwest City area, police trapped him with the help of a GPS tracker.

Getting the Evidence Needed

While police suspected that Sanders was behind a string of trailer thefts, evidence was needed in order to arrest Sanders. This evidence was gained when police placed a decoy trailer that contained a GPS tracker in plain view. When the trailer was stolen, police tracked it to Sanders’ residence. Within a matter of moments, police were able to arrest Sanders. Read the rest of this entry »