GPS Tracking

So much can be said about a person when they tell you their all-time favorite movie.  Comedies, dramas, science fiction, and other popular cinematic genres all incite different emotions and levels of personal involvement in a story, and all have the potential to spark our imaginations in ways we never thought possible.  In today’s electronic information age, movie fans are able to gain behind the scenes information on casts, crews, and production developments of future film projects, as well as read into the history of their favorite films.  Currently, film buffs can utilize a combination of internet connectivity and GPS tracking systems to locate nearby movie theaters, purchase tickets, and even share their current location and thoughts on their viewing experience instantaneously.  While a GPS tracker has the potential to share information between similar media consumers, what would the movie-going experience be like if GPS tracking technology was able to also bridge the gap between media consumers and producers?

Our technology-dense society has seen virtually every gadget able to be equipped with a GPS tracker, including cell phones, laptop computers, and even digital photo cameras.  For example, when a tourist takes a photograph with a camera equipped with a GPS tracker, they can instantly obtain the GPS tracking coordinate data and other detailed location information depending on the type of graphical interface they are using.  Social media sites, travel agencies, and even just friends and family can then all share in the traveler’s experience.  This same concept can be applied to the filmmaking industry as well; imagine if you could tune into your GPS tracker and link to the transmission of a professional filmmaking camera in order to find out where a film currently in production is filming at that exact moment, and even obtain a virtual birds-eye view of what the production scene looks like.  In addition, any members of the cast and crew that carry a portable GPS tracker can let fans know their favorite spots to grab lunch while shooting, and what they like to do with their limited free time in between filming.  Although the paparazzi blitz would likely keep Hollywood’s most famous stars from sending constant GPS tracking information, occasional updates could serve as a great form of publicity in the months leading up to a film’s release.

Cities across the nation love to hear that a major motion picture company is planning to film their next big project in their area; filming brings an economic boom with regards to local businesses, tourism, and taxation for a city and instills a sense of pride in the region’s residents.  By involving viewers around the country by providing relevant GPS tracking data on their favorite feature films, a GPS tracker has the potential to bring your favorite cinematic fantasies one step closer to reality.

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One Helps You Avoid Tickets, the Other Can Disable Your Engine

It Was Just a Matter of Time

Who could not have seen this coming?  It sits on your dashboard and warns you of red light and speed cameras that not only can keep you safe, but can warn you if you are entering an area where there is a fixed speed and red light camera.

It harkens back to the days when speed radar detector units were all the rage.  This product is called the GPS Angel V4e and is ready to assist you in remembering to slow down, and mind your driving when entering a known area for red light tickets.  This GPS device also has built-in tracking for locating your car.  The manufacturer states that it is 100% legal.

Stopping When You Don’t Want To

IBM is applying for a patent on their invention that could remotely stop vehicle engines at so called ‘smart’ traffic lights.  The idea is to stop accidents, and also to reduce fuel costs.

The system would either alert the driver to shut off the engine or perform that function itself.  And, the system would make use of WiFi signals to help convey that information to the drivers as to when to stop their engines.

It is all part of a grand effort to green up the auto industry by pushing responsible, fuel and earth saving techniques to drivers.  The system is not without its critics however, as the questions about emergencies and the like have been asked.

Why All the Fuss?

GPS Tracking devices are being used in more vehicles now than ever and for good reason.  Not only do they provide an excellent method to keep track of where the vehicle is located at all times, but they help with recovery efforts.  And, some systems have an ignition kill feature which renders the vehicle inoperable in case it is stolen.

Insurance companies are becoming one of the biggest proponents of GPS tracking devices because of the reduction in risk.  In fact, many of them are willing to lower insurance premiums as an incentive for vehicle owners to purchase and install them.  The costs of the units often are just a few hundred dollars and will be paid for with the premium reduction in just a few months.

While more advances are sure to come, GPS Tracking is here to stay in the automotive industry.  The only question that remains is how soon you will have one on your vehicle?

GPS Technology gets Married to Photography

Helps answer the ‘Where and When’ Questions

Source acquired via News Provider, April 22, 2010 – Legendary camera company, Leica, is now using GPS technology to sell the new Leica V-Lux 20 Compact Camera. While it may seem that adding GPS technology to a camera is somewhat useless, Leica had a great reason for tapping into the GPS market. Not only can photographers snap photos of a trip or professional shoot, but they can also record the exact location where a photograph was taken.

Leica cameras are used by professional photographers (as well as amateur photographers) around the world. Being able to pinpoint exactly where a photograph was taken is a valuable work tool for these photographers. While capturing a photograph of a wild animal or worldwide event, photographers using the Leica V-Lux can now tag each photo with an exact geographic location.

View From Afar

With the built-in GPS tracking device, photographers can also file photographs easily according to location. Leica’s GPS technology also corresponds with websites such as Google Earth, so that those viewing a photograph will be able to see a photographer’s current geographic location. In short, adding a GPS feature to the Leica V-Lux was nothing short of genius.

The Leica V-Lux is not the only camera with built-in GPS technology, but it is the first professional grade camera to incorporate a GPS tracking device. Not only is this camera useful for traveling photographers, but it may also be a way for rescue teams to track photographers who become lost while traveling to remote locations. Since rescue teams can often pick up a GPS tracking signal, photographers who venture into the wild will no longer be stranded when using a Leica V-Lux.

In addition to GPS tracking capabilities, users will also be able to plan a city tour with the help of this camera – up to 73 different points of interest appear on-screen while using the V-Lux. This means that vacations can point, shoot, and geographically tag a photo while selecting various places to visit. As if all of these features weren’t enough, the V-Lux also has HD video capabilities, which should please every amateur videographer.

For those looking for the ultimate camera, the Leica V-Lux should be an excellent choice (provided that the camera lives up to all the hype). The highly anticipated Leica V-Lux will be available in May of 2010 in retail stores across the globe. This cleverly crafted camera will retail for around $600.

ESCONDIDO, CA – Police in a southern California city are becoming quite the experts at collecting artwork. But their intent is not to display it on a wall for all to admire. It’s to send the artists to jail.

Escondido, Calif., near San Diego and the Mexican border, has one of the highest rates of property crimes per capita in California. It has a population of about 130,000 residents and a real problem with graffiti, also known as tagging.

Last year the police department started a new GPS tracking program. A special camera, equipped with GPS tracking and location technology, was purchased and put to work catching graffiti artists. The digital camera documents the vandalism in an image, then records its time, date and exact location on a computer mapping system. All the GPS tracking data can be downloaded to computer.

Over time, hundreds of vandalism incidents are recorded into the common database and patterns begin to emerge. Art experts with street smarts identify artwork by the same artist. Police say graffiti artists usually strike near their own homes. When a young vandal is located, he is charged with a series of his graffiti crimes instead of just one.

One of the latest tagging arrests was 19-year-old Isaiah Gastumel, who is charged with six felony and 146 misdemeanor counts of vandalism.

A measure of the GPS tracking program success, one police Lieutenant Bob Benton said annual restitution paid to local businesses increased nearly 10 times this year over last. Before the GPS tracking system was instituted young taggers’ crimes amounted to about $20,000 in fines. This year the figure multiplied to almost $200,000.

Much of the money goes to the shop owners. Some business owners in downtown Escondido say they pay about $300 a week to crews to clean their walls of graffiti.

Within a few days, the scrawl returns.

-          Source: Channel 10 News, San Diego, Calif.