GPS Tracking

United States vs. Antoine Jones

The United States vs. Antoine Jones case has climbed its way up to the Supreme Court.  The case, which will be heard on November 8, 2011, will determine whether or not law enforcement should be required to obtain a warrant to install a GPS tracking device to a person’s car for surveillance.

In 2004, law enforcement officials placed a GPS tracking device on the car of Antoine Jones – a night club operator and suspected cocaine-trafficker in the Washington, DC area – as part of their investigation for narcotics violations.  They had initially obtained a warrant, which specified that the GPS tracking device was to be installed on Jones’ car within a 10 day period.  However, investigators were not able to install it until 11 days later, forcing law enforcement officials to make the claim that a warrant is not needed to install a GPS device.

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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…)

Depending on One Source of Information is a Bad Idea

Common Sense Left at Home

Source acquired via WMAZ, June 2, 2010, Salt Lake City, Utah – handing someone a paper map these days is likely to be met with a blank stare. Thousands of people around the world rely on technology to get themselves from one place to another. This is precisely what Lauren Rosenberg did when she followed her Google Map from one end of Park City, Utah, to another – and wound up getting hit by a car while walking on a busy highway.

Suing Google for Damages

Instead of noticing that the highway she was about to walk on didn’t have a sidewalk, Rosenberg kept walking. She walked on the side of the busy highway until she was hit by an oncoming car. Today, Rosenberg is attempting to sue Google for $100,000 based on the fact that the Google Map she used suggested she walk on a busy highway. Rosenberg didn’t state why she kept walking even though the highway did not have a sidewalk. She also didn’t explain why she didn’t notice that the highway was, in fact, a, well, highway. (more…)

The Balance Between Safety and Spying is Tested

The Assistance these Devices Offer Bus Drivers Might be the Best Reason to Use Them

Source acquired via WJBF, May 14, 2010, Augusta Georgia – the Richmond County Board of Education wants to install GPS trackers and video cameras in every county school bus. The idea behind the new technological instalments is to make bus routes safer for children, and to provide parents with accurate pick-up and drop-off times. While many parents feel that this new technology is a good idea, some parents feel that video cameras and GPS trackers may lead to stalking and spying.

A few concerned parents fear that child predators may be able to track school buses in order to abduct children. Others believe that spying on children who ride a public school bus is unethical. The district argues that school buses are state property, and (under Georgia law) schools have the right to monitor their own equipment.

Cost vs. Benefit

In order to install two cameras and one GPS tracker on each bus, the school district will need to come up with $40,000. The district intends to ask the Richmond County Board of Education to purchase the equipment for the district’s 128 buses. The goal is to install two cameras on each bus “…one in the idle and another in the front.” The district hopes to be able to report all school bus activity by reviewing camera video regularly. (more…)

Dangerous Application for Smart Phones

Extracts a Person’s Information from Their Phone

Source acquired via i4u.com, May 14, 2010 – monitoring a child’s or employee’s cell phone has been possible for some time now, but a new app created by Retina-X Studios makes retrieving someone’s cell phone information a whole lot easier. Mobile Spy was created in order to provide a “completely stealth monitoring program” for those who wish to spy on another person. The app takes only a few minutes to download, but it can do a world of damage.

One of the Worse Kind of Stealth Applications

Once the Mobile Spy app is downloaded onto a cell phone, or other, device, it’s nearly impossible to detect the spyware. After the app has been downloaded, the person who installed the app can log onto an online control panel that lists all kind of private information. Information such as sent and received emails, texts, call logs, and even a person’s location (via GPS tracking) can be viewed. All of these features were a part of the original Mobile Spy app, but the newest version of Mobile Spy is even more invasive.

Mobile Spy 4.0 now has the ability to download every photograph, text message, and email that is sent to a personal phone. In addition, items such as calendar events, personal memos, and contact details can also be viewed online. All of these things make it easy for a person to monitor another person’s cell phone usage, track a person’s location, and even view private information. The Mobile Spy app also makes it relatively easy for a company or person to collect phone numbers and address information. (more…)

Technology Used to Violate Personal Privacy

Legal Ramifications Loom Large

Source acquired via Short News, May 14, 2010, Philadelphia – Blake Robbins – a 15-year-old high school student – was recently confronted by his principal, Lynn Matsko, who accused Robbins of engaging in “improper behavior” while Robbins was inside of his home. Matsko gained this information using a webcam that was installed in Robbins’ school-issued laptop.

Recently, students who attend Harriton High School were given laptops that are equipped with GPS tracking technology and webcams. The school claims that this technology was added to the laptops in order to prevent theft, though school officials may be using the laptops to spy on students after school hours. The Apple MacBooks that the school issued have built-in webcams that can be activated by school officials.

Students and Parents Unaware of the Capability of the Laptop Camera

Each webcam can snap photographs of laptop users around the clock. When Matsko confronted Robbins, she told him that she had photographic evidence of his actions. When Robbins father spoke with Matsko about the issue, he was told that the school “…could remotely activate the webcam contained in a student’s personal laptop…at any time.” (more…)

A Time-piece with a Twist

Another GPS Innovation for Safety and Security

Source acquired via Inventor Spot, May 14, 2010 – there are a number of different ways to track a child using GPS technology, but a company called Nu M8 has come up with a tracking device that kids will actually want to wear. The Nu M8 watch looks like a normal child-friendly watch, but it has a built-in GPS tracker, which can easily give parents peace of mind.

Helps Track Children Who Become Lost

Any parent who’s ever lost track of a child while in a public place knows how frantic this type of scenario can become. Many children simply wander off while visiting a theme park or other public area, though finding these children is entirely difficult. If a child is wearing a Nu M8 watch, parents can track a child’s every movement from a cell phone or computer.

If the Nu M8 watch is removed or deactivated, an email or text will be sent to a parent right away. Further, the Nu M8 has a “geofencing” option, which allows parents to set certain virtual parameters. If a child wanders outside of a designated area, parents will be alerted immediately. It seems as though Nu M8 has thought of everything when it comes to providing parents with viable GPS tracking technology. The only drawback to a Nu M8 watch is the price. (more…)

GPS Embedded in a Laptop

Mini Laptops Top Sport Big Features

Source acquired via PC Advisor, May 10, 2010 – Last year, Sony released its “P” range of Vaio laptops. These laptops were a cross between a notebook and a smartphone, but they were not powerful enough to impress PC critics. This year, Sony has come out with a new “P” range, and this time around the small laptops are as internally impressive as they are aesthetically pleasing.

The new P series comes in an array of eye-popping candy colors ranging from hot pink to lime green. In addition, each laptop is equipped with a 64GB SSD drive, 2GB DDR2 SDRAM, Windows 7 Home Premium, built-in GPS technology, and an 8 inch widescreen display screen. Since these laptops are so compact, they are easily portable. In fact, the main purpose of the P series is to allow users to carry a widescreen laptop while traveling. (more…)

Technology Overkill?

Practical Application Questioned

Source acquired via ABC News, May 13, 2010, Summerville, South Carolina — City hospitals anywhere in the world share the same problem: overcrowded emergency rooms. When an emergency room becomes overcrowded, some patients are, inevitably, looked over. While emergency room crews try to give each patient the care that is needed, sometimes this type of care becomes impossible. In order to prevent any emergency room mishaps from occurring, a Summerville, South Carolina, hospital is handing out GPS tracking bracelets to every emergency room patient.

Looking for Efficiency

By handing out GPS tracking bracelets to every patient, hospital staff will be able to track each patient’s movements. The idea behind the new GPS tracking system is to speed up treatment times while making the emergency room safer for those in dire need. Nurses who work at the Summerville Medical Center will be able to track each patient throughout the duration of a hospital stay. Rather than looking for a patient or calling out a number, nurses will be able to immediately locate all patients.

Sherry Washington (a Summerville Medical Center representative) told press that as a “patient moves through various spots in the ER, we can track that patient…” By tracking patients in real-time, it’s easier for nurses to locate a patient when help is needed. This system also gives patients some assurance that medical care is never too far away should an incident occur. So far, emergency room staff is adapting well to the GPS monitoring system, and patients seem to appreciate the technology as well. (more…)

Technology and Food Combine

Making Customer Service Fun

Source acquired via The Star, May 13, 2010, Malaysia – North American pizza lovers have been able to keep tabs on a Domino’s Pizza order for some time now, but this service is just reaching Malaysia. Beginning on May 17, 2010, people residing in Malaysia will be able to track any Domino’s order. With the help of GPS tracking technology, Domino’s customers can keep a watchful eye on any pizza order from the moment an order has been placed to the moment it leaves a Domino’s restaurant.

This service, called the Great Pizza Service, will be the first of its kind in Malaysia. Since Domino’s chains throughout North America have successfully implemented this system, there is no doubt that this system will work equally as well in Malaysia. In order to track a pizza order, customers simply need to visit the Domino’s Malaysia website, input a phone number, and watch as a pizza moves from the kitchen to a delivery vehicle.

Implementation Comes With a Price

Many Domino’s enthusiasts are excited about this new GPS system, though this kind of service may not be a positive thing. While customers will enjoy knowing where a pizza is at all times, a vast amount of pressure will be placed on kitchen staff and delivery personnel alike. Further, this type of system will prompt people to expect rapid service from all restaurants. Then again, allowing customers to interact with the food preparation system is a clever marketing tool. (more…)