GPS Tracking

Enhancing Fleet Management Communication

 How many times have you been on the phone with the customer support center of your cable provider, electrician, landscaper, etc., just wanting to find out where the closest representative is and how long it will take for them to get where you need them to be?  When hunger strikes and you’re in the mood for some local grub from a roaming food truck, how can you find out where to head?  The ubiquity of GPS tracking technology in today’s day and age has allowed for fleet management divisions in a variety of service sectors to not only accurately manage the whereabouts of their service vehicles, but also share that information with the general public with the help of easily-embedded shared tracking applications such as ShareSpot.

(more…)

_{»crosslinked«}

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.

Checking in at Locations Shows Where You are Not

Privacy Issues a Main Concern

Social networking apps on smartphones have exploded in popularity among the younger generation.  Two of the most popular are called foursquare and gowalla.  These apps and sites promote the activity of ‘checking in’ to let those on the social network know where you are at the time.

It’s becoming incredibly popular and used on a daily basis.  The creators of the networking sites state that it is not intended for users to enter each and every location that they arrive.  It is supposed to be used by those who subscribe to let friends and acquaintances know where they are in relation to local gathering places.

However, users have been entering their arrivals at any location in which they find themselves – even in bed. (more…)

Sporting Meets GPS Tracking

Spectators Are the Real Winners

Source acquired via Sailing.org, May 28, 2010, Kerteminde, Denmark — those who enjoy watching the RS: X World Windsurfing Championships will be able to take part in a new program this year called “Sailstream – You Are the Producer.” The program presents a new way for windsurfing spectators to enjoy watching this sport. With the help of GPS tracking technology, live video streaming, and professional commentary, spectators will be able to view the race for a home computer or from large screens that will be placed on shore.

Tracking for Location

The “Sailstream” technology will allow spectators to watch the race from any angle by selecting different video streams. The GPS trackers that are attached to every boat will also present spectators with an opportunity to track each boat as it makes its way through the course. Never before have windsurfing enthusiasts been able to watch every movement that a boat makes, and this is exactly what the organizers of the 2010 RS: X World Windsurfing Championships are attempting to achieve. (more…)

That Ankle Bracelet is Not the ‘Fashionable’ Kind

Even the Famous Get the GPS Treatment

Source acquired via Canoe, May 26, 2010, Beverly Hills, California – Superior Court judge Marsha Revel was less than impressed with actress Lindsay Lohan decided to skip a court date, so that she could attend the Cannes Film Festival.  As a result of the missed court date, Revel has ordered Lohan to wear a GPS tracking bracelet equipped with a blood alcohol level device. Should Lohan try to remove the device, violate parole, or use drugs or alcohol, she could be sent to prison for a fair amount of time. (more…)

GPS Navigation as a Distraction

Responsibility Rests on User

Source acquired via Coolest Gadget, April 29, 2010 – A new GPS concept developed by a driver may be hitting a retail store near you very soon. The gadget is presently called the “Visor GPS,” and it’s meant to combat the poor placement of most portable GPS systems. While many drivers are used to attaching a portable GPS to the dashboard of a vehicle, this is not always the best place for a GPS device. (more…)