Rocky Mountain Tracking

Daily GPS News

Parents Consider GPS Tracking for Children

June 17th, 2013

Terrifying stories of child kidnappings have prompted some parents to explore GPS tracking options for their own kids. Parents feel that knowing their children’s whereabouts is essential to safety, and that tracking devices could locate kids speedily if they wandered off or went missing.

Because the child abduction rate is rather high, there is a growing awareness of the need to keep track of children; if a child is not in the house, a parent cannot simply assume that he went down the street to play with a friend. Some parents would go to any necessary lengths to maintain their offspring’s security. Those at a higher risk of going astray, such as special needs children, already use tracking devices. But in light of current trends regarding missing children, many more parents turn to technology to seek ways to insure that a child could be found quickly if he or she suddenly disappeared.

Tracking Apps for Phones

One handy tracking device is a child’s own phone. Parents can simply download a tracking app to a phone and have an instant resource for determining the child’s location. One parent mentioned that she thought that using a phone tracking device would cause her child to feel that he was being monitored constantly; however, if a child already has a phone, it is very cost effective and easy to use that GPS device if there is a pressing need to determine its location.

A Bracelet That’s not Jewelry

Another GPS locating device that is already in current use is a tracking bracelet. It was put to the test recently when it quickly reunited a parent with her special needs child who had wandered away. This bracelet is not available to the general public yet, though. It is exclusively used for children with Down’s Syndrome or autism and adults with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. But you can find similar tracking devices online.

A Whole New Meaning for “Track” Shoes

A futuristic tracking idea is GPS shoes for children. Adult sized GPS shoes already exist; a person can set up a boundary for the shoes which, when crossed, will cause the shoes to emit an alert to the person who is keeping track of the shoes. One parent indicated that if tracking shoes were available for in children’s sizes, she would certainly buy them—of course, they would be outgrown frequently.

Protect Your Pet From Bad Weather With GPS

April 26th, 2013

Oklahoma City is known for some disastrous weather. Strong winds and tornadoes have devastated homes and families. In severe weather, people not only lose their property, sometimes family members (including pets) can go missing as well. Pets can get swept up by intense winds, or simply run away to find some safe shelter. In 2012, Oklahoma City animal welfare found more than 27,000 lost pets and only around 1,500 of them were reunited with their families. Animal shelters are encouraging pet owners to invest in a GPS tracking device to better the chances of finding a pet if it gets lost.

Pet owners living in areas vulnerable to severe weather would do well to put some extra thought into investing in a GPS device for their pets. Animal shelters report that they see a lot of lost pets when bad storms pass through their area. However, even if you live in a mild climate, equipping your pet with a GPS device could save you some real heartache should your pet go missing. “I think that [would] be a great help for any pet owner really, I mean, any dog can get out so that’s a real concern for any pet owner,” said John McFarland.

Many pet owners see their pets as members of the family. When a pet goes missing, it can be incredibly stressful. “I think of my dog as my child so if he were to get out I’d like to know where he’s at. I’d like to be able to find him,” said Maysea Ranier. “Just the other day she got loose and I was getting a little bit worried about it so I was driving around looking for her.”

Despite the clear benefit GPS technology provides to pet owners, most pet stores still do not offer tracking devices. You can find a GPS tracking device right here at RMTracking.com for around $100. Most pets will get away from their owners from time to time. With GPS tracking, finding your pets is easier than ever!

Orange County, FL: GPS Devices Used In Certain Civil Cases

March 22nd, 2013

Certain domestic violence criminals in Orange County could find themselves equipped with a GPS tracking device affixed to their ankle very soon.

Judge Belvin Perry thought of the idea, telling a reporter at Florida’s WDBO that the GPS devices should even be mandated for some of those who have not been arrested at all. Perry said that the Orlando area is number one in the state for domestic violence, and wants to step up enforcement to change things.

Roughly 5,000 injunction petitions are filed every year in Orange County.

In February, on Valentine’s Day to be precise, select defendants who have injunctions against them will receive a GPS tracking device to be worn around their ankle. When an offender enters within a certain proximity of the victim, an alarm will sound.

Katherine Moore, a domestic violence victim, is thankful the program has been implemented. “He said that if he could not have me than no one could have me,” Moore said of a threatening text sent to her by her husband, Tony Moore. She broke down in tears in court, telling the judge she fears for her safety when her husband is released from jail.

As if to reassure her, Orange County Circuit Court Judge Robert Evans said, “I will order GPS tracking.”

As soon as Tony Moore is released, the GPS tracking device he is forced to wear will keep tabs on his GPS location. His wife will wear a similar device, so that when he gets too close to her GPS location, an alert is sent to warn her, and 911 is contacted so that authorities can deal with her husband.

Katherine Moore’s attorney Randy McClean said, “It won’t stop a bullet, it won’t stop a knife, but it does alert law enforcement and it does add an extra layer of protection for the domestic violence victim.”

This is a pilot program funded by a $316,000 grant. The future of the program is uncertain. Lawmakers will visit the issue in June, when the grant is due to run out.

Parents: Use VivoPlay to Track Your Child

February 18th, 2013

If you are a parent, the question of whether or not to equip your child with a cell phone has probably been raised a few times. My own children span from kindergarten to middle school and I’ve seen and heard it all, from other parents as well as my children. Personally I don’t believe in children carrying cell phones, mainly because I am always home and know where they are, as well as how they can be reached at all times, and vice versa. My fifth grader, however, disagrees. Some of her friends carry cell phones, and she’s always trying to convince me that having one of her own is a necessity. I can sort of see their parents’ points of view: they are working out of the home, their child is in numerous after school activities and sports, and they want a way to get in touch with them wherever they may be. I just can’t justify adding a cell phone onto the family plan that will see little to no use, or even worse, astronomical bills from excessive texting or talk time.

For parents like me, there’s the VIVOplay from Evado Filip US. This device combines GPS tracking, WiFi, an a GSM connection into a wristwatch, and is said to be the smallest communications and location device to assure you can communicate with your child anywhere, at any time.

Do you want to tell your child you’ll be a little late picking them up from soccer practice? Call the VIVOplay and speak with your child directly. What if they want to get in touch with you to ask if they can stay at the playground down the street a little bit longer to play basketball with friends? You can program up to five numbers your child can call. If your child likes to explore, you can program a geofenced area. When your child goes beyond the geofence or enters an unauthroized area, you are alerted on your smartphone at once with their location on a map. All of these customizations are set using a smartphone app.

What if your child finds themselves in a dangerous situation? They simply press a special red emergency button and the five pre-programmed numbers are dialed simultaneously. The VIVOplay will instantly begin recording audio and location information is recorded and saved for use by responding emergency personnel.

It is quite the child-friendly GPS device. The VIVOplay is water resistant, and encased in thick rubber to keep it safe from damage. The charger is housed within the device itself, keeping it protected while also lessening the chances it will get lost.

“After a frightening personal experience where I briefly lost my young son, Filip, in a mall, I realized that a communications and location device for children was not a nice-to-have but a must-have,” said Sten Kirkbak, founder and CEO of Evado Filip. “VIVOplay allows parents to be able to speak with and find their child with a simple, easy-to-use mobile device that has functionality appropriate for young children.”

Details as to pricing and availability have yet to be released, but it is estimated the VIVOplay will be available for pre-order at some point in Q2.

No More Hide and Seek with GPS Tracking

January 26th, 2013

Anyone who’s read enough on the basics of GPS tracking can get a pretty good idea of its uses—among the many, the ability to track lost individuals (pets or human). Wouldn’t parents love to have that technology at their fingertips for their children. However, the cost for that kind of equipment, i.e. a smartphone with the appropriate app for GPS tracking, goes into the hundreds of dollars, and an electronically monitored pet collar like Tagg is not an option on kids (besides, it’s unfashionable). As of summer 2013, that won’t be a problem.

What is the Evado Filip Vivoplay?

The Vivoplay press release says the device is the smallest mass-produced one of its kind in the world and is both GPS tracked and communications-ready (GSM)—it even comes with WiFi. The equipment comes in the form of either wristwatch or clip-on gadget, heavy-duty (including water resistant) enough for even rough-playing kids between ages 5 and 12, and allows children to not only be GPS tracked everywhere they go but also to remain in constant audio and text contact with parents (or previously okayed people) wherever, whenever they wish. All the functions of the Vivoplay are controlled and monitored by a customized app on the parent’s smartphone.

So if I purchase this device for my child?

The Vivoplay doesn’t have all the full-fledge functions or concerns that come with a child’s owning a smartphone: high cost of replacement if lost or broken, possibility of being stalked or bullied by individuals online, etc. The device can be programmed with up to 5 parent-approved emergency contact numbers and allows the child to receive calls or texts from them but doesn’t permit outgoing, minimizing the aforementioned concerns. However, in case of emergency, the Vivoplay has a panic button that, when pressed, automatically sends immediate calls to every phone number on the contact list, updating those people with the child’s current location, and begins to record and save all of the child’s sound and position information. Parents will be able to see and hear what is going on with their child. If the device itself is lost, parents can press a button to find that too. As with the Tagg Pet Tracker, parents can pre-set a boundary for their kids and will be alerted through the GPS tracking app if the Vivoplay device (and their child) has wandered out of it.

Happy GPS Trails for Kids

January 20th, 2013

Exploring nature has fascinated children—and adults—for centuries. Despite the ever-increasing number of indoor options for physical fitness and exercise, outdoor activity continues to be an important element to the overall health and wellbeing of children. As childhood obesity continues to cause increasing alarm in American culture, concerned parents, grandparents, and teachers are searching for appropriate and exciting ways to engage their children in healthy activity. GPS tracking that is extending to community nature trails may end up being a welcome solution to this common problem of 21st century American suburban childhood.

Natural Motivation

GPS tracking can open up a whole new world of discovery for kids. Naturally curious, kids can get exercise and fresh air without even noticing it as they explore nature. And they don’t even have to wait until their parents are free to go with them—or quit when their parents’ interest is exhausted. As specific trails with GPS tracking become available within communities, more kids can enjoy pursuing activity in the natural world that has been a natural part of childhood for centuries.

Restorative Recreation

As childhood stress becomes an increasingly concerning factor for American youth, restorative, non-competitive activities need to be provided. Trails with GPS tracking have the potential of providing hours of outdoor exercise that can restore the entire body. With the leisure to experience and enjoy nature at their own pace, children can escape from the high performance demands of competitive sports. They can also receive the age-old benefits from fresh air and sunshine that still have never been reproduced in nutritional supplements or artificial, indoor settings.

Community Service Opportunities

As kids become at home in nature and familiar with local trails, they could develop a healthy sense of ownership over the outdoor beauty they enjoy. As they observe the seasons and begin to find favorite places, they’ll logically work to preserve and protect what they grow to appreciate and love. As successful outdoor-based programs created for young people have proved over the years, exposure to nature often aids in the development of a broader outlook on life as children learn how to respond in ways that expands their knowledge and their ability to help others. A passion for the outdoors will also cause children to have the desire to share the joy they’ve discovered with others. One Eagle Scout in New York recently served his community by creating a trail to honor veterans with GPS tracking. As the enthusiasm for outdoor adventures captures children, they will often channel their energies to accomplish service to their communities that bring them as much delight as it brings those they serve.

GPS Tracking Aids Employers and Families

January 8th, 2013

Businesses incorporating GPS tracking are shown as some of the fastest growing in the market today; its diversity makes it a flexible tool. For instance ArgoTrak—a locally based Naples, FL, business working closely alongside software corporation Position Logic—is one of an ever-growing list of companies that utilize GPS tracking. The software has been used in everything from tracking data for long distance transportation to monitoring client company equipment to individual purposes. Just about anything you want followed—ArgoTrak can keep an eye on it.

What does ArgoTrak do?

Service providers like Position Logic use their proprietary software to work with existing client hardware, almost every known kind, in keeping employees and equipment accounted for. For instance ArgoTrak utilizes the program mainly in conjunction with fleet management (like long-haul truck and taxi transportation or rental companies) but can also provide surveillance assistance to individuals: senior citizens, small children, personal cars and bikes, and family pets. A GPS tracker is placed on each vehicle or individual and monitored 24-7 from ArgoTrak. When needed, ArgoTrak can arrange a pre-determined periphery that when the item or person crosses the line, ArgoTrak’s client receives a message about the violation. Other data gathered from the installed tracking device includes start or stop time, time spent sitting still, and speed or location of the vehicle at any point of the day.

What are the benefits?

This kind of GPS tracking accountability can greatly economize a company’s resources. Employees are monitored whenever the company vehicle is in their care and allows managers to find out whether it’s being used solely for business purposes. No longer can workers use their company’s gas or time for personal or possibly unlawful reasons. Managers will know if they’ve been speeding past legal limits, making unauthorized side stops, or sitting anywhere for too long without a good excuse. If time is of utmost importance as is often the case with emergency service companies like plumbing or electrical, management can dispatch—thanks to GPS tracking—the specialist closest to the area of the service call.

In addition, ArgoTrak’s GPS tracking provides safety for individuals who require constant supervision for both medical reasons (Alzheimer’s, dementia, mentally impaired) and family reasons (young children and teenagers).

Spying on Your Spouse: Who Needs a Private Investigator?

December 26th, 2012

When it comes to spying on your spouse, the days of the Magnum PI-type private investigating may be over. With the abilities of GPS tracking, closed-circuit television (in the form of secret surveillance), and hidden recordings, couples are doing their own private investigating more and more.

But this new “reality show” type evidence using cameras and microphones to secretly monitor each other’s activities may not only land you in divorce court, but may land you in court for privacy rights violations.

According to a case in Ohio, Catherine Zang is suing her ex-husband Joseph Zang for secretly monitoring the family’s activities inside the home.

Mrs. Zang has accused her ex-husband of planting “bugs” and cameras all over the home. While Mr. Zang was very creative in where he planted the devices; a GPS tracking device inside his ex-wife’s car, a video camera inside an electrical outlet, and a microphone in a wall, Mr. Zang’s spy activity has landed him in federal court in a lawsuit filed by both Zang’s ex-wife and and internet friend of hers (whom she had never met), named Javier Luis.

“I felt very violated and I continue to feel violated,” Mrs. Zang said. “I was in the privacy of my own home,” she went on to say.

Mrs. Zang’s correspondence with Luis was being monitored through a “Web watcher” program that was installed on her computer. What’s interesting is it wasn’t only Mrs. Zang’s private behavior that was recorded, but also recordings of dramatic altercations between the couple.

While Mr. Zang admits to the secret spying, he believes as the owner of his own home he has done nothing wrong. In fact he may have certain protections for being the homeowner and installing the gear.

According to Ken Altshuler, president of the American Academy of matrimonial lawyers, “If you live in the house you can do things in your own house. On the other end of this, judges hate this. The judge is going to think you’re a scumbag for doing this.”

But this trend is growing in the United States were couples are spying on each other, but they may be too embarrassed to expose the material that has been secretly taped. Sophisticated technology makes this possible and easily affordable.

In an interesting twist, Mrs. Zang’s lawsuit hit a bump when it was revealed that her then-lawyer (and brother-in-law), Donald Roberts, is allegedly the person that advised Mr. Zang to install the surveillance equipment in the first place.

Mrs. Zang and Mr. Luis – in separate lawsuits – are suing for hundreds of thousands of dollars combined.

Make a Date With GPS Tracking

December 20th, 2012

A decade or so ago singles had few choices in meeting potential dates locally. The computer-savvy—through Match.com or eHarmony—could register online, view fellow singles’ profiles (across the country or in their area), and set up a meeting. Such websites broadened the dating pool to virtually endless possibilities. You were no longer limited only to popular hang-outs, and getting to know someone first online came with less pressure than awkward face-to-face encounters (i.e. blind dates). Thanks to GPS tracking, finding in-person dates online has become a heck of a lot easier.

What Is GPS Tracking’s Role in Dating?
Original dating sites (like Match.com or eHarmony) required users to sift through multiple profiles of possible match-ups (and who’s to say those were 100 percent honest). Not so anymore. The introduction of GPS-location-based dating apps permits users to view profiles of singles in the area, where they are currently, and what they want to do tonight—all on the smart phone. Who wants to read a profile on a computer screen when a real-life meet-up can happen right now? To many on the dating scene such apps allow for impulsiveness and “anything-can-happen” excitement.

For globe-trotters, GPS-based dating apps help users to connect with other singles nearby all around the world. Vacation in London? Business in Tokyo? No matter where you roam a date could happen any time, any place, thanks to GPS tracking. But do such apps produce lasting romance or just a quick hook-up? That’s for the user to decide.

How Does It Work?
Location-based dating apps cover a broad spectrum (depending on how adventurous you are). Sites like SinglesAroundMe use Google mapping to do at-the-moment pinpointing (where you are right now) or destination pinpointing (where you’ll be later)—down to your (and other logged-in singles’) exact street address. For the more cautious, apps like OKCupid and Match.com display only a general location, never an exact address. Through GPS tracking, members can suggest date activities immediately available (and allow user matches to respond), pick from the selection of matches around their current location, and are notified when one is nearby.

What About Safety Risks?
Of course, common sense is important—telling someone your plans or bringing a friend. Research has shown women feel less at ease than men about using GPS tracking for dating.

A user might be concerned a potential stalker will figure out not only her current location but also where she lives or works by observing daily routines recorded through her phone. Thankfully, location-based dating apps allow users to change or control their profile and turn off GPS tracking completely when not in use.

Eventually, profile match-ups could be made based on past GPS-recorded behavior—where you’ve gone, the time you usually go—and suggested to people who have similar habits.

FL: Husband Busts Wife Cheating Using Her Phone’s GPS

December 18th, 2012

What do you do when you suspect your wife cheating? Well, a Florida man decided to turn to technology for help. More specifically, he used the GPS technology built in to his wife’s smartphone. Although there have been numerous cases of one spouse discovering the other spouse’s infidelity in this manner, this instance has details that are quite shocking.

38 year old Amie Neely was arrested by police in Port St. Lucie, FL and charged with felonious sexual assault after being discovered having sex in a car with a 16 year old foreign exchange student. This boy was one of two exchange students living with Neely and her husband. Amie Neely is also a teacher at Community Christian Academy, however there it is unknown whether or not Neely was the victim’s teacher.

According to statements given to police by the boy, he said that he took Neely to a location in close proximity to St. Lucie West Centennial High School where they hopped into the back seat of the vehicle. While they were having sex, Neely’s husband appeared out of nowhere, being led to their location using an app that pinpoints the GPS location given by her cell phone.

Neely’s reasoning for the incident: she claims it is all due to “midlife crisis.” She also told police that the boy was constantly asking her to have sex with him, and she complied in the hopes he would cease asking. In the boy’s statements to police, he said there were many other occasions upon which the two had sex, even in Neely’s home.

Community Christian Academy is fully cooperating with police in their investigation, and have terminated Neely. Norma Hammond, administrative director at the school, said, “Community Christian Academy is aware of a legal situation involving a teacher and we are cooperating with law enforcement officials who are dealing with this as an ongoing investigation. For that reason, we have no further comment at this time. We will be issuing a more detailed statement after meeting with school board and church leadership.”

Police reports say that neighbors contacted police after the boy appeared in their home claiming to have been kicked out of the Neely home “because he had sex with Amie.” The neighbors claim he confessed they’d slept together numerous times, stemming from hot and heavy text messages “referencing sexual connotations.”

Neely was released on $15,000 bail. Maybe the next time she decides to have a midlife crisis moment such as this, she’ll remember to leave the GPS enabled cell phone at home.