Rocky Mountain Tracking » GPS Personal Tracking

GPS Gives Alzheimer’s Caregivers Peace of Mind

Nichole Decoust — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:41:08 +0000

For those caring for Alzheimer’s patients, losing a loved one due to wandering is a top fear. Now, GPS tracking can help put their minds at ease. Wandering is one of the most common symptoms for the estimated 5.3 million Americans who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease; a fact that always has caregivers and loved ones on their toes, ever vigilant for that unforeseen moment. But the stress can be overwhelming.

Now, instead of alarming moments of panic and frantic calls to the police, caregivers can know where loved ones are at all times, thanks to an application of GPS tracking from George Mason University. Understanding the constant worry associated with wandering in Alzheimer’s patients, Andrew Carle, executive in residence of senior housing at George Mason, came up with the idea of GPS tracking devices in shoes. He found a likely partner for his idea in a California company already putting GPS tracking in shoes. Together, they designed a shoe perfect for the elderly that contains a GPS device.

Searching for a way to keep the device on patients, Carle figured shoes were a pretty good option. Caregivers, who often fear even stepping into to the bathroom for a moment, can use these shoes to keep track of where the Alzheimer’s sufferer is at all times. Most patients don’t wander without their shoes on, and the shoes can be tracked by an assigned responsible person.

Tests of the shoes have worked well. Joan Johnston’s husband is an Alzheimer’s sufferer. She has experienced those moments of panic when her husband was not where she left him, nor anywhere in sight. She and her son were looking for options when she came across George Mason University and Carle’s plan. They were offered a pair of shoes to test, and decided to give it a try.

Joan does not have to worry about the technological side of the solution, her son, Alan, does that. If her husband is missing, she calls her son who can give her live feedback on his location, thanks to the GPS tracking in his shoes. The shoes can simply track location, or Alan can set a predetermined area for his dad to stay in, if he wanders out of the area, Alan will automatically be sent a text warning, and be prompted to go online and see his dad’s location.

So far, Joan and Alan are pleased with the peace of mind the shoes give them, and the safety they provide for Joan’s husband. Shoes with GPS tracking may not be new idea, but for Alzheimer’s patients, they can be a lifeline.

Come Sail Away With GPS

Khristen Foss — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:54:37 +0000

Educational Passages, a program based in Maine, takes researching the ocean to a whole new level. Since its creation, over a dozen tiny sailboats have been released in the Atlantic Ocean in order to study the currents and winds, with boats being recovered in faraway places such as Portugal and Ireland. The progam was the recent topic of discussion at The Apprenticeshop in Rockland as part of its “Second Thursday” series.

Educational Passages was the idea of Dick Baldwin from Belfast, who created the program to teach Maine’s children a bit about the ocean and data scientists use to study it. You could say he knows a thing or two about both sailing and the ocean as he has successfully sailed solo. At its inception back in 2008, five foot sailboats were equipped with tiny GPS tracking devices allowing students to track the boats online.

The program has taken off since then, and today there are new boat designs and students and community members, young and old, following the boats’ journey. Some of these people take part by aiding in launching or recovering the sailboats. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association recently began using the sailboats to study Atlantic salmon in Penobscot Bay.

After the discussion attendees were given a tour of The Apprenticeshop, a place to learn the art of traditional boat building and learn the art of sailing. Some of the highlights of the tour: a restored 20′ Aldean Indian-class sloop, 17′ work skiff designed by Mark Fitzgerald, and a 15′ Maine Light Station peapod replica to name a few.

GPS Saves Lives in Hawaii and Beyond

John Chapman — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:00:21 +0000

The power of GPS satellites to save lives and help those in need seems to be growing every day. In the Koolau mountains in O’ahu, Hawaii, two hikers were recently rescued after getting lost on a hike.

The father and soon hiking team got lost on a trail. The son’s wife called firefighters, who then checked a GPS on their cell phone. Though the battery was low and the phone eventually died, firefighters used that fleeting moment of cell phone power and read their location on the GPS. Once that was done, they’d determined that the hikers were going in the wrong direction, actually going up the mountain.

Mother Nature is a stern taskmaster, and there’s nothing more frightening than getting lost on a hiking trail during a simple pleasure hike. However, with the implementation of GPS technologies on smart phones, adding safety and security to an afternoon hike is becoming easier.

As GPS technology becomes more commonplace, there are definitely advantages to individuals who want to be tracked voluntarily. In the case of those two hikers in Hawaii, their lives were saved. The world is quickly becoming a place where such hiking accidents don’t have to become tragedies. If it weren’t for the simple, easy use of GPS technology and cell phones, those hikers may have died.

If you’re going on a hike, the simple addition of a GPS or smart phone is now becoming a packing essential. There’s more to smart phones than texting and Angry Birds—these phones open up a whole new world of GPS technology that not only gets you where you need to go more quickly, but allows for satellite tracking in the event you get off the trail during the big hike. So what’s the moral of the story? Don’t go hiking without a GPS. It may save your life.

Cell Phone Saves Abducted Ohio College Student

Khristen Foss — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:39:50 +0000

A 29 year old student of Brown County’s Southern State Community College was abducted from the campus parking lot by 29 year old Nathan Parsons, an acquaintance of the victim. She was saved 21 minutes later by the GPS tracking device built into her cell phone.

She showed up to her first class of the day on the 16^th of November at 10:19, not knowing that Parsons had been waiting for the past half hour for her to arrive. He got out of his pickup truck, “forcibly placed her into his vehicle, and then drove off the campus property,” said Lt. Randy McElfresh of the Ohio State Police. Parking lot surveillance footage captured each moment on camera, which aided in proving it was premeditated.

While Parsons attempted to escape, the victim used her cell phone equipped with GPS tracking capabilities to dial 911. Dispatchers were able to follow the truck’s movements. Panicked moments ensued when the phone signal was lost, but the victim quickly dialed 911 a second time. Dispatchers determined who she was, and told her it would be wise to hide her phone for the duration of the ordeal.

They tracked Parsons’ location and a chase ensued, which at one point involved spike strips. When the strips were tossed into the roadway, Parsons thought he had outsmarted them by off-roading through farm land but soon became stuck, allowing police to close in and make an arrest. Parsons was taken to the Brown County Jail in Georgetown.

The police are using this case as an example to urge all citizens to utilize the GPS feature of their cell phones, as many cell phone users don’t want to be tracked and end up turning this feature off. Lt. Heitkemper of the OSP says that if this feature of the phone had been turned off in this case, finding the victim “would have just been luck. Because of GPS, we knew exactly where they were at all times.”

He says that every one of us should use this technology if it is available. “If you can just dial 911 and let [the phone] lay beside you, they can hear your conversation. You don’t have to say a thing and the 911 system will be able to pinpoint your exact location.”

Pet Tracking for a Disaster

Admin — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 16:00:53 +0000

We all remember the sad images of dogs and cats sitting on rooftops or hanging out windows after Hurricane Katrina. Though heartbreaking, families often feel that they have no choice but to leave their pets behind when a disaster strikes; however, if the family has a plan, most pets can be saved. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) found that 35 percent of pet owners do not have a plan in place for their pets in case of an emergency, a simple but important precaution since most pets will not survive if abandoned.

Preparing your pet for an emergency is similar to preparing the rest of the family for disaster. Since most evacuation centers and shelters do not allow pets, arranging for someone outside the disaster zone to care for your pet if you cannot is top priority, such as a friend, family member, or even an animal shelter. Posting “Pet Inside” stickers on your windows will alert rescue workers, especially if you are not home when the disaster strikes. Preparing an emergency kit for your pet is also essential; your pet’s records, medications, food, and water should all be part of the kit. You may even want to consider using reflective collars, leashes, or vests for your pet in case the power goes out.

However, the most important thing you can do for your pet in a disaster situation is to have accurate identification. Collar tags, microchips, and GPS tracking devices are key to finding your pet when the crisis is over. There are many companies that offer GPS tracking for pets, but they all use basically the same technology. Most devices attach directly to a pet’s collar or harness, most are waterproof, and most notify pet owners when there is a problem.

Once you have set up your account with whatever company you choose, you will be asked to activate the GPS device and attach it to your pet’s collar. You will also set up a zone, or “geofence,” for your pet based on its daily activities. Then you will be notified through text, email, or phone whenever your pet leaves its zone; some systems even alert you when the battery needs to be recharged.

Though recent surveys show that more than 70 percent of pet owners would take their pets with them during a disaster, sometimes that is just not possible. Instead of depending on Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of pets, be prepared and have a plan in place to ensure the safety of your pet and the happiness of your family.

Article Written by Kadence Vyra

Note: RMT does not sell pet tracking collars.

These Shoes Were Made For Tracking

Admin — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:18:52 +0000

The latest product from GTX Corporation is pair of shoes that tracks where the wearer goes. The GPS tracking technology contained in these shoes is designed to help track Alzheimer’s sufferers.

These traceable sneakers were developed a few years ago, and recently gained certification from the FCC. With these shoes, relatives and caretakers will be able to minimize the time that it takes to find a loved one.

The unique software that goes along with the GTX shoes can track a wearer up to 37 feet. The program can be customized and personalized in a variety of ways. This includes the ability to set up email alerts if a person wearing the GPS sneakers moves outside of a geofenced area.

Unlike other GPS-enabled sneakers, the GTX variety do not look unordinary. As such, these shoes are perfect for the elderly and children alike. To find out more, visit the GTX website: http://www.gtxcorp.com/.

Article Written by Mark Rummel

GPS Inventor Opposes Warrantless Tracking

Admin — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 16:00:04 +0000

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has joined forces with GPS inventor, Roger L. Easton, to speak out against warrantless GPS tracking. Easton invented the Timation Satellite Navigation System at the Naval Research Laboratory in the early 1970s and was awarded the National Medal of Technology in 2006 for this revolutionary technology. The Supreme Court is set to hear a controversial case involving GPS tracking, United States v. Jones, and Easton wanted his opinion known before the ruling.

FBI agents attached a GPS device to Jones’ vehicle without his knowledge, and after their warrant expired. The team failed to get a valid warrant and tracked the suspect for a month, before arresting him on charges of drug possession and conspiracy to distribute. “This is the first case where the Supreme Court will consider automatic, persistent, passive location tracking by law enforcement,” Marcia Hofmann, EFF’s senior staff attorney, stated.

“The government can use location information over time to learn where you go to church, what sort of doctors you go to, what meetings and activities you participate in, and much more. Police should not have blanket permission to install GPS devices and collect detailed information about people’s movements over time without court review.”

The Supreme Court will hear the case in the next few months. An appeals court ruled that evidence against Jones was obtained unconstitutionally, but the government appealed that decision. “If police are allowed to plant GPS devices wherever they please, that’s essentially blanket permission for widespread, ongoing police surveillance without any court supervision,” offered Cindy Cohn, EFF’s legal director. “It’s not hard to see how that kind of leeway would be abused. We hope the Supreme Court takes a close look at how this technology works and act to protect the Fourth Amendment rights of Americans.”

Article Written by Marisa O’Connor

OnStar Reverses Invasive Policy

Admin — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:37:21 +0000

OnStar’s recent policy change, which would allow the company to continue collecting GPS tracking information even after the customer cancels their contract with OnStar, brought about much criticism. Customers were outraged by the blatant violation of privacy and disregard for the customer’s preference to no longer be affiliated with OnStar.

Charles Schumer, Democratic senator of New York called the new policy “one of the most brazen invasions of privacy in recent memory.” Other democratic senators, Al Franken of Minnesota and Chris Coons of Delaware also expressed concern about the validity of the policy change.

OnStar heard the criticism of its consumers and quickly reversed the policy. “We realize that our proposed amendments did not satisfy our subscribers,” said Linda Marshal, OnStar’s president. “This is why we are leaving the decision in our customer’s hands. We listened, we responded and we hope to maintain the trust of our customers.”

OnStar is an emergency response system, installed into vehicles, as a part of General Motors. A mobile phone and GPS tracking device are installed into the vehicle, which transmits a constant stream of information to the OnStar offices.

The system records speed, tire pressure and whether or not the driver is wearing a seat belt. The biggest selling point, however, is the system’s ability to immediately report accidents. The GPS tracking information is key to the service, and is likely responsible for saving countless lives, but that doesn’t give the company free reign on the location data of its users.

“I’m glad to see OnStar responding to its customers, however simply amending their terms and conditions to stop monitoring a vehicle after the user cancels is not enough to satisfy the level of privacy OnStar customers received prior to these updates,” offers Jonathan Zdziarski, forensic scientist and OnStar customer.

“To win back the respect of the many customers who must have canceled over the new terms, OnStar will need to make a full 180 and agree not to collect customer GPS information ‘for any purpose, at anytime,’ but only when the customer would expect it to be collected, as the old contract enforced,” concluded Zdziarski.

Article Written by Marisa O’Connor

MyTrek and iPhone: Tracking Your Workout

Admin — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:34:29 +0000

Advanced technology has brought us a number of products to monitor heart rate, calories burned, and other statistics during a workout. A new piece of equipment from Scosche partners with your iPhone to make workout tracking more convenient, accurate, and unobtrusive than ever.

Before using it, you link the Scosche MyTrek to its companion iPhone app with the help of a built in installation guide. In a brief setup, you tailor the device’s settings with your personal fitness information. When you are ready to begin your workout, the app allows you to set the MyTrek to a specific workout type (from yoga to running) and begin tracking all the standard statistics—time, distance, heart rate, and calories burned, among others.

The MyTrek itself is an exceptionally comfortable armband, less restrictive and noticeable than more common chest strap models. Chances are you will forget you are even wearing the armband during your workout. As an extra bonus feature, a built in player links to your iTunes library and lets you listen to music without even taking your iPhone or iPod along. Music playback control buttons on the armband are large and easy to use without looking at them.

During your workout, the built in player also gives you audio updates on your current heart rate in relation to your target, as well as your overall progress. With the automatic update system, you don’t even need to interrupt your run or weight routine to glance at your iPhone. This convenience lets you focus on your routine from beginning to end.

After the workout is over, all the information from your exercise is compiled in an easy to read format, giving you instant detailed feedback on the benefits of your hard work. All the information is then saved to a calendar, allowing you to compare past workouts and track your overall progress.

The Scosche MyTrek sets a new standard for convenience and accuracy in exercise tracking devices. Combining an armband hardly more noticeable than a wristwatch with the powerful computing capabilities of the iPhone, the MyTrek is sure to result in a more efficient and profitable workout.

Article Written by Mark Rammel

Discover New Places With GPS and Waymarking.com

Admin — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:01:59 +0000

There is a new way to discover your surroundings, using the waymarking community. The term waymarking is derived from the term waypoint, which describes digitally marking a map with a pin at a specific location. Thanks to the prevalence of GPS locating devices, and the desire so many people have to share what they love, Waymarking.com offers a new way to explore the world.

This site is user generated and constantly updated with new location information. Whether you’re looking for an amusement park, animal hospital, or scenic overlook, the waymarking community can show you the way.

Most experienced travelers will agree that one of the best ways to experience a new city or region, is with a local resident. Just as you probably know the hidden treasures of your hometown, so do most people about their respective areas. With the help of GPS locating devices, you can access the benefits of a tour guide, without having to know someone at every destination, or having to fork over the money for a professional tour.

Members of waymarking.com enter the location information, specifically the GPS coordinates, of their favorite places. They will include a picture or two along with a description of the destination. These places are organized on the site within several categories and subcategories. For example, there is a nature category carrying information on various parks, water sources, plants and forests, and caves, to name a few. Another category is entertainment, which includes information about dance clubs, celebrity spotting, and museums.

Visitors who find their destination from waymarking.com have the opportunity to add their experience to the information already available. Members are instructed to take a photo at the location, showing their GPS locating device, such as a smartphone, and write a brief description of their experiences. This provides different perspectives and a generally more well-rounded resource.

Article Written by Marisa O’Connor