Laws of nature dictate that everything must deteriorate or decay. We see it in plants and animals as well as rocks and rivers. Technology is no different. Equipment wears out or breaks down, and advances in scientific knowledge make way for new methods and systems. In 2008, the United States Air Force selected Exelis in
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Wicomico County, Maryland buses are due to have GPS devices installed by next school year thanks to a new requirement. The buses already feature surveillance cameras. The problem: the district’s bus fleet are all private contractors. Many of these contractors do not agree with the idea of a GPS tracking device being placed on their
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Yet another “good faith” warrantless GPS tracking case, this time in California, has come before a judge. This time, fire investigators collected evidence from a suspected arsonist using a GPS tracking device which they affixed to the suspect’s vehicle. Now Jonathan Griffin, his defense attorney, is attempting to have all evidence gathered via the tracking
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It appears not all citizens are protected from warrantless tracking after all, despite the recent Supreme Court ruling in the Jones case which declared GPS tracking of suspected criminals conducted without a warrant unconstitutional. In Iowa, a federal judge decided evidence gathered with a warrantless GPS tracking device installed on the vehicle in the case
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The government of West Australia has announced plans to follow Queensland in attaching GPS tracking devices to its sex offenders. Under this plan, sex offenders would be released into the community with anklets or bracelets equipped with GPS tracking technology. The tracking devices will monitor the individual’s movements, and can send alerts when leaving or
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The recent storms in Norman, Oklahoma revealed some holes in the Norman School District emergency preparedness policies. On April 13, 2012, a tornado touched down near a local middle school shortly after students were dismissed for the day. Thankfully, no one was injured, but communication during and after the event was very stressful and unorganized.
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All too often we hear stories about big corporations taking advantage of third-world labor and resources. In a refreshing change of tune, Hershey has launched a new, mutually beneficial program for their Ghana cocoa farmers. The program is called Hershey Learn To Grow, and has been in place for the last few years as a
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Earthquakes can be devastating, and scientists are hard at work trying to better prepare us for the next disaster. Researchers across the globe have been working on ways to more accurately determine the magnitude of large earthquakes, in order to warn nearby populations of the coming tremors. “We depend on seismic networks for early warning,
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Last year, Australia launched a controversial program allowing GPS tracking of convicted sex offenders. Now, the country’s legislators are hoping to expand the tracking program to lesser criminals. In January, a new sentencing option came into effect that allows judges to monitor criminals on community corrections orders for violence and substance abuse problems. “Currently, electronic
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On February 26, 28-year-old George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin. According to reports, Martin was walking to his father’s fiance’s home inside a gated community, when Zimmerman saw him and called the police, reporting what he considered suspicious activity. A fight broke out between the two for reasons that remain unknown, and Zimmerman shot
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