Rocky Mountain Tracking

Motorola Brings Sports Wristwear to the Next Level

John Chapman — Wed, 16 May 2012 20:00:16 +0000

There’s more to wristwear than telling the time. The cellular phone marks one of the largest catalysts for economic and consumer change in decades. The landline telephone is quickly becoming obsolete. Desktop and laptop computers are being complimented with mobile phones that receive emails. Even the wristwatch faces extinction now: once a proud symbol of the elite, then a broad based consumer convenience, now rendered redundant by the cellular phone in your pocket.

Is GPS Down for the Count?
But we may not be quite done with the wristwatch, not quite yet. There are things that wrist worn devices have the potential for that smart phones simply can’t hack. While smart phones certainly have more functionality than ever, the versatile nature of these devices means that, well, they just can’t do everything right. GPS functionality is a great example: while most smart phones are equipped with GPS tracking devices, most of them don’t come close to the accuracy and functionality of a dedicated device. Smart phone cases are designed to hold a host of hardware, and the casing often stops up the power of the GPS. That’s why manufacturers are hoping wearable GPS devices may hold the key to the future of sportswear.

The Wristwear Revolution
They’re popping up all over the place: wearable sports GPS devices which track your every move. Some are equipped with altimeters, speedometers, and USB connections which allow you to track your workout progress. The next step in these wearable wonders appears to be integration with your smart phone.

The MotoActv
The MotoActv from Motorola is designed to be the ultimate solution for sports tracking. Users can choose from 40 different exercises. Obviously the focus is on cardio and movement based activities including walking, running, cycling and skiing. The device has a black & white display function for use outdoors. Large, and styled after the bulky digital watches of the 1980s, the MotoActv additionally serves as a fashion throwback. The kicker on the MotoActv is the music: you can use the device as a music player via standard headphone jack or, preferably, Bluetooth headphones. The MotoActv even pairs with your cell phone to share music seamlessly.

The Perfect Outdoor Analytical Machine
Motorola’s MotoActv might just be the perfect gadget to support the active lifestyle. Feature-loaded and stylish, your morning run might become a lot more entertaining and functional with the Motorola MotoActv.

Keeping Track of What Matters with GPS

Hillary Mayfield — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:49:42 +0000

With changes in the pricing policies of steamship lines in the United States, trading companies have had to reevaluate the costs of the chassis needed to transport shipping containers. Once included in the cost of shipping, chassis now have to be leased separately through the shipping line or purchased outright. Frontier Logistics in Houston, Texas, chose to obtain its own chassis. The question became how to keep track of them once the containers left port, and the obvious answer became GPS tracking.

When Frontier Logistics decided not to lease chassis for its shipping containers, it chose to implement global positioning system technology to protect its investment. Because chassis are expensive, not to mention almost identical to those leased, Frontier Logistics wanted to be sure it could keep track of its assets. They also wanted a long battery life and a GPS device that could withstand the harsh weather conditions often experienced on the open seas since most tracking units are placed on the outside of a container or chassis. They chose Tracking What Matters, noting, “If we lose and recover just one of these chassis, the technology will easily pay for itself.”

Tracking What Matters is a GPS-based services company located in Texas that specializes in customized tracking solutions for businesses. They combine the latest GPS technology with web-based software that provides companies with 24/7 tracking using Google Maps. Their battery options range from 2 to 7 years, and they even provide Geofence options for companies that want to safeguard their goods within a certain location. Tracking What Matters covers business fleets, shipping containers, trailers, and equipment along with general assets. Used by many Fortune 500 companies, Tracking What Matters helps businesses increase their bottom line by reducing wasteful spending and increasing productivity through better time management and fuel efficiency.

With services available in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia, Tracking What Matters offers a wide range of GPS tracking solutions to businesses worldwide. From a single box to a shipload of containers, companies can track their assets to a precise location, whether they are mistakenly shipped to another country or simply overlooked in the back of a warehouse. Companies can also better strategize in all aspects of operations. GPS technology goes well beyond the simple navigation tool it was first known for.

Improved GPS Chip Makes Features Even Cooler

Mark Rummel — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:00:02 +0000

The newest GPS chip from Broadcom promises to make the GPS-powered applications on smartphones and other devices work better than ever before. The average customer probably isn’t interested in all the acronyms and statistics that describe this chip, but he will instantly notice some major practical improvements in the way his phone works. Both indoor and outdoor location methods, faster lock times, and a much smaller physical size are the main advantages that the new chip provides.

Perhaps the most immediate, biggest change that this GPS chip brings is faster lock times. When your smartphone tries to establish a location using the GPS satellite “constellation,” the back-and-forth communication takes time. The official press release for Broadcom’s new chip claims to reduce this lock time by a factor of ten. By gathering information from four different satellite networks instead of just one, the chip provides a more accurate location reading as well. Finally, the same multiple-satellite method also makes it easier for users to get a good reading when surrounded by tall buildings or other signal obstructions.

Another major improvement is advancement in indoor positioning technology. Although many people refer to indoor positioning as GPS, it actually relies on a different set of signals. The new Broadcom chip detects the signals around it inside a building, such as wireless networks and Bluetooth beacons, and uses that information to place the device accurately. Even in the quickly-changing field of indoor positioning, this particular chip appears to be ready for the future: it even reads 5G network signals, which was just announced earlier this year.

A benefit that most consumers will never actually see is the drastically reduced size of this new chip. It takes up 44 percent less space than its predecessor, and needs only half the battery power to operate. For a piece of technology that adds so many improvements and new features, the reduction in size and energy consumption is remarkable. Manufacturers will be able to use that saved space to add yet more features that run on hardware, or to develop larger batteries for longer life.

The new Broadcom GPS chip is already on its way to manufacturers. Its powerful new location abilities should be appearing on smartphones and mobile devices very soon, giving users more GPS-enabled convenience than ever before.

How Accurate is Your GPS, Really?

John Chapman — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:14:49 +0000

Few segments of the GPS industry receive more analytical attention than fleet management. One of the key benefits of GPS technology as it applies to fleets is the ability to monitor vehicle use (and perhaps abuse), conformity to highway regulations, vehicles that may or may not be in emergency situations, and more. One huge hurdle when it comes to implementing GPS tracking technology is the question of reliability. How do you pinpoint the true accuracy of a GPS device, especially when you are trying to manage a fleet that may contain dozens, even hundreds of vehicles?

A New GPS Accuracy Measurement System
The answer may come from San Francisco, from a company called SpeedGauge. The corporation centers its practice on analysis and review for both auto insurance and transportation industries. As such, they’re the perfect company to take on the question of GPS accuracy. SpeedGauge has just released a new technology platform called SpeedGaugeAssurance designed to collect data from GPS devices on the field and measure their effectiveness and accuracy.

The Question of Installation
Many fleet managers don’t have the time, resources, or understanding of GPS technology to carefully review the function of a GPS device. One of two things typically occurs when a GPS device is discovered to be inaccurate: either the device itself is replaced, or the vehicle is no longer monitored. In both cases, the company’s financial and labor investment in that GPS device is lost. What many fleet managers and operators do not know is that, typically, GPS inaccuracy most often results from improper installation of the device, not the device itself. This means that countless GPS devices may have been tossed in the garbage and written off when simple correction of an installation error may have recovered the device to full functionality.

Money Saving GPS Device Review
The SpeedGaugeAssurance platform hopes to change that. By monitoring GPS accuracy in an unobtrusive manner from within the device, fleet managers will find out not only if the device is inaccurate, but may have a plan of action once the device’s installation is discovered to be faulty. In that manner, fleets have the opportunity to salvage GPS devices, potentially saving thousands of dollars annually. SpeedGauge functions on thousands of commercially owned vehicles across three continents.

House Arrest Under GPS

Hillary Mayfield — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:09:02 +0000

Once used only to track released sex offenders under Jessica’s Law, California counties are now looking at and implementing early release programs based on GPS technology for other nonviolent criminals. Inmates are being fitted with tracking devices and monitored by probation officers through a laptop and Google Earth maps, thus reducing prison overcrowding and cost.

In October 2011, California passed realignment legislature that allows the state to delegate nonviolent criminals formerly under its jurisdiction to county jails. Though there are no direct transfers, new offenders receiving a sentence or finishing out a sentence, can be assigned to the county. Because of the influx of inmates, officials are seeking solutions to lessen the burdens of prisons filled beyond capacity.

Kings County, for example, is dealing with the problems brought on by a prison house made for 361 filled to 440. It has recently outfitted 80 inmates with GPS tracking ankle bracelets through an early release program, though officials do warn that such programs are not an end-all solution to the problem of overcrowding. Some prisoners simply need to stay behind bars. Kings County plans to increase its early release program until a new state-funded prison is built in 2015. They will use a private company to monitor the inmates for a cost of $4.25 a day per person. Compare this to $55 a day to keep a prisoner in jail.

Fresno County also plans to launch an early release program for low-risk inmates to include 50 individuals initially. GPS tracking devices would be placed before and after sentencing to reduce the prison population. Like Kings County, Fresno County plans to use a private company to monitor its inmates, which will cost about $70 less a day per person than keeping that same person in prison.

Though there are those who oppose GPS tracking for its seeming infringement on a person’s rights, those selected to be monitored see the program as freeing and definitely better than sitting in a jail cell. They can live at home and go to work; they can even go to the grocery store and other places approved by the probation officer. But if a GPS-enabled ankle bracelet is cut off or the set perimeters are violated, the monitoring system sends an automatic notification to the authorities so that the one under house arrest can be quickly apprehended.

GPS tracking may not be an end-all solution, but it certainly goes a long way toward helping authorities reduce overcrowding and cost in their prison systems.

Hemisphere GPS Keeps Seamen Safe

John Chapman — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:43:03 +0000

There’s more to a GPS designed specifically for Marine GPS applications than meets the eye. To the casual seaman, an iPhone may seem like an adequate GPS tracking device for basic navigation tasks. However, marine GPS devices have been around longer, have been used with great effectiveness, and hold several key advantages to boaters who need a reliable GPS navigator when taking on the high seas. Hemisphere hopes to take marine GPS consumer technology to the next level with its new line of Vector GPS products.

New GPS Products
Hemisphere’s Vector V103 GPS and Vector V113 GPS compass devices are made specifically for professional and commercial applications at sea—even machine control. The compasses take into account heave, pitch and roll with stunning accuracy and efficiency. These are serious GPS compass devices. According to the company, they are acceptable for use on surveys, tug boats, mining operations, seismic drills, dredging and more. For the marine professional who needs a serious—and seriously accurate—GPS, Hemisphere’s new Vector models might just fit the bill.

The Dedicated GPS Difference
As you can see, the above devices are far more powerful than the common consumer level GPS. The average American consumer’s most powerful GPS device resides in his or her smart phone. Smart phone GPS devices are not dedicated, and as such are simply nowhere near as a powerful even as consumer level dedicated GPS devices. Professional GPS purchasers enjoy the finest and most accurate location technology available for use around the world.

Get Your Bearings on the High Seas or Otherwise
Announced at the Oceanology International Exhibition and Conference, the Vector V103 GPS and Vector V113 GPS compass devices will be available to marine professionals soon. The increased precision and enhanced functionality of these professional devices indicates that Marine GPS machines may represent the absolute cutting edge of what GPS has to offer. The unique situations faced by seamen, including harsh weather conditions, unusual atmospheric conditions, pitch and yaw, requires unique GPS solutions. It appears that Hemisphere has addressed those issues and then some with their new Vector products. It just may be that the future of GPS technology is, in a very literal sense, out to sea. Hemisphere’s Vector products’ technology just might end up in consumer GPS devices.

GPS Distance Measuring Makes Insurance Discounts More Accurate

Mark Rummel — Sun, 13 May 2012 21:00:18 +0000

If you own a house in North Carolina, the cost of your homeowners’ insurance premium is affected by the proximity and quality of the nearest fire station. Houses within six driving miles of a station receive a discount on their insurance, and that discount increases if the station is particularly well equipped and staffed. In the past, insurance companies relied on brokers to provide information about each structure’s distance from the closest fire station, but they are now turning to GPS distance measuring to get more accurate information.

North Carolina’s insurance providers use a scale from 1 (best) to 10 (worst) to rate a fire department. The rating takes into account the training of a station’s firefighters, the quality of its equipment, and response time. Substations within a department’s district can increase its rating. If a house is located within a department with a great rating, its insurance costs are lower. However, most rural areas are rated around 9 and see only very small discounts. If a house is outside the limits of any fire department, a discount is not available.

Accurately measuring the driving distance from a house to a fire station has always been a very tedious process, but GPS distance measuring allows insurance companies to accomplish the task with convenience. Given the novelty of GPS in general, the new approach does occasionally need some adjustment. GPS distance measuring sometimes gives an incorrect reading, and the old-fashioned method of actually driving the route must correct it.

Existing policies are seeing a lot of changes, as insurance companies review their fire station information with the new GPS approach. Some policies are seeing discounts added, since they actually are within a department’s area. In other cases, a broker may have been a little optimistic when reporting the distance from the fire station for the original policy. Those policyholders would see their premiums rise as they lose their discounts.

Add insurance companies to the long list of industries that have made GPS a permanent part of the way they do business. It seems that each day brings a new story of how this technology makes someone’s job easier. And if your policy is reviewed and corrected, hopefully it will result in a bigger discount for you and not the other way around!

European GPS Giant Poised for Asia Expansion?

John Chapman — Sun, 13 May 2012 18:15:31 +0000

Have you heard the name TomTom? One of the world’s leading giants when it comes to GPS technology, the corporate titan is now expanding greatly into the mobile GPS market in India. If you don’t know what TomTom is, it’s time to take a moment to get to know a company that just might be the world leader in global positioning technology on a consumer level.

Who is TomTom?
Based in the Netherlands, TomTom is Europe’s leading manufacturer of electronic navigational systems. The company had humble beginnings creating software for palmtop computers, expanded into standalone GPS devices, and now practically has the European market cornered. European consumers may enjoy highly specialized GPS products for vehicular navigation, sports applications and more. Still a giant on the navigation software end, TomTom maintains one of the most highly regarded iOS and Android navigation software platforms. The company popularized the use of “celebrity skin” GPS voice systems, including GPS software that makes a consumer’s GPS speak in celebrity Stephen Fry’s voice. TomTom’s market position in the United States is expanding, with the company in recent years setting up domestic operations in New England.

Why India?
TomTom’s market position is secure in Europe, and the profitable corporation appears more than ready for expansion outside of the European continent. The most obvious and sensible choice for market expansion is India. One of the world’s leading nations when it comes to tech development, India’s GPS use is simply skyrocketing as demand for consumer-level GPS devices increases. Europe’s healthy trade relationship with India additionally makes Asian expansion for TomTom appear to be the right move.

GPS Around the World
Put simply, GPS is becoming a worldwide technological obsession. GPS is about more than moving a vehicle from point “A” to point “B.” GPS technology drives industry, from fleet management to marine navigation to any business segment involving transportation. With the explosive proliferation of smart phone technology around the world, GPS has been integrated into social networking in ways George Orwell could only have dreamed of. Potential for body-worn GPS devices is changing the way sports is analyzed around the world; from running to football to basketball. All told, TomTom is expanding, riding the wave of one of the most exciting technologies on planet earth today.

GPS Giants Position Logic and Garmin Join Forces

Khristen Foss — Sat, 12 May 2012 23:06:25 +0000

Two of the biggest names in the GPS tracking industry have jointed forces to form a powerhouse of location-based services: Position Logic has announced their recent selection as a Garmin Authorized Partner. Garmin does not give this distinction to just anyone. Position Logic was made to show its GPS tracking platform would accurately and completely implement Garmin’s Fleet Management Interface (FMI). Position Logic was successful in this effort, and by bestowing this title, Garmin has acknowledged Position Logic is able to provide a complete and outstanding vehicle fleet tracking solution.

As to what current and future Position Logic clients can expect to come from this partnership, CEO of Position Logic Felix Lluberes said, “We have built Position Logic on the foundation of giving our clients the best, most comprehensive services available. Implementing Garmin’s FMI is yet another way of doing that. Because when our clients win, so do we.” Clients who are using Garmin devices with this FMI implementation will not only be able to track their entire fleet, but interact with drivers as well using the driver messaging, on-the-fly route assignment, and the capability for device-generated ETA. “We are always striving to keep our GPS tracking platform among the very best in the industry. And being a partner of Garmin just makes that even easier.”

Position Logic, LLC provides business-to-business, location-based services worldwide with highly customized solutions providing precise information. Offices are located in Naples and Orlando, Florida as well as the Dominican Republic, and they serve over 40 countries in North America, South America, Africa, the Middle East region, and Europe. The provide both GPS tracking hardware and software solutions, support, and service for a variety of industries such as fleet management, logistics, automatic vehicle location, and security monitoring and crisis management.

Garmin International Inc., a subsidiary of Garmin Ltd., is the undisputed leader in the sat-nav world. This company has been designing and manufacturing a variety of devices and applications since 1989, most of which rely on GPS technology. They serve a wide variety of industries including outdoor recreation, automotive, wireless, marine, aviation, mobile, and OEM applications. The company is incorporated in Switzerland and its subsidiaries are located in the US, the UK, and Taiwan.

Affordable GPS Pet Protection

Hillary Mayfield — Sat, 12 May 2012 17:27:00 +0000

If you have ever had a family pet, you know the devastation you feel when that pet gets lost. Mike Macatee felt the impact of such loss after seeing footage of lost pets in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and he was determined to find a way to prevent pets from being separated from their families again. The Love My Pets GPS tracking system is Macatee’s answer, and the price has just come down, making it more affordable than ever to protect your pet.

An Award-Winning System
Love My Pets has been recognized for its highly accurate tracking technology as well as the high quality of materials used in all their products. The GPS tracking system works inside and out, from buildings and garages to forests and mountains. No matter where your pet wanders, if it is wearing a GPS-enabled device, it can be located through online interactive tracking. The owner establishes a safety zone, or “Geo Fence,” that notifies the owner when his or her pet crosses the line. Personalized dog collars provide ready access to the owner’s contact information, much quicker even than microchips. And the reflective material used in the collars helps prevent nighttime accidents that often occur when drivers or others cannot see the animal until it is too late.

An Award-Winning Price
GPS tracking systems for pets can often be out of reach for most pet owners, but Love My Pets has just reduced its system to just under $130. This price includes a year of service along with the GPS tracking device, a reflective glow-in-the-dark collar or harness, and a GPS pouch. The safety collar itself comes with a battery charger, a quick-start guide, two wallet cards, and a helpful tips brochure. What’s more, there is no activation fee. Considering the investment that pet owners make in their pets, especially the emotional investment, Love My Pets makes it possible to protect that investment from tragedy and loss.

Tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes can strike at any time; and in the panic of the moment, pets are often overlooked until it is too late. Anything can cause a pet to stray from home or break loose from a leash, and finding it again can seem impossible. Now, families can have the peace of mind that comes with knowing they will be able to locate their pet through GPS technology without breaking the bank.