Rocky Mountain Tracking » children

Tracking Down Sex Offenders Accurately with GPS

Admin — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:57:17 +0000

Recently, law enforcement officials from over fifty counties in California met to discuss better tracking methods for sex offenders in their neighborhoods and communities. The CA Department of Corrections also announced an improvement in their offender tracking method. The DOC reported that their parole officers were spending too long with office-bound data reviewing, and too little time on the field. Therefore, California is now requiring the companies that provide offender-tracking GPS units to provide better data, including more accurate alerts and higher priority alerts for more serious offenders.

By making these stricter requests of the companies who provide GPS tracking services and data for law enforcement, California is taking good steps forward in protecting their neighborhoods and communities. The county of Santa Barbara alone has more than seven hundred registered offenders, and tracking those offenders will be much easier for parole agents with this more accurate GPS tracking data.

With GPS tracking devices being used to monitor sex offenders, law enforcement officers have access to more useful data than ever before. They can spend their time on the field visiting the most serious offenders and protecting the surrounding communities. Private citizens, however, do not have access to that level of information nor time to analyze it all. Citizens still have a responsibility to know their areas and protect themselves and those around them. The Megan’s Law website is one of the most valuable tools for families to use to protect themselves and their children.

Article Written by Nichole Decoust

Autism on the Rise

Admin — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:45:26 +0000

Several health and scientific journals have recently reported that Autism is on the rise. The reason (or reasons) why Autism is becoming more common is largely unknown. Many scientists point to the environment while others point to poor nutrition.

As health experts attempt to solve the Autism mystery, more and more people responsible for Autistic children and adults are turning to GPS technology.

A recent story about a 4-year old Autistic child has caused a lot of parents to consider GPS tracking bracelets for Autistic children. Jackson Kastner went missing one day while his mother was unloading groceries. Panicked, Kastner’s mother phoned local police. Michigan search and rescue found Jackson’s body floating in a local river less than three hours after he had disappeared.

While sad, Kastner’s case is not an unusual one. Autistic children often wander away from home without any warning. As Autism rates increase, tracking devices become more and more important.

Scientists and health officials are still trying to understand why Autism is on the rise. In the meantime, keeping track of any Autistic person can be accomplished with the help of GPS technology.

Article Written by Harriette Halepis

FTC: Updates to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Created

Admin — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 13:38:52 +0000

A growing number of children under the age of 13 are using smartphones, which has prompted the Federal Trade Commission to update the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). It was passed in 1998 to protect our children under 13 while online, and is the reason sites like Facebook require users to be over the age of 13 to register.

The problem: millions of kids under the age of 13 are still signing up for these accounts, with or without parental consent, by lying about their age. The FTC is trying to make it mandatory for a minor to obtain parental consent to upload a photo to any social media site, and it’s a start. Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook has said his site hopes to one day allow those under the age of 13 to register for an account, but this can only happen if privacy laws are adjusted.

There is also discussion by the FTC to forbid the sites designed for children under 13 from using tracking cookies or GPS location data for marketing purposes without first receiving parental consent. The sites can only track “for purposes such as user authentication, improving site navigation, maintaining user preferences, serving contextual advertisements, and protecting against fraud or theft.” Parental consent is only required in situations where the parent is tracking what the child is doing online or “behaviorally targeting advertising to the child.”

The Center for Democracy and Technology commends the FTC for keeping the age restriction at 13 rather than increasing it, as the “proposal respects older minors’ constitutional right to access information without first obtaining parental consent.” This makes it easier on websites as they don’t need to verify the age of users. They do, however, have an issue with a proposal to require ID scans of parents as the form of consent. They fear this will cause parents to think twice, denying consent for fear of a privacy breach.

It is clear that social media use amongst those under the age of 13 is becoming more accepted, as evident in the amount of them on sites such as Facebook. Having a daughter who is 11, I see many of my child’s friends have their own accounts, the majority with parental consent. I, personally, do not allow my daughter to use any social media site. However, as each child is different in their maturity level, who am I to say that some of her friends shouldn’t have an account?

In my opinion, the parent should decide whether or not children should have a social media account. In addition, parents should monitor these accounts closely. That said, I know that there are kids out there that will get an account on Facebook anyway. The proposed changes would make it easier to protect these kids, making it less likely they would have to lie about their age in the first place, and protecting their information from marketers and their image.

Article Written by Khristen Foss

Childhood Obesity: Could Aging Playgrounds Be At Fault?

Admin — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:37:46 +0000

University of Western Ontario researchers, in an attempt to address the growing childhood obesity problem, have uncovered some interesting facts about active lifestyles (or more accurately: the lack thereof) of school children.

The study included asking a group of children in London, Ontario, to wear GPS devices (ages ranged from 5^th to 8^th graders). The GPS trackers keep track of each child’s whereabouts, while an accelerometer tracked activity levels. In addition, each student kept a journal documenting their activities.

All of this data helped bring to light some interesting facts. The most important information gained was the design of schoolyard playgrounds – if you picture the ancient metal structures and hard concrete surfaces of the past, you have an idea of what the majority of the schoolyards in Ontario look like.

There are no trees or benches, and the kids are simply bored out of their minds. No trees: no shade in the heat. Out-of-date play equipment: no one is actively engaging in play.

The study found roughly two-thirds of the children tracked remained indoors for recess, regardless of the season or weather.

Evergreen, a sort of playground makeover non-profit, is working all over Canada to change playground spaces. This group adds trees, pathways, and up-to-date play equipment to playgrounds in need.

Researchers plan to study the issue further, adding more and more schools to their dataset, and gathering pertinent environmental data. This data includes the size of each town/city in addition to air quality in order to further understand the root of the growing obesity problem. Researchers hope to get Canada’s children outside and moving again before it’s too late.

*Editor’s Note: Even though this research pertains to children in Canada, children in the United States struggle with obesity as well, which makes one wonder whether or not playgrounds in the U.S. invite play or if U.S. playgrounds are as aged as those in Canada?

Article Written by Khristen Foss

Maryland School Buses Go High-Tech with GPS

Admin — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:37:30 +0000

School districts all over the US are dealing with budget cuts thanks to the weak economy, and officials in Maryland think they’ve found the answer to dwindling funds and school bus operations.

The school board in Prince County, MD decided to equip their buses with GPS trackers allowing them to monitor the safety of school children and bus drivers as well. The devices will be affixed to a fleet of nearly 200 buses over the next few months, and will track the speed of drivers. An email alert will be sent to observers is speeding occurs. The GPS trackers will also help lost drivers find their way to a stop or back to a school.

To help save money on gasoline and maintenance, the GPS devices will monitor how the drivers operate the bus. Do they follow the specified route, or veer of course a bit too often, adding to wear and tear on the engine? Do they sit with the engine idling for too long? The school department can now assure their buses are running as efficiently as they can, eliminating unnecessary costs. The device will also alert the mechanic if something goes wrong with the bus, such as a dead battery.

Another handy feature of the device: keeping a log of where the bus has been/is, making it easy to figure out if the driver missed any stops. It will even allow parents to find out exactly where the bus is at any time.

GPS tracking devices are the best way to assure that your school bus fleet is running efficiently while at the same time assuring the safety of its precious passengers.

Article Written by Khristen Foss

Australian Boy Hit By Train: Parents Call for GPS Trackers

Admin — Sun, 22 May 2011 12:23:41 +0000

Perhaps GPS tracking could have averted a tragic accident on March 30. The sad story of Kieran hit the news last Thursday morning. The six-year-old autistic boy wandered from his home in Geelong, a city in the Australian state of Victoria, around 6 p.m. By 7 p.m., police had been alerted by several phone calls, including people who had seen the boy crossing a highway, and were searching for the lost child. About half an hour later, a train on its way to Warrnambool struck and killed the boy. The driver saw someone on the tracks and pulled the emergency brake, but it was too late to stop the momentum of the train in time.

One potential use is a fleet tracking system to keep tabs on the movements of each train. Each engine would have a small device as part of a network connecting devices to satellites to computers. Dispatchers could follow the trains’ locations in real time and immediately alert drivers if problems have been reported on the tracks ahead. Perhaps police could have asked for train traffic to be stopped or slowed in the area where the boy had been seen.
Another potential use is a child tracker that can be worn as an anklet or bracelet. The device would communicate to satellites in the same way, and parents could find a child’s location immediately. This kind of system has been used to keep watch over elderly suffering dementia, children in large crowds, and even parolees. The responsible party can set up geographic boundaries and be alerted instantly if the device wearer goes out of a certain area.

In the end, no one can ever say what would or would not have happened “if only . . . .” Speculations cannot heal grief or change the past. But we can learn from the past and take measures to ensure this story is not repeated. Our part now is to review our own areas of interest and influence, and then to implement precautions to protect the people we know and love.

Article Written by Kadence Vyra

Australian Autistic Boy Hit by Train

Admin — Mon, 02 May 2011 16:20:18 +0000

One news article suggests the parents are asking for a GPS tracking system to avoid future incidences like these. While the article was not clear exactly what the system was being asked to track, GPS actually can be used in more than one way to prevent such accidents.
One potential use is a fleet tracking system to keep tabs on the movements of each train. Each engine would have a small device as part of a network connecting devices to satellites to computers. Dispatchers could follow the trains’ locations in real time and immediately alert drivers if problems have been reported on the tracks ahead. Perhaps police could have asked for train traffic to be stopped or slowed in the area where the boy had been seen.
Another potential use is a child tracker that can be worn as an anklet or bracelet. The device would communicate to satellites in the same way, and parents could find a child’s location immediately. This kind of system has been used to keep watch over elderly suffering dementia, children in large crowds, and even parolees. The responsible party can set up geographic boundaries and be alerted instantly if the device wearer goes out of a certain area.
In the end, no one can ever say what would or would not have happened “if only . . . .” Speculations cannot heal grief or change the past. But we can learn from the past and take measures to ensure this story is not repeated. Our part now is to review our own areas of interest and influence, and then to implement precautions to protect the people we know and love.

Article Written by Kadence Vyra

Parents Everywhere Discover GPS Tracking

Admin — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 16:00:23 +0000

Every parent, no matter their culture or heritage, knows the questions associated with parenting. Will I raise my child right? Can I keep him safe? What if I fail and something happens to her? What should I do in an emergency? How can I know where my child is without annoying him? How do I best take care of of my family?

Parental worries and concerns aren’t anything new; they’ve only changed shape with the changing culture. Our ancestors might have worried more whether their child would encounter wild animals or marauding bandits than child molesters or armed robbers; however, the fundamental fears themselves are nothing new. Whatever shape those fears take, they cross time and cultural barriers.

So what can parents today do to protect their children from our culture’s troubles? Essentially, we must fight fire with fire. We live in an increasingly technology driven culture. Even our robbers, kidnappers, and other malfeasants make use of today’s technology to aid them in their crimes. Thankfully, parents have their own sources of technology to fight back, especially with personal GPS tracking. Using the same technology police forces use to track down criminals, corporations use to keep track of their employees, and animal lovers use to keep their pets safe, parents can keep real-time tabs on the location and safety of their children.

Consider a recent move in Beijing, for example. The Red Cross gave 20,000 watch-like GPS trackers to children at the local schools. Their goal? To eventually provide 100,000 trackers to children and parents. Parents can use the trackers to keep tabs on their children and the children can use them to make calls or even receive calls as well as press a panic SOS button should an emergency occur. The Red Cross gave free GPS tracking devices, but parents are responsible for upkeep and maintenance costs. This Red Cross program was developed to combat China’s recent influx of kidnappings, and prevent another annual rate of 600,000 kidnappings per year.

Thankfully, most of us don’t live in places with such high kidnapping statistics. However, that doesn’t leave us and our children free from danger. Using GPS devices to keep tabs on valuable personal possessions has been a trend for years now. Your child is more valuable than any possession. Keeping him or her safe might be as simple as adding a GPS device to your collection of safety precautions. Don’t regret not taking advantage of this opportunity to protect your child. Take advantage of the technology at your fingertips.

Article Written by Greg Bartlett

GPS Tracking Devices to Track Chinese Children

Admin — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 16:00:20 +0000

In order to aid against children going missing in China, the Beijing Red Cross is equipping children with GPS devices. These GPS tracking
devices will be as small as a wrist watch. 20,000 of these devices are being produced in the first batch. Hopefully, these devices will be able to lower the number of children who go missing in China every year, which is currently up to 600,000 every year.

While this device will be able to help track individuals who attack Chinese children outside the home, these GPS tracking devices will unfortunately not be able to do anything for abuse inside the home, which is seen as commonplace and not controversial in China.

In addition, they will be able to a police in tracking down people who attacked children. Reportedly, at least 10 Chinese children are attacked every year by people that they don’t know. This device will be able to aid investigation.

The device will be rolled out to Chinese children throughout the year of 2011. If this first batch of Chinese GPS tracking devices is successful, then more will be produced and released.

Article Written by Greg Minton

GPS Tracking Replaces ‘Helicopter Parenting’

Admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 02:30:52 +0000

All parents know the fears associated with protecting their children from bad people and questionable situations. Many teenagers know the frustrations resulting from overly protective parents. Parents want to make sure their child is safe. Teens want to try out their newly found wings and venture into adulthood. Thus, conflict results. No parent wants to stunt the growth of a child. However, good parents want to stay active in their children’s lives and protect them from unscrupulous activities that they are not mature enough to handle on their own just yet. Some people call that “helicopter parenting” because the parent never leaves the child alone to grow and learn. How can families walk the fine line between independence and safety? The answer lies with a high-tech device that is used more commonly than people think – GPS tracking.

Some parents and teens may find GPS teen tracking provides the solution. Many current GPS devices go beyond the more traditional uses as directional aids. For instance, two of the emerging types of GPS devices are personal tracking and vehicle tracking. Both of which can provide parents with peace of mind. Owners of these GPS devices can use them to keep an eye on their children’s actions and driving without invading their personal space or hindering their independence.

Most families don’t have children involved in feats such as Abby Sutherland’s attempt to circumnavigate the globe, (mentioned on a previous blog article) or Leigh Anne Drake’s thirteen-year-old son’s climb of Mt. Everest. In fact, most parents will question the judgment of a parent who allows their children to take such risks. However, just as teen tracking provided peace of mind for these parents, it can, through helping them stay aware of their child’s actions and location, provide a similar peace of mind for parents facing more everyday concerns.

For instance, teen tracking can help parents know where a young driver goes, what traffic laws they may break, and what speeds and locations the car experiences. Help your teen make good choices about friends and help them avoid dangerous situations. For example, although most parents probably never allow their thirteen-year-old to climb Mt. Everest, they may allow him or her to travel to a new, unfamiliar city. Tracking devices can ensure the teen stays safe or is found should a situation arise. It’s a good “Plan B” type of reassurance for the parents even though they have counseled their son or daughter on what to do in various situations.

Although many parents may feel these devices invade privacy, most will find that they actually provide the needed balance between parental control and teenage independence. By making sure that good habits are enforced, teens will have a better chance at survival alone, without Mom and Dad protecting them. In fact, most parents with children would do well to purchase a GPS teen tracking device.

(Article written by Greg Bartlett for Rocky Mountain Tracking, Inc.)