Rocky Mountain Tracking

Daily GPS News

Track to Protect

April 24th, 2010

GPS technology has become a mainstay in tracking vehicles, assets, and people. It makes use of one or more of the thirty-some satellites that are floating in space. Satellites transmit information, and that information is received by the owners of tracking devices. Tracking devices, such as teen tracking devices, transmit information that can be accessed by anyone with access to a web-enabled device such as a computer or a mobile phone. Tracking devices are used to locate cars, assets-like cargo, and people-such as children, elderly parents, and teenagers. In fact, teen tracking devices are quickly becoming a very popular way to ensure children’s safety.

Teen Drivers & GPS Tracking

Teenagers, much to their dismay, are inexperienced drivers. Their reflexes are not as precise and immediate as their parents’ or older counterparts’ reflexes are. Sadly, there is proof of this as car accidents are the number one killer of young people between the ages of sixteen and twenty every year. It is reported that nearly 6,000 teenagers are killed every year in car accidents. Whether they are the drivers or passengers, teenagers fall prey to accidents. They are easily distracted by phones, texting, radio, and other passengers. Teenagers who have caused accidents admit to being easily distracted, and teenagers hurt in accidents admit that, in many cases, the driver was not as focused as he should have been.

As the number of teen-related accidents and deaths rises, so does the desire of parents, friends, law enforcement officers, and insurance companies to stop these needless deaths. One company, AIG, is taking this to the next level. They recently launched a pilot program that allows policyholders to purchase teen tracking devices and install them into their cars to track young drivers. These GPS trackers allow parents to track their children’s whereabouts on any web-enabled device. The information that is received includes the location of the car, the car’s speed, the car’s route of travel, and any stops the car may have made along the way. Teenagers, as you can imagine, are not crazy about being “tailed” like this, but it is definitely for their own good and for the good of the other drivers on the road. Protection like this will make the roads safer, and it will keep the teenage driver in your house far more alert and defensive. Teen tracking devices are an extremely effective way to utilize GPS technology in today’s society.

Helping the Elderly with GPS Tracking

April 24th, 2010

Monitoring Seniors with Memory-Retention Problems

It has long been known that senior citizens are high-risk drivers. Many of the elderly that are sometimes involved in car accidents suffer from mental incapacities such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, causing delays in motor skills that may lead to danger on the roadways. Sometimes it can be quite apparent that a senior has one of these conditions, and sometimes it is not.

Elderly Drivers & GPS

Wouldn’t it be of great value to know if a senior citizen in your family was capable of still operating their own motor vehicle safely and independently? Wouldn’t you want the assurance that your parent, family member or friend was of sound mind to be on the road alone?

Today you can have that assurance with GPS tracking systems that are not only efficient, but cost-effective as well. GPS trackers are easy to use and can be affixed to a vehicle with or without the knowledge of the senior. After attaching or installing a vehicle tracking device to the automobile, the concerned person can remotely access the GPS tracking data. The GPS monitoring information will then allow the concerned person to uncover where the senior is going, how fast or slow they are going and other pertinent information about their driving habits.

With the kind of knowledge a concerned family member, parent or friend can receive from the GPS tracking system; absolute confidence can be felt whether or not it is time to take away the keys from grandma or grandpa.

Almost all of the seniors interviewed about having their keys taken away stated they were upset about the loss of independence. However, they also stated that they felt that it was probably time for them to hang the keys up. All of us will likely reach that point sometime in our lives.

Affordable and dependable GPS tracking devices have provided the solution for many people and families dealing with the issue of senior drivers. Nothing is more important than protecting our seniors and general public; however, it can be difficult to know with complete certainty when the time has come to retrieve the car keys. GPS tracking devices can provide that certainty.

Ryan Horban is a guest author who specializes in writing about GPS technology and monitoring devices for Tracking System Direct.

Is GPS the New Face of Surgery?

April 23rd, 2010

By Harriette Halepis

Source acquired via ABC News, April 16, 2010 – Neurosurgeons in Townsville, Australia, have a new piece of technology that allows for less-invasive brain and spinal surgery. The GPS-like tracking device guides surgeons to the exact location of a brain tumour or spinal injury with the help of an infra-red light. Not only does this new technology make it easier for a surgeon to find a brain tumour, but it also makes mistakes far less likely.

GPS & Medical Advances

Since the GPS-like device that Townsville neurosurgeons are using provides a detailed map to a tumour or spinal injury, surgeons are able to judge the best route to take. This largely eliminates the need for a surgeon to use a highly invasive route to reach an injury. In addition to using this new technology on brain and spinal patients, surgeons hope to use the device for paediatric surgery as well.

Presently, paediatric surgeons must clamp a child’s brain in order to perform surgery. With the help of GPS technology, these surgeons will be able to find a direct route to a child’s brain, which will eliminate the need for clamping. This is a major breakthrough within the field of paediatric surgery, and it’s one that many parents and children have been waiting for.

While similar instruments have been used in surgical settings before, this is the first instrument of this type to provide a clear map to a surgical area. Using GPS-inspired technology, surgeons are able to pinpoint and map the exact location of a tumour or other injury. Prior to GPS technology, surgeons had to rely upon experience in order to reach a tumour in a non-evasive manner.

There is a great deal of potential when it comes to combining GPS technology and surgical instruments. GPS technology can be used to guide a number of different surgical tasks ranging from plastic surgery to eye surgery. As more and more GPS manufacturers explore the various uses of GPS technology, many more GPS-inspired devices are bound to surface.

Checking Up On Your Spouse with GPS Tracking

April 22nd, 2010

By Greg Bartlett

In some marriages, concern over spousal fidelity can be a serious issue. A husband could wonder whether his wife really is spending all day shopping, or a wife could be suspicious that her husband’s business trips aren’t all for business. Husbands and wives may suspect infidelity without ever being able to prove or disprove it unless they hire a private investigator, which can often be more expensive than they can afford. So the husbands and wives are just left to sit, wonder, and lose trust in their spouses even if no cheating is actually taking place.

GPS Tracking & Spouses

In today’s electronic age, tracking potentially cheating spouses is easier than ever and possible for anyone to do with relatively little expense, especially in comparison to hiring a private investigator. All it takes is a little curiosity and a GPS tracking device. Since GPS tracking units are typically small and can be easily hidden, a suspicious spouse can place it inside the vehicle of the spouse who might be cheating. Then the GPS device will confirm or dismiss the suspicions.

So, if a husband is wondering where his wife is all day while he’s at work, the GPS tracking device will inform him about where she’s been, what stops she’s made, and how much time is spent at each stop. If she regularly visits a private house in a secluded neighborhood, the husband’s suspicions just might be confirmed. If, on the other hand, she really is just driving to shops and maybe taking a long time window shopping or choosing between products, the husband can dismiss his worries and trust his wife again.

For the wife who wonders about her husband while he travels, a GPS tracking device in his car can be set up to give alerts when the vehicle reaches particular destinations. She’ll be able to know, for instance, when he gets to his hotel or reaches the conference center. If he takes side trips to visit a mistress, the wife will be alerted to the infidelity immediately.

Suspicion of adultery can destroy a marriage, so for many people, if the suspicion arises, the only way to save the marriage may be to find out the truth. A GPS tracking device can’t save the marriage on its own, but it can give answers by tracking the location and whereabouts of a spouse. And since there is always a possibility that the suspicions are false, tracking a potentially cheating spouse could save a marriage.

GPS and Autism

April 21st, 2010

By Harriette Halepis

Whether or not tracking a child using a GPS tracker is a violation of human rights is debatable. But, what happens when the child being tracked is autistic and has a history of wandering away? Two cases of this type recently made headline news across the globe.

GPS Tracking & Autism

One autistic eleven year old girl in Florida spent a number of nights in an alligator-infested swamp after wandering away from home. Another fifteen year old boy walked away from his home in Alberta, Canada, in the middle of the winter wearing nothing but a t-shirt and shorts. In both instances, the parents of these children are now investing in GPS trackers.

In fact, the Autism Society of Edmonton, Canada, has started to hand out GPS tracking devices to parents of autistic children. GPS trackers seem to be one way to prevent autistic children from getting in harm’s way while wandering away from home. While many human rights activists see this type of tracking as a violation of privacy, parents of autistic children often feel as though they have no choice.

While keeping tabs on most children is difficult, trying to follow the movements of a child who has autism is nearly impossible. Many of these children wander away from home during evening hours, and some simply wander away from public places never to be seen again. A GPS tracking bracelet could give the parents of autistic children peace of mind, while allowing their children a larger amount of freedom.

Even though a GPS tracking bracelet is a valid solution to keeping an eye on a child who wanders, there are some things that parents should be aware of before purchasing a GPS tracking device. Certain manufacturers sell personal information to other companies, and some GPS networks are not secure. Any parent considering the purchase of a GPS tracker for an autistic child should make sure to purchase this type of device from a reputable retailer.

Otherwise, preventing autistic children from dangerously wandering away from home is a great way to allow a child the freedom of movement without worrying about a child’s safety. Tracking an autistic child is not a violation of human rights; it’s merely a way to save a human life. GPS tracking devices can be worn as necklaces, bracelets, anklets, or placed inside of a pocket.

Car Insurance Companies Offering Discounts for Tracking Privileges

April 20th, 2010

By DONNA SANTI / guest columnist

Would you consent to a vehicle tracking system that is monitored by your insurance company, if it would lower your rates?

Hundreds of thousands of clients currently signed up for AAA and Progressive auto insurance might soon have the choice. The two companies are among the first to launch unique on-board driving data collection programs. Little boxes, about the size of a box of stick matches, plug into the vehicle’s electrical and diagnostic centers and they record vehicle speed, time of day, brakes applications and the number of miles logged. Representatives think the program will create safer drivers and therefore lower premiums.

GPS Tracking & Insurance Premiums

Drivers will be able to access their data on the insurance website by logging in with a personalized code.

Customers can save 10 percent on their insurance just for using the devices; more if their statistics are better by comparison with other drivers under similar circumstances and conditions. For instance, the insurance rate drops if the vehicle is driven fewer than 12,000 miles a year; the national average.

However, there is a bit of controversy dissuading some drivers, and it deals with privacy. The boxes, at programmed intervals, send the data wirelessly to the insurance company’s headquarters. In essence, the driver’s habits can be monitored daily – perhaps hourly – and scrutinized by specialists who attempt to translate real-world happenings into dollars and decimal points.

AAA debuts its vehicle tracking program, called uDrive, this month in the state of Nevada, through a series of open houses. Progressive’s program is called MyRate and it is active already with 100,000 customers in 19 states.

The boxes are not GPS tracking devices, which means the insurance companies do not know, and keep no record, of where the individual clients are traveling. That fact is good, or bad, depending on where someone stands on the issue of personal freedom, versus safety and cost savings.

Some people don’t like private enterprise, or the government, from interfering in or observing what is their personal business, such as by vehicle tracking. As long as an individual is not doing something illegal or potentially harmful to others, they don’t want a computer chip recording where they go, (by logging their GPS tracking coordinates), how long they stay, and then by making a few assumptions, determine what they are doing there.

“How do we know what other kinds of data those little boxes are gathering and who else has access to it,” reacted one insurance client approached about the project. “Who is to prevent lawmakers two years down the line from making this kind of vehicle tracking mandatory? Ten percent savings is not worth it. It’s about control.”

On the other side of the issue are those people that firmly believe “knowledge is power.” The more data GPS tracking and other mobile electronic gadgets can gather; the better understanding we have of human and mechanical tendencies. We can change the wrong to good; fix inefficiencies, improve safety, save lives and save money.

“This is really where the future of auto insurance seems to be headed,” commented a AAA representative operating in Nevada.

The auto insurance companies noted here are not yet offering tracking systems with GPS location service, although they have been proven to promote safe driving habits. Business people, law enforcement, concerned parents and other consumers rely on GPS tracking to tell them what the driver of their vehicle won’t or can’t. Countless fleet management supervisors use GPS tracking systems to monitor their company vehicles and the employees who are entrusted with their care.

A passive GPS tracking system, also known as a GPS data logger, gathers much more data than a small box transmitter. Most significant is that they will record everywhere the vehicle has traveled. This type of information would be invaluable to auto insurance companies because they would then be able to break down their data and examine trends by region.

Many insurance companies today offer discounts to drivers who have purchased and installed their own vehicle tracking systems, because they know they help people drive more safely. Real-time GPS tracking systems help vehicle owners or police authorities recover vehicles that have been stolen. That equates to lower liability and lower insurance rates.

Certainly, insurance companies would love to have access to the data collected by clients’ GPS tracking devices. Would drivers comply if the enticement is a significant insurance discount? Or would it be going too far in surrendering our privacy?

- Donna Santi is a creative writer for LandAirSea Systems, a Woodstock, IL-based manufacturer and distributor of expertly-engineered GPS tracking systems, software and accessories. For information about LandAirSea, visit www.landairsea.com. To contact the writer, email donna.santi@landairsea.com

Grandma Puts Boy Alone on Plane to Russia

April 16th, 2010

Would a GPS Tracking Unit Have Made This Action Acceptable?

By DONNA SANTI / guest columnist

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At what age and maturity level is a child ready to travel alone on a commercial airplane?

GPS & Current Events

That debate has been rustling around water coolers and coffee klatches worldwide since the Associated Press story emerged that a Tennessee woman placed her grandson on a plane, alone, to Russia.

The grandmother, Nancy Hansen from Shelbyville, Tenn. defended herself, saying the child was not frightened and that a flight attendant on the trip had been informed of the boy’s status and was assigned to take care of him. The flight between the U.S. and Russia takes about 12 hours. He arrived in the foreign land physically fit, but psychologists feel he might have lasting emotional scars from the experience.

The boy, 7 years old, was adopted by Hansen’s daughter from the Russian Education and Science Ministry. The grandmother said, shortly after arriving stateside, the boy turned violent and agitated at his new mother. Exasperated, the mother made arrangements to have him returned. The young boy was being sent back to the ministry where his American family assumed he would be accepted and cared for. A man in Russia was being paid $200 to deliver the boy from the airport to his former home.

Critics are sharply criticizing the family, dumbfounded how a human adult could reject an adoptee, and return him to his “supplier” damaged, with apparently no more feeling than if he had been a stale loaf of bread.

But would it have made a difference if the boy were wearing or carrying a GPS tracking device, specifically-designed for personal use? Personal tracking systems, based on vehicle tracking technology are plentiful today in the consumer market, and quite sophisticated. Some users say personal GPS tracking systems give them an added level of assurance that they, or their loved one, will not become hopelessly lost. Common applications are for aged parents or others with dementia, autistic individuals and even able-bodied children of all ages as a protection against abduction.

A 12-hour plane trip is an excessive amount of time to leave a young child with complete strangers. Plus the child is said, by his grandmother, to be violent and prone to outbursts. With that in mind, is it a good idea to stick him in an uncomfortable, confined space like an airplane?

On the other hand, the majority of GPS systems boast worldwide coverage because GPS tracking coordinates are obtained from satellites in space. In theory, the GPS tracking system, placed in a pocket, clipped on a belt or worn as a wristwatch, would inform Mom and Grandma on the ground where their young charge is in “real time.” Some GPS tracking models even have panic or alert buttons.

Would that be an acceptable safeguard or excuse for their actions?

There are a lot of “what if” questions being raised regarding this current events issue and GPS tracking is one of those factors. Personal GPS tracking systems are a great security product, but under what circumstances can it substitute for a caregiver’s physical presence and love?

Source: Associated Press

How to Track Your Cell Phone

April 15th, 2010

By Harriette Halepis

There are a few different iPhone apps that effectively track a user’s iPhone to a specific location. For those who have an iPhone, these apps are both handy and innovative. The only problem is that many people do not have iPhones. Still, this doesn’t mean that you can’t track your cell phone using GPS tracking technology.

Tracking Cell Phones

How can you tracking your cell phone using GPS tracking technology?

Purchase a small GPS tracking chip.
Purchase corresponding software (this may come with the chip you purchase).
Attach the chip to the back of any cell phone.
Load GPS tracking software onto your home or office computer.
Get ready to track any cell phone at any time.

Tracking your cell phone is not only a great way to find a lost phone, but it’s also an excellent way to keep tabs on other phones. Say, for example, that you want to track your child’s phone. With the help of GPS tracking technology, installing a mini-chip on your child’s phone is as easy as borrowing the phone for a few moments while your child is not paying attention. Within minutes, you’ll be able to track the whereabouts of your child’s phone (and your child) at all times.

Since children of most ages are seemingly glue to cell phones, making sure that your child is safe is as simple as attaching a GPS tracker to your child’s phone. You’ll be able to monitor your child from the comfort of your home, but you’ll also be able to find out what your child is up to while you are at work. This type of tracking can keep your child out of harm’s way, while allowing you to find out what your child is doing while you are away.

With the invention of GPS technology, certain concepts (such as tracking a cell phone) are now real possibilities. Purchasing an iPhone that has an added GPS tracking app is an easy way to track your phone, but if you don’t want to spend a fortune on an iPhone there are many GPS tracking devices available. The next time that you misplace your phone, think about installing a GPS tracker – you’ll never have to spend countless hours looking for your phone ever again.

Improving Family Safety With Technology

April 15th, 2010

GPS Tracking Systems Growing In Popularity Among Consumers

Families are quickly becoming one of the largest consumer demographics that use vehicle tracking technologies. With parents of teenage drivers seeking an avenue to ensure safe driving habits, and families with elderly members looking to make sure grandma or grandpa don’t get lost, consumers everywhere are quickly seeing the benefits of GPS monitoring devices.

What GPS Tracking Can Do For You

Many families want to know the whereabouts of their teenagers. They want to know where their teen is driving, whom they are seeing and what activities they are involved in. They want to know if their teen is speeding, what their time schedules are and, most importantly, that the teen is driving responsible and being safe. Families of teen drivers want all this information and want it at a reasonable price, and that is why they turn to GPS tracking devices such as the GPS Tracking Key and Victoria tracking system.

GPS tracking systems can provide parents the speed a teen drove, the friends’ houses they frequent and more.

The advantages of teen monitoring are fairly evident, but many people are unaware the positive impact that vehicle tracking devices have on elderly tracking. GPS devices are an excellent tool to track the activities of an elderly family member or friend who may be showing signs of diminished mental capacity. Alzheimer’s disease is a serious problem that can affect the way an elderly person communicates, lives and drives. Although a GPS tracking system won’t cure the degenerative disease, at least the technology can give families some piece of mind in regards to their driving safety.

A live tracking system can allow a family member to access the location of an elderly family member’s vehicle, ensuring they are not lost and are safe. Not to mention, if a situation arises where the elderly family member becomes lost or disorganized while driving, their location can easily be found.

Teen tracking and elderly tracking applications are two of the main reasons why GPS tracking systems have grown in popularity among consumers.

Ryan Horban is a guest author who specializes in writing about GPS technology for Tracking System Direct.

GPS Tracking Anklets Might Monitor Domestic Violence Offenders in Maryland

April 9th, 2010

By DONNA SANTI / guest columnist

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WASHINGTON COUNTY, MD – One of the first government-organized programs for GPS tracking domestic violence offenders may debut this year in Maryland, endorsed by the sheriff of Washington County.

House Bill 1336 bill is sponsored by the Washington County Delegation and Christopher Shank, a delegate from Washington County. It would require people guilty of violating a protective order, regardless of the type of conviction or the circumstances under which they were charged, to be outfitted with GPS tracking anklets.

GPS Tracking of Sex Offenders

Other courts in the past have ordered GPS tracking devices to track criminals, but most are done on a case-by-case basis at a judge’s discretion. This would be one of the first states to have GPS tracking included in an established protocol. The program is proposed as a two-year trial.

Individuals are now testifying before the House of Delegates Judiciary Committee in Annapolis to gain backing for the bill. One supporter is Washington County Sheriff Douglas Mullendore. The GPS tracking trial is set to begin in Washington County. Mullendore estimated that, under the new mandate, about a dozen people a year would be fitted with the GPS tracking devices. He spoke about a police department’s frustration trying to keep domestic violence offenders away from their victims. Habit and emotion seem to pull them time and time again to forbidden locations, where an encounter is likely to take place.

“GPS tracking systems will help police help these innocent victims from being re-violated,” Mullendore said.

The bill would put GPS tracking devices on people who are at home awaiting trial on violating an order of protection. Those who violated a protection order and subsequently got a suspended sentence would also wear GPS tracking devices.

GPS tracking systems are effective in the court system because the devices are very difficult to remove, they are very accurate and they give immediate reports to police, with real-time GPS tracking, when the offender moves beyond his home or business boundaries. A geo-fencing feature works much the same as it does in vehicle tracking. Authorities can set up geographic boundaries for the domestic violence offender – for instance the victim’s work, home, parents’ home, or child’s school. Police would be immediately notified by email or text message if and when the tracked individual breaches any pre-set boundary. Mullendore said that this method of surveillance is infinitely more effective than a stakeout, or waiting for a citizen or victim report of a sighting.

Law enforcement in nearby Prince George’s County is also reportedly interested in the electronic monitoring. Prince George’s is a much more populated and urban area and the GPS tracking project would have a much stricter trial and the potential for a bigger impact on the criminal justice system, said Prince George’s Dev. Victor Ramirez.

The GPS tracking program would cost the county government nothing. Mullendore said that the costs of the GPS tracking systems will be passed on to the suspects who are ordered to wear them. The Washington County Sheriff’s Department has also earmarked funds in its budget to cover any excesses in program costs.

After the pilot program’s two year-run, a specially-assigned judge, together with the county sheriff, will do an analysis and submit a written synopsis to the General Assembly. That is expected by September, 2012.

Source: The Herald-Mail