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Runners Benefit from GPS Tracking Devices

RMT GPS News — Tue, 19 May 2009 00:35:24 +0000

By Greg Bartlett

GPS tracking offers a wide variety of benefits to individuals, groups, and businesses. Due to the broad potential of this technology, more creative uses have rapidly begun to surface. No longer limited to simple location verification in real time, GPS tracking devices can monitor fuel usage, location and length of stops made, speed of travel, and distance traveled. Although we typically think of GPS devices being used for tracking personal property (automobiles and laptops) or other people (children, spouses, elderly parents), they are increasingly being used by athletes for both personal performance and safety reasons. In particular, runners benefit from using GPS watches or cell phones, some of which are linked to software specifically designed to keep track of running performance.

Runner Safety with GPS

For most, the primary reason for purchasing a personal GPS tracking device is safety and runners are no exception. They carry transmitters so that a family member or friend can check on them if they are gone longer than planned. Many of these devices have a call button that can be pressed if the runner is in danger. The button sends a signal to its receiving device, letting another person know that help is needed.

A secondary reason many runners choose to utilize GPS devices is that more companies are designing their transmitters specifically with athletes in mind. Watches and cell phones with built-in GPS transmitters keep track of a runner’s route, distance, pace and speed, and can download this information to a computer in order to generate reports. In this way, runners can easily keep track of personal performance goals and achievements via detailed workout analyses. It’s like having a personal trainer along for each day’s run. On race day, equipping runners with GPS tracking devices allows race coordinators to track each participant’s progress and position, a benefit especially for marathon runners who have been known to suffer from heat exhaustion or dehydration on hot days.

The two subjects which must always occupy a runner’s mind while out on the trail are safety and performance. While GPS tracking does not negate the need for being aware of surroundings, it can provide a measure of security by notifying someone else of the runner’s whereabouts at any given time. In addition, the runner can benefit from easy access to performance information and workout analyses. For runners of all ability levels, GPS technology is well worth the investment in terms of safety and training assistance.

Are Amusement Parks Dangerous For Kids?

RMT GPS News — Sat, 16 May 2009 18:55:14 +0000

By Harriette Halepis

Kids love amusement parks. Clowns, toys, games, fun rides, and sticky treats all add up to a great day. While amusement parks are certainly a lot of fun, they can also be relatively dangerous. A large number of child molesters, kidnappers, and other types of criminals tend to lurk around park grounds.

Theme Park

The best way to make sure that your kids stay safe is to keep a careful eye on them at all times. Of course, this might not be easy considering the fact that there are hundreds inside of most parks at any given time. What can you do to protect your kids?

There are a couple of things that make a lot of sense when it comes to making sure your kids are safe inside of a park. Here are a few suggestions that have been proven effective time and time again.

Buddy System: if you plan to bring more than one child to a park at the same time, ask them to be responsible for each other. Using the buddy system has saved more than one child’s life.

Phone Number: make sure that your kids know your phone number. If your kids are too young to memorize a number, use a Safety Tat (temporary tattoo that is kid-safe) or write your phone number on a piece of paper, and place the paper inside of your child’s pocket.

Photographs: take pictures of your kids when you enter the park. This way, you can give a security guard the photos if your kids wander away.

GPS Locator: this might be the most effective method at all. Place a GPS tracker inside of a backpack or somewhere inside of your child’s clothing. A GPS locator will track your child’s every movement, and it will help police find your child if they should disappear.

It’s also a good idea to speak with your children before you head to the park. Let them know what they should do in case of an emergency. Devise a game plan that includes a meeting spot somewhere in the park.

Amusement parks can be a lot of fun for your kids. In fact, they are great when it comes to summer vacation or a fun family outing. Just make sure that keep your eye on your children at all times. Use the tips provided above to make sure that your kids are safe.

When it comes to your children, you can never have too many safety precautions set in place. The more that you prepare for any kind of emergency, the less likely it is to occur.

Use a GPS Tracking System to Protect your Teen

RMT GPS News — Sat, 09 May 2009 22:18:02 +0000

By Greg Bartlett

Parents can find out just how trustworthy their teen driver is with a GPS tracking system. Working parents don’t have the time to chauffeur their teenagers around, and having a licensed teen can actually be as much of a relief to parents as it is an excitement to the teenager. But how can you tell if your teen will obey the rules you have set up for them?

What you don't know can hurt everyone!

Giving a teenager a late curfew and the keys to their own car just might be the worst decision for a parent to make.
But many parents have no choice. However, a Global Positioning System (GPS tracking system) can monitor your teen’s driving for you, carefully recording many aspects such as mileage driven, time, speed, and location. One common feature, called a geo-fence, will inform you by text message or email that your teenager has driven to an off limits area such as a bar. This feature also allows you to set an area that your teen is not allowed to leave, like a 40 mile radius from your home. Text message and email alerts will keep you notified if your teenager breaks a rule. This would allow you to contact them immediately.

After you’ve picked out a GPS tracking system to use, sit down with your teenager and lay out the rules. Show them all the features of the tracking system that you’ll be using. Let them know that you’ll be keeping tabs on their driving. Teens will be more careful if they know their parents can check up on them. If they know that you’ll be notified when they are speeding, they won’t be as tempted to rush or try to race the cars around them. Since the GPS tracks the time and location, your teen will know that they cannot lie about their plans. They can’t argue with a GPS. They know it will show their true location, no matter where you think they are. They will know that if the GPS recorded that their car was going 95 mph last night, there is not much they can say except to admit that they were speeding.

The strict accountability of a GPS tracking system will help your teenager drive safely. Parents can rest assured that their teen can be trusted with the car keys because they will be notified of any reckless driving.

GPS Tracking Devices and Family Safety

RMT GPS News — Sat, 09 May 2009 17:38:53 +0000

By Greg Bartlett

You may have a large family or a small family. You may live in big town or a small city. Either way, it is important to you to know where your family is at all times. You’re busy at work, your kids have their school agendas to balance with their recreational activities, and everyone seems to be going in different directions. So how can you make sure that you know where your family is? Whether you want to just check up on your teenagers to make sure they are where they said they would be, or whether you want to ensure the safety of an elderly relative, you need a way to keep track of your family members.

A GPS tracking device offers an effective, non-intrusive, and fairly inexpensive way to track your family members. GPS devices allow you to see where your family members are and give you the option to receive automated messages when a family member reaches a destination, doesn’t show up on time, or changes plans.

One GPS tracking program monitors everyone in the same family cell phone plan through their cell phones. It gives the users access to customizable maps which can include items such as landmarks and frequently visited places. Users are able to switch between a street view and a satellite view. Alerts can be set up so that, for instance, parents are notified when children return from school or a wife is alerted when her husband has to stay late at work. Periodic reminder text messages are sent to the people being watched, although users can check up on family members without notifying them. Users can also choose to let family members know every time their location is verified through GPS technology.

GPS tracking is fairly affordable even for large families. For instance, the program which offers tracking through cell phones charges about $10-$15 per month. Another program has fees as low as $5 a month. Many programs offer similar rates, depending on the type of device and the number of devices used.

Whether you’re concerned about your teenager, wondering if your spouse is faithful, worried about your elderly relative, needing to keep track of your children’s schedule, or you just want to be aware of the location of your family members, GPS tracking devices offers a reliable and effective means of keeping track of your family.