Rocky Mountain Tracking

Daily GPS News

Does the Use of GPS Systems Compromise Your Privacy?

July 9th, 2010

The obvious answer to this question is ‘yes.’ The implementation of GPS Tracking devices has long been at the forefront of privacy discussions. In fact, there are real dangers that are inherent if the motivation behind their use ever turns to illegal practices. Even some well-intentioned people allow a measure of privacy invasions to accomplish their goals.

GPS & Privacy Risk

That is why you should recognize the risks and know how to protect your privacy and rights. Here are the things that you should be aware of regarding this topic.

Using GPS Enabled Cell Phones Compromises Your Privacy

Turning on the feature that you want to use to track your kids in turn makes them vulnerable to outside tracking. The simple fact that the smartphone is available on the cell system as a GPS device makes it open to attention by prying eyes. Think before you decide to use it, and then turn the GPS part off (if you can) once you are finished with it.

Your Privacy Can be Breached by Tracking Your Vehicle(s)

Tracking devices can be attached to your cars or trucks without your knowing. These can be the passive types of trackers, or active ones that show in real-time where you are going and the location of your vehicle. If you suspect that this is the case, you can perform a thorough inspection of your car to see if there is a device attached.

Your Rights are Secondary to Existing Laws

We all know how important our right to privacy is these days, but it is a simple fact that they are getting trampled upon more and more. Those who choose to track you can submit any evidence that they obtain in a court of law and it is accepted as factual. There are those who have tried to prohibit this from happening with no success. Even though you are supposed to be considered innocent until proven guilty, it doesn’t always work that way.

Tracking is Done Without Your Knowledge or Permission

As mentioned before, you can be tracked without your knowing. Permission is not required for using GPS Tracking devices for those in the general public. Private investigators have turned to using them for their own purposes. Police are required to get a court order before using them, but that does not always happen, either.

Tracking is Occurring Right Now

The GPS signals are everywhere and are difficult to avoid. It is difficult for them to penetrate some buildings, but some systems also use cellular signals to assist. On-going tracking is occurring right now for various uses.

Just knowing that they exist can help you navigate the world of gps tracking. Don’t forget that use of gps tracking devices is assisting our courts in monitoring criminals given access to the outside world. The use of these devices is varied and becoming more commonplace. Knowing your rights of privacy is important. We will try to keep you updated in this area. Bookmark this blog and stay “in-the-know”!

GPS Devices Get Smaller – Providing Better Protection

July 2nd, 2010

Nanotechnology notwithstanding, many electronic devices are getting so small that it is almost unbelievable. Consider the cell phone, the watch, and even GPS Tracking devices.

Smaller and Smaller Devices

The need for a small footprint in a tracking device is driven by several factors.

First the smaller size allows one to better conceal a device. This is important in tracking things and even people.

Some GPS tracking devices are sewn into clothing for children which provides parents a better method for keeping track on their location.

Some of these are hidden in product that is being shipped for the purpose of being able to track it and make sure that it reaches its intended destination. If it becomes stolen, it serves as a beacon for law enforcement officials for recovery purposes.

Next, the smaller the unit, the less battery consumption takes place which allows it to last longer than larger counterparts. Consider that cell phone batteries have shrunk to almost nothing, yet provide days of activity between charges. In small dedicated units the power consumption is not nearly as great a drain on the battery as are cell phones and smart phones.

Some of the products that are being manufactured to meet the demands of smaller applications include the following.

GPS Watches. The ultimate trick for fooling a predator that they have taken or injured someone and think they will never be caught. But, beyond this is the data capabilities that help athletes and runners track and monitor their workouts and races.

GPS Tracking Devices for Children. Need to keep a closer eye on where your children are and what they are doing? You can choose one of several products available in this market to accomplish this goal. What you will find are varying degrees of usability and features as well as pricing. Is it worth it? Only you can be the judge.

GPS Tracking Systems for Products. Professional businesses offer these systems to help secure cargo and product shipments to their destination. Pricing varies by company, but the bottom line is that if you handle expensive and highly sought out product by thieves it can save many hours of frustration and customer relationships. These are best used with other GPS tracking methods by the shipping industry to help insure that your business runs like it needs to – safely and theft-free.

GPS Tracking for the Banking Industry. Devices are being used and installed into bank bags which allow police to track bank robbers before they even realize that they are being tracked. More of these devices are being used every day.

GPS Tracking for the Auto Industry. Small devices are installed into vehicles by owners to help track their teen drivers, and make sure that if there is a theft, the vehicle can be recovered quickly. Also, some auto dealers that finance their own vehicles are using them to locate customers who stop making payments on their cars and trucks.

All of these devices vary in price and even capabilities. It is best to perform extensive research before making a purchase decision.

Parenting Today Needs All the Help it Can Get

July 1st, 2010

Does anyone doubt the difficulty that parenting in today’s culture imposes? There are the cell phones – no smartphones, video game consoles, the Internet and other hand-held, portable and all-consuming attention grabbers that vie for a place in kid’s lives.

Family Safety & GPS Tracking

With these devices come dangers from exposing young and innocent lives to very bad people and situations under the disguise of connected acquaintances. Is it any wonder then that parents need all of the help they can muster?

Sources of Help

Parents need to be as aware of technology as are their children. This means that studying about the latest trends and arming themselves with information on how to protect kids from the bad that is out there is mandatory. Here are the minimum requirements that Mom and Dad should look into to protect their families.

Internet monitoring software.

If you are away from your home while kids are at home, they are probably on the Internet. It’s a matter of time before they come across some very bad things there. Monitoring software can record and log keystrokes on your PC. Go here for a review of some of the best offerings.

Ratings on Video Games.

These have been out for a very long time and can help you determine if a game is appropriate for your child, but they are very general. You also might find that a rating might not be helpful if you have different values from those that rate and recommend games to certain age groups. The bottom line: look the game over closely and look for reviews online to give you additional insights.

Security Options on Smartphones.

This is one to watch because the dawn of smartphones will bring with it new security risks. Smartphones will become like their predecessors of old, the PC, and will have to have security software installed to prevent attacks and the phishing and stealing of information. There are concerns that you should know about now that will help you be aware of the dangers.

GPS Tracking Devices.

Outfitting your family with these devices is a decision that needs to be made in determining how safe you need to feel. Adding GPS Tracking units to your vehicles has other benefits, too. Tracking for location, speed, and direction of travel can help monitor anyone who drives the car. Small, unobtrusive tracking devices can be used to keep track of where family members go.

Technology can help Mom and Dad in their parenting duties. GPS Tracking helps a busy family stay safe. It’s one of the best parenting tools today!

Technological Uses for GPS Tracking Abound

June 30th, 2010

If awards were handed out for the best use of technology in the field of electronics, GPS would be at or near the top of the list. Medical uses would probably be at the top, but certainly GPS Tracking would be a close second.

GPS Tracking & Technological Advances

Think of all of the ways that GPS Tracking is helping to improve and order our world. We are speaking about the ability to be able to track automobiles, construction equipment, boats, airplanes, and about any other kind of motorized passenger or utility vehicle that you can imagine. And it does not stop there. The tracking of cargo and freight around the world is also becoming more common.

Practical Applications

By purchasing and placing a GPS Tracking unit in your vehicle, you can collect information about the location and usage of any vehicle in real-time. This means that you can track location, distance, direction, speed and other information which is relevant to your vehicle.

Information Uses

The ability to capture this information is valuable in several areas of our society. There is a need to be more and more concerned about issues surrounding the production of evidence for contractual compliance as well as maintaining operations within legal limitations. Being able to supply this information at a moment’s notice will not only help prevent thefts and accidents, but will also provide court-admissible proof of the meeting of obligations.

Verification of Actions

The applications are almost limitless. The main component is need followed by verification. If a business has a fleet of vehicles that it has to maintain, then a GPS Tracking system would be invaluable as a way to maintain control over the intricate details of how a vehicle is being utilized. Heavy construction equipment can be tracked in case it is stolen. School buses can be monitored for driver performance and law compliance.

Benefits Abound

We live in safer communities, and enjoy lower insurance premiums with GPS Tracking. In business customer satisfaction is increased. Also, employees are held accountable and performance is raised. Public assets are better monitored and tracked for usage. And, theft of items is tracked and recovery and prosecution of thieves is much easier and less time-consuming.

Everyone wins when a GPS Tracking system is used. And, the cost is small when compared to the liability that exists without one. Try one and experience the benefits for yourself.

Lost Elephants? High Tech GPS Aids Researcher

June 29th, 2010

by James Neely

Wildlife monitoring has been an accomplishment of those who love animals and are concerned not only for their well-being, but also in helping enforce laws that protect them.

Tracking Elephants in the Wild

Iain Douglas-Hamilton knows firsthand about the struggle to keep wildlife safe. First, he loves elephants. And because of that love, he is dedicated to help protect them from poaching and the gathering of tusks illegally as well as helping to find ways to encourage the species to thrive in its own habitat.

Over 20 years ago a worldwide ban was imposed on harvesting and selling ivory. This slowed the slaughter of African elephants to a trickle.

But with the global economy in a mess, demand has reappeared evidenced by resurgence in illegal activities that are threatening elephant populations around the world.

Iain has gathered much information on Elephants and their habits and habitats. So much so that he founded an organization called Save the Elephants and has won a prize for conservation which includes a $100,000 award from the 2010 Indianapolis (Indiana) Prize for conservation. This represents the largest gift of its kind in the world.

The gathering of information has been a slow and steady progress and has involved the use of GPS Tracking technology. Elephants have been outfitted with large tracking collars that allows Iain and his staff to monitor their movements. Now they can watch a herd from a distance (over the Internet) and study their movements.

“Elephants vote with their feet,” says Douglas-Hamilton. “They go to places they feel safe.”

When the movement patterns change, Iain looks for poaching activities. Also, other environmental activities can play a part in the movement of herds. For example, floods and wildfires force movement to safer grounds.

With the GPS Tracking devices attached, observers can watch for movements of herds and they can also set geo-fences so that if the herd breaks a boundary, alerts will be set off so that monitors can be made aware.

It’s an on-going project and one that joins with many others around the world to protect wildlife by providing a watchful eye from afar. Poaching activities will be strongest where the profits are the greatest. Ivory is very expensive and brings a high price on the black market. But, the impact of GPS Tracking nevertheless helps keep the activity from running out of control.

Local authorities and governments may not have the ability to monitor for illegal activities, but that’s where people like Iain come into play. Their tireless work and assistance to help keep wildlife safe is of great benefit to all of us.

Our U.S. Military Depends on GPS for Equipment Tracking

June 29th, 2010

by Harriette Halepis

Source acquired via Associated Press, June 4, 2010, Denver, Colorado – Last week, 10,000 GPS receivers that the U.S. military relies upon stopped working. More than 100 armored vehicles, aircraft carriers, ships, and other types of defense systems use GPS Tracking technology. When the power went out the United States Air Force was left scrambling.

The Military and GPS Tracking

John Pike, director of Global security.org, related to press just how serious the situation was. When it comes to the U.S. military, “…everything that moves…” moves with the help of GPS technology. In fact, GPS technology “…is so central to the American style of war that you just couldn’t leave home without it.” When questioned by members of the press, a spokesperson for the military stated that the military as a whole is “…extremely confident in the safety and security of the GPS system from enemy attack.”

This statement was made based upon the fact that learning how to cripple the GPS technology that the U.S. military relies upon could also cripple the military itself – something that many U.S. enemies would love to accomplish. During the 2003 Iraqi invasion, a device was used to jam the GPS technology that the U.S military uses. In order to dislodge this device, the military used a GPS-guided bomb to eliminate the device.

A spokesperson for the U.S military went on to tell press that human error was the military’s main concern when it comes to GPS technology. By entering the wrong coordinates, soldiers and missiles alike can be sent to incorrect areas — a blunder that has happened once or twice. While there’s no doubt that human error can occur, many are still skeptical as to the reliability of the GPS technology that the military currently uses.

As was made evident this past month, the military is essentially motionless unless all GPS systems are functioning. Still, the military assures the general public that “since GPS’ inception, there has never been a breach of GPS.” The glitch that occurred last week took military experts nearly two weeks to fix, thought the exact problem has not yet been determined. More information regarding the incident is expected to surface within the next few months.

Attacking Domestic Violence

June 26th, 2010

New CT Bill Aims To Keep Victims Safe

With one stroke of the pen, Governor M. Jodi Rell signed in a new law that would hopefully reduce domestic violence in Connecticut with the use of GPS tracking system technology. In response to her actions, Rell explained the pain and damage caused from domestic violence, and how it was necessary for additional appropriate steps to be made to help eliminate or at lest reduce the problem.

Domestic Violence & GPS Tracking

After a number of high profile domestic violence stories began making headlines in the West Haven and Fairfield regions earlier this year, many people in Connecticut began asking lawmakers to step-up with new and better legislation aimed specifically at the problem of domestic violence. One of those incidents involved a man who shot his wife multiple times before turning the gun on himself. The man, Selami Ozdemir, had a history of domestic violence.

The new legislation attacks the problem of domestic violence in a variety of ways. First, the bill begins with education and teaching teenagers the dangers and warning signs surrounding domestic violence. The next step would involve the actions of a task force designed specifically to target the issue, discovering what are the triggers, causes and best ways to help victims who feel helpless in their most desperate of moments.

GPS tracking systems will also be used to monitor the movements of habitual or high-risk offenders. These people could be classified as individuals with a prior record of abuse, or who violate restraining orders. In response to a question regarding the bill, Gerald Fox explained that the tools provided by the government and legal system to help reduce domestic violence must be strengthened in order to greatly reduce the problem.

GPS monitoring units equipped to the domestic violence offenders will transmit the location of a person, vehicle or asset in real-time. It is a tool that many states have implemented to strengthen their efforts in protecting their community. GPS tracking keeps abusers accountable and retrievable at a moments notice.

Hopefully, the new legislation will usher in a new era of reduced domestic violence in the state of Connecticut and other states will follow this high-tech trend.

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

5 Successful GPS Tracking Uses

June 24th, 2010

by Greg Bartlett

GPS tracking devices are extremely helpful to both families and businesses. Some first-time GPS shoppers may not understand what all can be done with this exciting technology, so here are 5 common ways that GPS trackers are used successfully by both businesses and consumers.

GPS Tracking for Success

Protecting your family

GPS tracking can be used to track those who are most important to you: your spouse and kids. This can be done either through cell phone trackers, or dedicated devices that can be placed on individuals. These devices, like most GPS trackers, almost always come with software or access to a secure website that allows you to see where your family members are.

Preventing car theft

GPS car trackers can be easily placed in a discreet place in your vehicle so that you can always keep track of where it is located using the tracker’s software. Many of these devices allow you to hook the tracker up to the car’s battery, so that the tracker never needs recharging. These devices have already resulted in the quick recovery of many stolen vehicles, as the police can use the tracking signal to find the vehicle’s location soon after it is reported to them.

Encourage safe driving

GPS car trackers can also be used to help teen drivers practice safe driving skills. Devices that are created for this purpose not only track the location of vehicle, but can also track the speed, and sometimes the acceleration of the vehicle. Some devices even contain a “speed cap” that will not allow the car to go faster than a speed that parents set. Since teens driving GPS tracked cars know that their driving is being watched by their parents, studies show that they often drive much safer and have fewer accidents than untracked cars.

Increasing worker productivity

In the business world, countless billions of dollars are lost every year to lost productivity. Lost productivity can be especially high with workers who travel to off-site locations to do work. They can use company vehicles for personal use, get lost on the way to jobs, and otherwise waste precious company time and fuel. GPS tracking can be used to keep these workers accountable, much like it is used to track teenage drivers. Workers who know their bosses are watching them often work better than they would otherwise, as studies repeatedly show.

Company asset protection

GPS tracking devices can also be discreetly placed on larger or transportable company assets, such as company vehicles, construction equipment, laptop computers, etc. These items often represent thousands of dollars of company money. Company laptops, of course, can contain priceless company information, records, and industry secrets that are so valuable that a company must recover them or risk the information falling into the wrong hands.

GPS tracking is a solution to many problems faced by the modern company and family, and is well worth the minimal investment.

Teen Tracking is Easy and Keeps them Accountable

June 22nd, 2010

By Greg Bartlett

Teen drivers are some of the worst drivers in the country. On a regular basis, news reporters announce the tragic death of a handful of teenagers that were riding in a car at a rapid pace. These teens fall easily to peer pressure, and they regularly drive fast with friends in the car. With music blaring and friends talking, it can be easy to lose focus and run off road or into another car. Teen drivers need something that can keep them accountable, and teen tracking with GPS technology can help do this. Parents can monitor their children’s driving habits, and help keep their driving habits under control.

Teen Driving & GPS Tracking

Teen tracking can allow parents to track their child’s driving statistics online. This tracking can be updated live for parents to monitor. If there is anything in the report that concerns the parents, they can restrict their child’s driving privileges. This GPS tracking can allow parents the ability to control their child’s driving even when they are far away.

Reckless teens are injured or killed almost every week, and the news regularly contains reports about a young driver that was driving with friends, and lost control of his vehicle. When teens lose control of their vehicle, instincts can take over which can be a bad thing for inexperienced drivers. These drivers can run into trees, other vehicles, buildings or ditches. The teen tracking device can allow parents to monitor their teens and hopefully prevent some fatal accidents.

Teen tracking can be easily used by parents, and it can be used even by parents that are not completely up to date on technology. All that is needed is internet access, and equipment for their teen’s vehicle and parents can help monitor their child’s driving behaviors. This technology is saving lives, and parents love being able to monitor their child’s driving. Some teens may not like it at first, but they will thank their parents in the long run because this can potentially save their life. This type of tracking is very important and many people have loved this new technology. GPS tracking has saved many lives because parents can restrict the driving habits of teens that are unsafe drivers. This product keeps teenagers accountable for their actions. Parents applaud the new technology which gives them assistance in correcting bad driving habits before an incident occurs.

GPS Tracking Watch Protects Children

June 21st, 2010

by Greg Bartlett

Every day children disappear from playgrounds, shopping malls, and parking lots that are never found. This is probably the worst thing that could happen to any parent as they would do anything to prevent their child from being kidnapped. But how can they keep an eye on their child at all times?

GPS & Children

GPS tracking devices may be the answer. With a real time GPS tracker, parents would be able to go online and immediately locate their child. If the child was missing, this information could be given to the law enforcement officers and the child could be found in a matter of minutes. Real time GPS trackers often have geo-fencing capabilities which can instantly notify parents by text message or email that their child has left a specified geographic location. To set this up, the adult just needs to specify a radius around the area that they want the child to stay in and they will be notified if the child ever strays from this area. You could indicate they stay within the neighborhood, but keep kids from wandering into the nearby woods, for example.

While GPS tracking devices are clearly the answer for parents looking to monitor their kid’s movements, the next question is invariably, what kind of tracker is best? Trackers can be found in many forms. Basic GPS tracking devices can be affixed to clothing or put in a backpack, but in some instances that solution is not always convenient.

The Nu M8 watch is a new tracking device that is specifically designed to be worn by children. The watch has a GPS tracker inside, and since kids are more likely to wear watches all the time than they are to wear a jacket, many parents will find this to be a good solution. With the Nu M8 watch, the child’s movements can be monitored from cell phone or computer, which gives parents peace of mind even if they are away from a computer with internet. This makes it easy to locate a child who needs to be located at a theme park.

The Nu M8 watch has several features that parents will appreciate. One is the geo-fencing abilities to designate an area that if breached, will send out an alert to their cell phone. The watch also notifies the parents by email or text if it is removed or deactivated.

Children are known for losing and breaking things; however, when parents consider how tracking devices will keep their child safe, many of them will embrace the technology and the investment.