Henri
Teachers in one Texas school district will soon be receiving GPS tracking necklaces in an initiative aimed at improving school safety, according Dallas Observer blog. According to the report, Carroll ISD teachers will receive GPS tracking devices equipped with panic buttons allowing them to more quickly summon help in the event of an emergency. The district ordered 100 of the GPS trackers which are programmed to alert help with the location and a photo of the wearer when the emergency feature is activated.
India just launched one of seven satellites as part of its IRNSS positioning system which is due to be completed in 2016. While U.S. initiated GPS tracking satellites cover India, the new system will provide more options to those within 1,500 miles of the mainland of India. The system is designed to be accurate within 20 meters or less.
Photo: Engadget
This is a quick update to our previous post detailing the New York court decision to allow limited, but warrantless GPS tracking of government employees. In a dissenting opinion, the controversial decision has been called a “dangerous precedent”. The decision was made as a result of Cunningham vs. the New York Department of Labor, where a government employee was tracked on his off time for the purpose of investigation whether or not he was honestly reporting his time spent on the job. Government actions (employee GPS tracking) in this case were deemed unreasonable by the court.
Yesterday, the New York Daily News reported that New York’s top court has decided in favor of limited GPS tracking government employees. But the decision to allow some use of tracking devices, related to a 2008 misconduct case against a Labor Department official, didn’t come without clarification of what the court considers to be overstepping employee privacy. Drawing a fine line between acceptable and excessive, the court ruled that while the government can utilize vehicle tracking during hours they claim to be working, after hours and vacation time are off limits. With the court citing that employees have a “reasonable expectation” of privacy, and that government employers should exhaust other options before resorting to GPS tracking, the decision is considered significant in it’s challenge to the government’s previous stance that around-the-clock GPS tracking was acceptable. Tell us what you think about this decision!
Visit TrackingTheWorld.Com for tracking devices and GPS tracking software.
Debate Continues on GPS Tracking for Dementia Patients
We have blogged on multiple occasions about the increasing use of GPS tracking for dementia patients, and it looks like this is a conversation that will continue for some time. According to Medical News Today, a recent report in the British Medical Journal has generated attention on the degree of usefulness for GPS tracking devices and protecting the safety of dementia patients. While some experts recognize that, due to GPS trackers, authorities are able to much more quickly locate a wandering individual, which greatly reduces the risk of harm or death, others are concerned that tracking devices for dementia are merely a “quick fix” for stressed caregivers. Send us your thoughts.
GPS Stolen for Serious Pizza Craving
When you want pizza, well, you really want pizza. According to My Suburban Life, such was the case for a Carol Stream, Illinois man who allegedly stole a GPS tracking device in order to find the nearest pizza restaurant. Now the man is charged with three counts of trespassing and one count of possession of stolen property. We can understand the craving for a delicious pie, but surely there was a better way to go about this one. And, we can’t help but wonder, did he get his pizza?
If you’ve ever been interested in starting your own GPS tracking business, you’ve probably wondered if you should market tracking devices to any and all consumers, or specialize in a specific market. While many GPS dealers successfully launch businesses with no particular tracking market in mind, there are also successful and growing niche market options. And, one of the most profitable and growing markets within the GPS tracking industry is covert tracking.
Here are a few tips for getting started with a covert GPS tracking business:
Know your Customers
As with any growing business, it is important to understand who is interested in your products and why. For covert GPS tracking, you will likely find that law enforcement departments, government entities, military operations and private detectives comprise most of your customer list. Since covert tracking usually involves vehicle tracking GPS trackers are widely used to save human resources by reducing the need for 24-7 human surveillance.
GPS Tracking Software for Covert Tracking
As one of the most important features of any covert tracking operation, the quality and capabilities of the GPS tracking software used absolutely must meet the needs of the operation. For covert tracking needs, features such as detailed mapping options, geo-fencing, and automated emergency alert settings are essential.
Covert Tracking Hardware
GPS trackers used for covert operations must be equipped to meet the physical rigors of the task at hand. For covert tracking needs, GPS trackers that are weather-resistant, capable of withstanding extreme temperatures, and durable enough to tolerate continuous use are important. Another deciding factor is the availability of an extended life battery pack to increase tracking time between charges, and other accessories.
For More Information
TrackingTheWorld exclusively specializes in GPS tracking devices and hardware. If you’re interested in launching your own GPS tracking business in the market of covert GPS tracking or another area, please contact us today at 650-692-8100.
No More Lost Luggage?
Did you know that an average of 4 pieces of luggage are lost on every Boeing 747 flight? That’s a lot of suitcases and it adds up to billions of dollars every year. The Daily Mail Reports that Airbus has developed new smart luggage which includes a built-in satellite GPS tracker and a barcode display to both locate the luggage if lost, and identify the owners. The system works with a smart phone app, which involves passengers sending their flight information to the airline, and the airline responding with a unique bar code for every piece of luggage–which then shows on the bar code display.
Cemetery Robber Caught on Video
After visitors began complaining to a Sandusky, Ohio cemetery about items such as flowers, vases, and plants missing from graves, the Sandusky Police set a trap for the thieves by placing a GPS tracking device in a potted tree. After about a week of surveillance, the thief was spotted on video stealing the tree. Using the tracker and GPS tracking software, police were led to a home where multiple items such as urns, vases, and plants were found.
Here Kitty, Kitty
Ever wonder what your cat is up to when you’re away? The BBC recently requested a study using GPS tracking collars and cameras to track the movements of 50 cats. Results from the one week project showed that cats can be pretty sneaky, including one cat who entered his neighbor’s home through the cat door to steal cat food.
In the US alone, ground transportation represents a multi-billion dollar industry largely responsible for connecting consumers with the food, clothing, and goods Americans use every day. In an industry where efficiency can mean the difference between success and failure, transportation providers depend on GPS tracking systems for effective fleet management. Below, we’ve outlined some of the ways tracking devices and GPS tracking software help transportation providers remain on the move.
Safety First
Perhaps one of the most costly components of the transportation industry, accidents and increasing insurance costs can take a big bite out of profits for any provider. Fleet management with GPS tracking software allows dispatchers to monitor drivers for exhaustion and excessive speed. In addition to protecting drivers, GPS trackers help transportation providers minimize accidents and, as a result, unnecessary insurance claims.
Customer Satisfaction
In a digital world, customers expect on-demand updates in just about every area of their lives from work to play. With GPS tracking software, transportation providers are able to provide to- the-minute updates for their customers, including estimated arrival times, possible delays, and more.
Fuel Savings
For a transportation providers, rising fuel costs represent a serious threat to profitability, and minimizing fuel consumption is paramount to success. Tracking devices, and GPS tracking software give transportation providers the edge they need to get ahead of fuel costs, including monitoring driving habits and idle time, and establishing more efficient routes of travel.
Here are our favorite GPS tracking news stories for Friday, June 7, 2013:
GPS Inventor Says Self-Driving Cars to Come
Brad Parkinson, former United States Air Force colonel credited with the invention of GPS, says that the future of GPS tracking technology is self-driving cars. Due to the advancement of GPS tracking technology, Parkinson said self driving cars could be just a few years away–especially since companies like Google are already testing them. Parkinson is now a professor at Stanford.
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/07/tech/self-driving-cars-inventor-gps/
GPS Technology for Tsunami Warning Systems
The BBC recently reported that GPS tracking technology may soon be used to increase early warning time in the event of tsunamis caused by earthquakes. According to the report, GPS will be used to measure even the slightest changes in the geography of the coastlines in countries most likely to be affected by tsunamis to provide faster warnings than current tsunami warning systems which use seismic activity data.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22572096
NASA Working On GPS for Navigating Space
Popular Science reports that NASA is developing an “intergalactic” GPS system aimed at facilitating space travel anywhere in the universe. Navigation for space travel currently relies on radio signals sent from Earth, but those signals weaken with distance. The GPS project is designed to rely on light beams produced by neutron stars known as pulsars which spin rapidly and emit steady beams of light.
Source: http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-06/nasa-working-intergalactic-gps
In today’s very competitive marketplace, the ability to operate efficiently can make a significant difference in any business’s ability to be successful. As one of the most effective business tools available, GPS tracking software provides business owners added efficiency in a number ways.
Their Time Equals Your Money
The more your business can achieve in fewer hours, the more profitable and competitive it will be. With GPS tracking software, dispatchers can easily save time and dollars by having the ability to see where every vehicle in your fleet is at any time—speeding up response times, and optimizing travel routes. Especially for service providers, the ability to make more calls in less time can greatly improve the productivity level of every work day.
Reporting Made Easy
GPS tracking software offers automated reporting options to both speed the pace of business and help you analyze where your money is going. These reporting options include mileage tracking, monitoring idle time, and route playback.
Asset Protection
As mentioned in our previous post on GPS tracking for loss prevention, GPS tracking devices can greatly improve the chances of recovering stolen property without damage. The devices, used with GPS tracking software, allow business owners to see the location of their assets, and notify authorities.
