The Global Positioning System – or GPS – has transformed how the world finds its way. It’s no secret that the popularity of GPS has made it a standard feature in many a car. But in truth there are quite a number of GPS devices that are used in today’s modern society. What began as a government experiment and then a standard device used by the military, is now more popular than ever in civilian society.
When Russia launched Sputnik in the late 1950’s we had our first glimpse into the role that satellites would play in our future. Those who were monitoring Sputnik found that they were able to pinpoint its location based on the radio waves it provided. The seeds of GPS were born.
In the 1960s the U.S. Navy began experimenting with the technology, using the positioning of six satellites to help missile-carrying Navy submarines pinpoint their location. But the Global Positioning System that we know today was designed and implemented by the United States Department of Defense; the first operational satellite was launched in 1978 and by the mid 1990s there were 24 satellites – all of which are still in operation today.
The byproduct of this new technology has been GPS devices, designed to harness the power of satellite navigation to offer the highest level of convenience. It seems as though every year more GPS devices hit the shelves and in so doing they become part of what’s expected in society. The types of GPS devices are varied and your choice to use them depends largely on your frequency of need.
One of the more popular GPS devices is GPS mapping that allows you to visit any number of websites and enter any address in the world. If satellites have access to this area, you are immediately given a satellite picture showing the precise location you requested. For mapping trips, these GPS devices can take information downloaded from your computer and put it to use in your car, giving you detailed directions for the most expedient trip.
Another one of the more popular GPS devices is a GPS navigational unit. These units can either be mounted in your car or come in a portable system that you can transfer from vehicle to vehicle. Once a destination is entered into the GPS navigational system, it can literally walk you through your trip telling you where to turn and the time and distance relative to each portion of the drive. Some navigational units offer a feature whereby you can find restaurants, shopping, hospitals, and accommodations regardless of where you are; this can be incredibly useful when hunting services in a town with which you are unfamiliar.
GPS tracking, another of the GPS devices, allows you to track another person or thing. Many parents use GPS tracking in the cars of their teenage drivers. Others use this system to help protect precious items that are in danger of being stolen.
No matter which of the GPS devices you choose, you will no doubt find GPS to be an essential part of your life before long.
By: Michelle Bery
Posts Tagged ‘New Technology’
GPS Individual Tracking, Keeping Track of Vulnerable Loved Ones
November 22nd, 2009
It seems that the world is becoming even more dangerous each day. The news reports bring tales of missing children, men, women and senior citizens. Many have medical conditions that require medicines every few hours. Others are victims of crime or accidents. Family and volunteers spend enormous amounts of energy and expense searching for these people. Sadly these incidents end in tragedy. The answer may lie in new technology in the form of GPS individual tracking devices. New GPS device technology has developed individual tracking devices to be made small enough to hang on a belt or around your neck like a pendant or on your wrist just as a watch would. These new non intrusive tracking devices use a combination of GPS and cell phone technology to report its location at timed intervals. Areas that have limited cell phone coverage generally do not offer individual tracking services. New battery technology allows these devices to continue to function for as long as 24 hours before needing to be recharged. Information that is uploaded through the cell phone system is sent to a data base maintained by a cell phone tracking provider where it can be downloaded to your computer, PDA or cell phone.
The system can be programmed to email you if your child or vulnerable individual has traveled out of bounds such as leaving a school, home or treatment facility. This is also handy for keeping track of your teens as well. However many teens feel that GPS individual tracking is an infringement on their personal freedoms. The information on the direction and speed of travel are readily available to allow you to intercept the individual are tracking. Think of the peace of mind that you will have knowing that you can log into your laptop and ascertain the location information of your loved ones day or night. Specialized units even have an alert feature that can be initiated to bring help or medical assistance. Your GPS tracking service provider will automatically notify authorities even if you are not available to respond in a timely manner. The individual that is being track is carrying a cell phone they can be called to ascertain the type of assistance needed. All of which will keep your loved ones safe and reduce your stress and anxiety levels.
The smaller GPS individual tracking devices are relatively expensive. The smaller the device is the higher the cost. In addition the smaller devices require more frequent battery charges to keep them working properly. The cost of tracking varies greatly depending on where you live and what services you require. However considering the value most of us place on our loved ones it may seem a bargain over time.
By: Jim Kesel
Truck and Car GPS Tracking
November 15th, 2009
New miniature GPS technology has made GPS Tracking available to just about anyone. Many people are interested in vehicle or car GPS tracking. Fleet vehicle managers are saving there respective companies thousands of dollars each day with this new technology. In addition private citizens are also using the technology to keep track of there family members and their valuable assets. The cost of a GPS auto tracker has dropped over the last year. However the new smaller portable or personalized units are still relatively expensive.
There are two technologies to choose from when looking to purchase a GPS tracking device. The older logger unit is not only less expensive to purchase but it does not rely on an expensive subscription with a GPS tracking company. These devices are placed in the target vehicle during the period that you want to track then retrieved. The unit then is attached to a personal computer where the tracking information is downloaded into the logger’s software package for viewing. Logger GPS tracking devices have the ability to be very small and discreet. The major drawback of a using a logger is that all the information is relatively stale or historic in nature. Never the less they are very effective vehicle or car GPS tracking devices.
Real time GPS tracking devices just as their name implies provide tracking information that is relatively current in nature. These GPS tracking devices are larger than loggers due to the fact that they must have a transmitter to upload the tracking information to a GPS tracking service provider. The most common method of uploading the vehicle or car GPS tracking data is through existing cell phone technology. The service company will make a query of the GPS auto tracker on a predetermined time frequency and then display it on their website. These tracking service providers charge you a month fee for this service. The more frequently they download the GPS information to their website for your use the more expensive the service becomes. The current standard for tracking updates is about 5 minutes between tracking updates. In many cases you can save a lot of money by selecting longer periods between downloads.
Real time GPS devices are relatively more expensive when compared to loggers. The smallest portable units can cost as much as $1200.00 while standard vehicle or car tracking devices that are permanently installed can cost less than $300.00. It should be remembered that a quality unit is will be more expensive but it will also be more dependable over time. Delivery and fleet vehicles by their nature are not always easy on electronic systems. In other words when it comes to purchasing a GPS auto tracker cheaper is not always better.
By: Jim Kesel
