Laptop GPS

GPS tracking is an excellent tool to use and take advantage of throughout our lives. This was once thought of as a system that only could be used for government and state agencies. But, through its development, it has become a force to contend with. There are many ways in which you can benefit from using GPS tracking in your daily lives. And, you will not believe how easy it is to use either! As a simple definition of how it works, we’ll tell you this. In space, orbiting around the earth are satellites. They help us to use GPS tracking by allowing us to connect with them and they can then tell us where we are going or where we are. It happens instantly and is capable of reaching destinations around the world. Here are some ways that you will find GPS tracking working for you. • GPS tracking can help you on any hike that you take, any outing that you take in which it is just you and nature. It can help to steer you and tell you which way is the right way to go. • It can also help you within a car. Many cars are being equipped with GPS tracking devices. If you need to go to one location or the next, you simply input this and it will tell you where you are, how to get there and even talk to you about each step that you are going to need to take. It can also help in your safety as well as your cars. If your car is stolen or you are taken against your will, many GPS tracking systems can be used to track down just where the car is heading and where it is. • GPS tracking helps ships guide you from one place to the next as well. • In fact, GPS tracking can even help you monitor your health. Wearing a heart rate monitor with GPS tracking is a great way to know when you have reached your goals. But you will also be able to know how long it took you to get from point A to point B as well. For more information please see http://www.gps-tracking-info.co.uk

If you’ve ever gotten lost on the way to a business or social function, then it’s time to consider a GPS system. It can pinpoint your exact location and provide a map that shows you how to get to your destination. How does GPS work? GPS measures the satellite signals in proximity to your location. The GPS receiver absolutely needs to know where it is! This happens by receiving signals from a minimum of three satellites. If it wants elevation, then a fourth satellite needs to come into play. Next, is the high end math; GPS locks onto a position and uses trigonometry to calculate its position. This is measured in latitude and longitude. From that point, as long as it stays locked onto your location, it can provide the speed, distance and that most valued of all things; a map to your destination. What is the signal accuracy of GPS? GPS signal accuracy is approximately 50 feet. But some systems go beyond this range. Ground stations help GPS systems achieve an accuracy greater than 50 feet. WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) correct satellite orbital errors. With 25 ground stations in the U.S., WAAS calculates and transmits the corrected data to fixed-position satellites. WAAS-enabled GPS receivers reach accuracies of 10 feet or less. DGPS (Differential GPS) also has a correction method with its network of towers. DGPS systems achieve an accuracy of between 10 and 20 feet, but the downside is that these systems require an antenna to receive the corrected signal. What options are there for a GPS system? You can either choose a dedicated GPS receiver with displays, or a receiver that works in conjunction with your PDA or notebook computer. At the lower end, dedicated receivers with displays show the location and basic maps. Others at the higher end offer downloadable capability so you can receive more sophisticated map configurations from a PC. Pocket PCs, Palm OS devices and notebook computers also offer GPS receivers combined with mapping programs. GPS devices come built into some PDA mounts offered by Akron and Seidio. Bluetooth GPS Receiver The Bluetooth GPS Receiver is a stand alone receiver that can communicate with a Pocket PC or Smartphone. To use the GPS receiver with your Windows Mobile device it needs to have Bluetooth capability, or you can simply add the receiver to the unit with a CF or SDIO Bluetooth card. You don’t have to be exactly near your GPS receiver to use it. This is what is really cool about this receiver. It’s very flexible too. You can place it within 30 meters of your other Bluetooth devices and still have full GPS functionality. Even more surprising…it can actually produce a map and location details while inside a clothing item or in a container. It’s convenient too. Before you leave for a trip, you can input where you want to go and have it all mapped out when you depart for your new destination. Consider these factors when selecting a GPS system: 1. Watch out for lost signals. The GPS signal with a satellite could conceivably get lost in rough or remote terrain, like in a canyon or forest. This can be minimized with a system that continuously monitors 12 satellites. 2. Is the GPS system programmable? What is the data package like? Is it cost-effective? 3. What is the power supply like? Some in-car systems come with their own batteries, while others are dependent on the car itself. 4. Pay attention to interface. Some GPS interfaces run better than others. Find out about their performance from tech journals and colleagues. 5. Look at how the maps and directions are displayed. Do you like the presentation? Is it easy to navigate? GPS - Gets you on track Think of GPS as a modern take on that classic refrain heard by car passengers everywhere,”Just ask for directions.” Only now, you can ask your very own GPS system without worrying about getting lost. Copyright © Rene Tse is on the look out for mobile devices to enhance her productivity. Rene’s reviewed countless sites on the net, but always turns to the one run by herself. Her website, as she says, cuts to the chase and has valued information on: free GPS cell phones, free camera phones and Bluetooth cell phones are the best buys for accessories. I grant permission to publish this article, electronically or in print,as long as the bylines are included, with 2 live links and the article is not changed in any way.

Here are 7 ways to save with GPS: 1. Have a personal trainer at a fraction of the cost! Devices such as the Garmin Forerunner GPS provides a way to keep track of the time, speed, distance, and pace information for athletic activities. It also provides a way to measure the amount of calories burned based on a variety of customizable personal options and factors. 2. Save on Gas, brake wear, etc on your car as you drive more efficiently. 3. Find where you want to go faster: important business meetings, life events, but also to save your own time so you can use the balance to be with your loved ones. 4. Gain peace of mind knowing where your children are, whether your elderly parents have wandered off, or when and where your family pet has wandered off your premises. 5. Save money on your car insurance. Some auto insurance providers, in return for allowing them to implement GPS tracking devices on your car, can help you reduce your premiums. 6. Run a more efficient business with time tracking of employees and prevent lost company time and money. 7. And the most important reason is that GPS can help save your life from reckless driving, etc. Such as providing voice prompts when you are approaching your specific destination, warnings that you are going over the speed limit, advanced notice of potential accident blackspots, etc. Two more bonus reasons on how GPS won’t make a significant dent in your wallet 1. Don’t have to worry about new models coming out every few months like the PC. 1 Decent model from Garmin, Magellan, or Lowrance should last the typical user many years. 2. No monthly fees like internet, GPS Signals are free like radio waves. You just need a receiver. Advanced features such as tracking services are different (i.e. for your children, elderly, your valuable possessions, and your pets, and may cost a nominal monthly fee depending on the service provider and your needs whether commercial or private. These are just some of the ways you can benefit it time/money savings as an individual. And just a few ways for you to get a good Return on Investment for your business. Warnings/Caveats Remember, that technology will NEVER subsitute basic common sense such as teaching your kids about personal safety, being a safe driver, etc. The best technology for all those starts within your own brain and senses. No matter what the big companies tell you, never let technology replace your own judgment but rather to complement and help refocus it. Also just because GPS makes it simple to track your employees for instance, doesn’t mean there are no human barriers to overcome such as the trust factor. It’s important to explain to your employees in a manner that allows them to understand the business savings and benefits of incorporating such a tracking system, and is not designed to compromise their privacy and integrity. This applies to family members as well. If you think your family pet has issues with privacy then you may need to convince him/her if applicable. Not a techno geek or have direct access to one? Visit Simon Wyryzowki’s regularly updated blog with quality information without the fluff or extensive sales pitches. Get up and running in no time with GPS tracking services for people including your children and elderly, etc.

OnStar is a cool system for any family. There is even the ability to unlock your door from Space, no kidding, so if you lock yourself out of your car you simply call a number and they unlock it from space. With this great technology and the fact it always knows where you are with GPS, that means the OnStar system could do much more, if it were designed to do so. Recently a friend on a road trip in a mini-van had been thinking that when going up and down hills the engine had a tough time at the higher altitudes. Having Onstar of course makes drivers feel safer when traveling on road trips; for instance if you get caught in a snow bank collapse or small avalanche. As more people get GPS in their vehicles it will adjust traffic thru an area due to how the display is set on everyone’s in car navigational devices. Some GPS units suggest best routings and distances, by doing this on the more advanced units it will change traffic flows, for those who have such units. The programmer in Los Angeles could end up effecting traffic in Wyoming on a Device made in China sold with your German car. Go Figure? Currently not all GPS Navigational Systems are programmable and those which are, well like your home VCR, you may never figure out how to use all these cool options. It might be easier to learn a new language? My friend said; “Wouldn’t it be cool if the Onstar had the capability of programming ones itinerary into an onboard computer, which would then program the engine to be more efficient?” Well with GIS information data sets figured into the GPS Navigational system it would be easy. The XML database sets can be integrated that is not a problem. Then the Onstar could tell the navigational system that the elevation is changing for a hill. The engine would change for fuel setting for a lower gear or passing gear as the driver hit was one-third up the hill. The GIS-GPS system would tell satellite where it was and the satellite would tell the car that you were at higher altitude and to lean out the mixture of gas and air. Sure, I agree this would be a fuel efficient way to increase fuel mileage and performance and it is not only a smart idea, but also easy to engineer. I can tell you I have my generator in my motor coach set for about 1500 feet and when I am up at 7-8000′ it runs with extra soot coming out. It does not adjust properly itself. If Onstar adjusted for hills or down hill too that would be smart, it can be done, you know? My friend is correct, as it makes a lot of sense. Think on it. “Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

New technologies in micro satellites are moving very fast as processors, sensors and systems get more powerful and much smaller. I propose to have these systems and micro satellites to be in a solar system type configuration as they fly, spinning around each other with each small micro satellite literally connected to another and spinning around a center satellite module connected to a few of the orbiting micro satellites. The Lines holding them together will also be an entergy tail, that is to say it collects electromagnetic energy to keep the small communication system in low orbit, which takes a lot more energy, but there is significant electromagnetic energy there as well. Why Low orbit? Well it allows for listen devices to be quite robust in ability and cuts down on the delay of communication time from Geo Sync Satellites. Perfect for the Military, NSA or commercial applications. Smaller satellites also have a reduced risk or the chance of collision by orbiting space junk and in low orbit there will be little if any of this orbiting high-speed debris. By putting these units on tethers then will know where each one is and be able to be a single point of eight-point or Octa-angulation for precise GPS needs. Additionally they could be as far as 100-meters apart and operate net-centric or together, meaning you cannot see them, too small, you cannot shoot down what you cannot see and you have a massive communication and world class GPS system, as well as a spy listening device. Think on this. “Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

The Global Positions System (GPS) satellites are free for anyone to use. However, to use it, a GPS receiver is required which is not free. In recent years these GPS receivers have become very small and embedded in mobile phones. This has given rise to many location based services. Though there are many LBS applications that are very useful, there are a few applications that are misused. One of the location-based services as mentioned at http://www.m-indya.com is Child Tracking. In a study carried out by New Media Technologies students (2005) in Australia, they have detailed how this service can be misused. They state that, “In 1998 the US implemented the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act 1998 which limits the ways Web site operators and others may collect and disseminate information pertaining to customers under the age of 13. So far, Australia has not followed suit and does not seem to have a law, which directly protects children from technology such as the Internet. With the introduction of global positioning systems for tracking purposes, the issue of child protection needs to be addressed before this technology gets into the wrong hands and used for malicious purposes.” Some of the other consequences that may occur due to these services are the problem of parent-child relationship and also marital relationship. In their study they point out “parents should negotiate with their teenagers an agreeable form of knowing where they are whether it be GPS on their phone or just a phone call to let them know where they are. This will ensure that the relationship will not be damaged through a form of mistrust.” And even between spouses each needs a bit of their own space and privacy, which will be jeopardised by the use of this service and may cause problems in marital relationships. In a ZDNet news by Lisa Bowman (1999) speaks of some scary scenarios where this technology can be misused such as, “Insurance companies could refuse to insure you, or charge you higher rates, unless you install a tracking system on your car. They could then tell if you drive over 55 or spend time in shady neighbourhoods where your car has a greater chance of being stolen.” Or “FBI and local police officials could have access to your whereabouts by simply logging onto a database attached to a cell phone, tollbooth or GPS tracker”. In yet another case a rental car company was sued by the customer for tracking him down using GPS. “In a case that could help set the bar for the amount of privacy drivers of rental cars can expect, a Connecticut man is suing a local rental company, Acme Rent-a-Car, after it used GPS (Global Positioning System) technology to track him and then fined him $450 for speeding three times.” (Robert Lemos, 2001). A Wireless week (2003) article lists how even location based games can be misused. “In Sweden, thousands of wireless game subscribers stalk each other using cell phones and location technology. In Japan, you can use a GPS-enabled cell phone to arrange a date, an application sometimes used by teenage prostitutes. In many countries around the world, a GPS-based game called “geocaching” is growing in popularity.” Ever since Princess Diana’s death the perils of stalking has come to the forefront in the media. The availability of such services will only help the stalkers. As if these are not enough there are other privacy issues related to location based services. If you need further reference visit the website http://www.m-indya.com William Alexander is a wireless solutions consultant based in Singapore. He has more than ten years of experience in architecting solutions based on many Wireless Technologies including GPS, 3G, GPRS, WAP, SMS, Bluetooth and GSM.

I propose a “Manta Ray” Style self-burying landmine grid system, which uses swarm and haptic robotic re-organization theory to fill in the holes left from enemy intrusion. A “Manta Ray” mimicking robot, which vibrates can quickly bury itself. The virtual grid in which the land mines occupy will allow for patterns, which are algorithm controlled by encrypted satellite command relay. The shape of the land mines will be a small lobster like body with large circular or octagonal mesh wired component. The body will dig a hole for itself and then the mesh grid will lower itself to the surface and then jiggle until it is covered. (have drawings). Since we know the latest exact locations of the minefield a blue force army, downed pilot or special force teams could transverse the minefield using a PDA-GPS device carefully dodging all the land mines. Any attempt to follow them would be sure death for those who pursue. Think the story of the “Parting of the Red Sea!” I further propose the Blue Force software guidance system around the self-healing minefield grid be called PRS. The land mines will deactivate by satellite, before re-configuring and then once properly buried in place be reactivated. After the war they can be deactivated or discharged, to prevent the countless thousands killed and maimed each year from land mines of wars gone bye. “Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Well in aviation the toys for pilots are getting a lot better, for instance the GPS-PDAs with sectional charts on them. Also lots of other data like the J-Aide and Jeppeson airport contacts once you arrive. All this makes flying easier, less complicated and more enjoyable. AvMap EKP-III C http://www.avshop.com/catalog/product.html?productid=3781 and even more cool are the ones with all the bells and whistles; Such as loading it with an International Data Base. Hell now the CIA can have all the civilian data along with their intelligence information. Of course this newest Industry finds itself with many new players as pilots are generally not having a problem affording new toys and it saves all those large flight bags and Knee Boards and clips. You can still buy the clipboards and I have one when I drive the Blitz Mobile mobile command center across the country hunting for the latest technologies it has maps and important numbers to do business from the highway. Many truck drivers and railroad conductors use such boards and in the NAVY Pilots use them and even probably torpedo bombers did too; remember George Bush Senior flew a torpedo bomber? Back to our GPS Toys and PDA devices; Another one of the more unique ones is the EnFlight Text Weather Devise which you can google to get all the specs, definitely worth a look see. All of these devises also allow for National Security so no more private pilots in C-182s fly into restricted areas; http://www.faa.gov/NTAP/SPECIALNOTAMS/Spec…s_graphics_.htm . These companies are also careful whom they send these devises to, for obvious reasons. Just think you could be flying your own private plane with a little PDA devise and go have a blast with your newfound freedom. Another cool devise and one of my favorites is the Pocket test which you can look up on Google. This is a cool devise to help you from getting lost and it has just about too many features to list, too bad it was not Windows CE based, I just cannot trust the longevity of Palm in the market place and hope our military is not so stupid to buy into there hype for military versions. One thing going for it is its size. Very small. We did like the MapTech unit also because we can use it on a laptop, Handheld GPS unit of PDA GPS unit, with terrain CAD capabilities. This unit has many other purposes for General Civil Engineering, Forestry, Mobile Car Washing scheduling and routing, Aviation, Hiking, Fishing, Diving, Trucking, you name it. It also has features from NOAA for weather; I would recommend this as the best all-purpose unit I have thus yet found. It also works with ESRI software. So we like this for its versatility across industries. Good for us too with the blitz mobile to take the route with the least amount of hills for fuel consumption conservation and wear and tear on a 300,000-mile truck. Another of the best units we looked at was the http://www.teletype.com/pages/tracking.html which can be used like a Top Secret “Bloodhound Unit” and we can use this for car wash truck tracking, can be used for just about any real use to help you find your self or units. This is a way we can covertly track our units so employees do not screw off and kill profits and lie about where they were and how long they were there. Also in our survey we looked at the SatellinkTech units and found a lot of other cool features there; http://www.satellinktech.com/product/merlin_air_main.htm . This is a great tool, like the other units is does provide real time data such as; Airport observations and forecasts (text), Area forecasts (text), Upper wind forecasts (text), Pilot reports (text and onboard processed graphics), Icing and Turbulence forecasts (graphical), Status of restricted, prohibited, and military training airspace (text and onboard processed graphics), Location of other aircraft on instrument flight plans (onboard processed graphics), FAA alerts and advisories, Aircraft Situational Display. What is also of interest is how much all these companies work together so that they can provide all the same data to all their customers. This does not mean one is not better than the other. For our purposes we chose the Tele Type unit with all the features, which we may implement in the future. I hope this review of products has assisted you in learning more about the technology. Many of these PDA technologies will be available for nearly any business small or large. “Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

You’ve heard that new sport, geocaching, is fun. Or, you’re tired of getting lost on your travels. Welcome to the 21st century. Global Postioning System (GPS) has been around long enough that prices are reasonable and the technology is user-friendly. With myriad brands and models, how to choose? If you want a GPS for both hiking and driving use, then a handheld unit would be the way to go. Some handhelds even have accessories to allow them to be installed in an automobile. But don’t rule out a PDA. More on that in a moment. For driving only, there are GPS receivers made just for vehicle use. Handheld GPS receivers are either mapping or non–mapping. A basic, non–mapping unit can often cost less than $100 US and usually has/displays the following: Location Compass heading Elevation above sea level Accurate time Satellite location and signal strength The ability to calculate distance traveled The ability to record your path as a set of waypoints The ability to navigate routes The ability to retrace your steps Handheld mapping receivers do all the above plus have the ability to display maps. The maps are either pre–loaded or uploaded from your PC. Prices are reasonable for mapping units, starting at around $150 US. Paper maps are strongly recommended whether you’re using a mapping receiver or not. Paper maps do not require batteries and probably won’t go defective. Also, a paper map gives you a “big picture” view of your situation — something lacking on the small screen of a GPS. I mentioned earlier your considering a PDA with GPS capability. A PDA is bulkier and the battery life is usually shorter, but if you’re using a PDA anyway, then there are several ways to turn a PDA into a GPS. Some PDAs accept a GPS “sleeve.” That is a device that the PDA nestles into. Another choice is one of Garmin’s PDAs. Garmin is probably the most popular GPS maker and they have one PDA/GPS that is Palm–based and one that is Pocket PC–based. Prices for automotive GPS start at around $250 US. These provide turn–by–turn guidance. Spend a little more than that and you get voice guidance. These are larger than handhelds in order to accommodate a screen large enough to be seen while driving. They are powered by the car’s electrical system and because of this, they can only be used in a vehicle. Many automobile manufacturers now offer built-in GPS receivers as an option. Because they are built-in, the big advantages are security and aesthetics. They are quite a bit more expensive than add-on units and often have fewer options. I’ve also heard some stories of people having a hard time getting map updates. A PDA/GPS is a good alternative for automotive use. Its screen is about the size of an automotive unit, so seeing the display is not a problem. They can also be powered by the car, eliminating battery worries. The Garmin PDAs mentioned above both come with the hardware and software for automotive use. If you’re hiking, a basic handheld unit (without maps) will be fine since you’ll always have paper maps with you anyway (you will, won’t you?). An advantage to a handheld mapping unit is that they usually have more advanced features than the basic units. For driving, you have the choice of a handheld, in–car dedicated, or PDA. The handheld does have limited usefulness in a car, as it does not provide turn–by–turn guidance. For a more detailed look at how to choose a GPS, click here. J. Chartwell has developed Maps GPS Info.com, which provides practical information on GPS and maps that everyone can use. His website includes product reviews and a maps/GPS glossary.

GPS or Global Positioning Systems is a term that most commonly conjures up images of vehicle navigation systems, space-age satellite technology, and interactive maps for outdoors-types and sportsmen. But the reality is that there are far more applications of Global Positioning Systems beyond GPS vehicle tracking or map navigation that everyday people like us can benefit from. All it takes is a bit of creativity, and some trial and error. Here are a few of the many possibilities that can benefit you right now in your busy and hectic life. 1. Know where your children are using services from companies like uLocate Communications. 2. Keep track of elderly members of your family, so that they don’t wander off alone. 3. Plan a road trip around interesting points of interests, landmarks, campsites, diners, etc, and hear fewer “Are we there yets?”- and of course get the most out of that expensive gas. 4. Get emergency road side assistance at a touch of a button from your vehicle, so you can get help exactly where and when you need it. 5. Keep a visual journal and bookmark collection of your favorite hot spots, sceneries, and points of interests, that may not be listed in any travel guide (You can create your own mini travel guides and memories). 6. Find lost pets easily using collars with built-in GPS, better than running around in your pajamas hollering like a maniac. 7. Feel safer with cellular phone 911 calls, so emergency personnel can pinpoint your location once you make an emergency call. Please double check your carrier service to see that it has GPS features and get a primer on how it works if possible. 8. Get to your interview, or any important time sensitive destination or engagement, faster by finding shortcuts and correct directions. 9. Find a good Italian restaurant near your movie theatre on the fly. 10. Track your luggage, laptops, and anything of importance while traveling. 11. Track and find family, friends in a crowded concert, graduation, or any social gathering. 12. When going on a vacation, feel free to separate from group for a while to venture on your own based on your own interests and find them later on with your GPS enabled device- even in an unfamiliar place. Our ability to use GPS so far is limited by the relatively poor connection to the satellite feeds when we are indoors in buildings, homes, or behind anything that could obstruct the GPS connection. However with the investment and development in a new satellite network called Galileo which should be completed in the near future, these problems should be eliminated drastically. Despite these problems, GPS still offers a world of benefits as mentioned earlier, and with any technology, it will only get better. In addition to more practical usage applications, GPS will make a great educational and fun gift for your loved one’s and friends as well. Consider just two of the many creative and educational uses of GPS: 1. Stay physically active and fit by playing RayGun! A locational based cell phone game based on GPS technology. 2. Become more cultured, make global friends, and learn about the world playing GeoCache, a global GPS based treasure hunt. With many affordable feature-rich models to satisfy anyone’s preferences and budgets, now is as good a time as any to learn more about GPS technologies, which are surely to become more assimilated into the mainstream within the decade. One day we will take these things for granted just like we do now for the internet and cell phones. The key is to dive in, without paralyzing yourself with the overwhelming array of choices in the GPS market, and enjoying some truly amazing technology. Visit GPSZoom.com for a dizzying array of ways in which GPS can improve your lifestyle including with GPS tracking services for people and vehicles, and for those adventurers at heart- technology to help you conquer the outdoors, one trail at a time.