Automotive GPS Systems
Originally conceived and developed by the United States Department of Defense for use in military applications, GPS tracking technology has in recent years been opened up to commercial development and use by the general public. As a result of this, GPS tracking has seen a huge rise in popularity as more and more ways to utilize the technology has emerged in the marketplace. GPS capability can now be found in newer cars or as an aftermarket accessory for older cars as a replacement for having to deal with paper maps, as a handheld personal device for campers, hunters and other outdoor users, in some newer cell phones as a tracking device, and there are even GPS treasurehunting groups who hide objects and then post clues on the internet, for users to try and find using GPS systems. GPS systems are also finding great use by companies for tracking movement of vehicles and personnel as a way of monitoring business costs. And they are also being used by individuals as a way of monitoring personal vehicles of all kinds against theft and to monitor younger drivers whereabouts and driving habits.
A GPS system is basically an electronic transmitter/receiver that is in communication with a series of 24 satellites which orbit above the earth, and through communication with the satellites can pinpoint where on earth that receiver is. In the case of automobile navigation units, the user programs in a destination to the receiver and the satellites determine where the receiver actually is and then the receiver, using map data programmed into it can map the most direct route to get to the destination entered into it and display that information on a view screen. The information is constantly updated through communication between the receiver and the orbiting satellite system. Probably the most productive uses of GPS receivers would be as tracking and monitoring devices to monitor movement of vehicles for theft protection of vehicles and for commercial fleet management as well as keeping track of where young drivers go and what their driving habits are.
As with most electronic items, mass production is bringing the price down to the point where it is affordable to most everyone who is interested in GPS tracking. Basic units can be found for as little as a couple of hundred dollars, while more complex systems can run as much as a thousand dollars depending on what features and capabilities an individual has need of. Some GPS tracking systems may require an additional monthly monitoring fee similar to monthly cell phone charges.
By: Paul Dyer
Posts Tagged ‘Gps System’
Technology Based Features Dominate the Latest Mobile Phone Handsets
December 28th, 2009
For years now the mobile phone manufacturers have been attempting to pack increasingly sophisticated and numerous technological functions into smaller and smaller handsets. Recent years have seen the addition of functions such as Bluetooth, MP3 players and GPRS become standard features of our mobile phones.
Sony Ericsson, Samsung, Nokia and LG and other major manufacturers of mobile handsets are constantly innovating and periodically herald the arrival of the ‘next generation’ of mobile phones. The next generation is underpinned by technological features and functions that become the norm within handsets and are fervently consumed by the public whilst the mobile phone companies hibernate for the following months seeking to unearth the next batch of technologies for the generation to come. So with the rapid development that we have seen in the mobile industry to date, what can we expect to see in the ‘next generation’ of handsets that will form the latest mobile phones and how they will differ from the current batch of phones available from mobile phone stores and online retailers.
A good place to keep up to date with the rumours emanating from mobile phone manufacturers is, of course, the online tech blogs and news sites. Recent rumours doing the rounds are that a refined version of Google Mobile Maps is being developed for integration into handsets. Google won’t be charging for the technology but mobile networks may charge a fee fort the technology. Google Mobile Maps is downloaded via the phones web browser and provides up to date directions and traffic information to your mobile. The keypad on the phone can be used to move the area of the map allowing you to plot journeys and identify traffic problems en-route. The ‘get directions’ function allows you to plot start and end points for a journey, essentially allowing your mobile phone to act as a GPS system.
Gaming is high on the agenda for mobile phone manufacturers and much work is being done to increase the functionality and playability of mobile phones to accommodate better gaming. Game developers, Square-Enix are currently developing Final Fantasy 13 for PS3 but are also developing an separate version of the game, Final Fantasy Agito, for use on mobile phones – just one example of a number of sophisticated gaming developments for mobile phones.
Increased functionality drives the mobile phone industry and this looks no different with the forthcoming generation of mobile phones. Also riding high on the agenda of mobile phone manufacturers is security, with features such as fingerprint and voice recognition technologies currently being tested.
Whatever happens – we’ll find out in 6 to 9 months just what we can do with our new mobile phone.
http://www.gransha-taxi.co.uk/Belfast-airport-taxis.htm
By: Michael Hanna