It might seem like I’m harping on it a little bit, but personal safety is one of the most important considerations when going on hikes or expeditions to remote locations.

Recently, a climate scientist by the name of Dr. John All had to be airlifted out of the Himalayan ice after falling down a 70 ft. crevice and breaking an arm and a couple ribs in addition to some internal bleeding. All had to climb back to his tent and sent out a text message via his DeLorme InReach SE requesting pickup. The satellite communicator/GPS Navigation device probably saved his life, and All made sure his team has several of them for other trips. read more

This device from Catapult Sports is one of the most commonly used player tracking devices

Edit: According to an article I saw here, apparently the GPS tracking isn’t reducing the injuries to players, as they still have a staggering amount of injuries. Maybe the GPS thing isn’t working out for them after all?

GPS devices are becoming more and more prevalent in America’s favorite game, and even the technophobic Giants head coach has invested money in a system to track his players health and location, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Last year, the NFL approved the use of GPS trackers to not only track physical location of players whilst on the field, but also to monitor heart rate, pace, speed and other factors. This data is collectively referred to as “player load.” Several teams including the Bills, Falcons, Cowboys, Jaguars, Eagles and Rams already use this technology, NFL reported last year, and the list is only going to grow.

The data has been used to significantly change the structure of football practices, allowing players hydration breaks and monitoring performance more accurately. It may even cause fewer soft tissue injuries and allow your favorite athletes to spend more time on the field than on the sidelines. read more

Friday’s planned launch of the seventh of 12 new GPS satellites is looking good, according to Florida Today. The United Launch Alliance (ULA) has planned the departure for 11:23 p.m. from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The 189-foot Atlas V will be carrying a GPS IIF-7 satellite, the third of four scheduled for launch this year. This new block of satellites are interim are designed to improve accuracy, greater performance and increased signals for users until the newer GPS IIIA satellites are ready for launch. read more

A screenshot from a youtube video by the University of Texas at Austin showing how vulnerable marine craft are to GPS Spoofing, and how spoofing works

GPS Spoofing—or the sending out of fake signals to control a course or heading—has been a concern of many navigators for several years now. Mark Psiaki, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, has been working towards a solution. Cornell University reports that Psiaki tested out his new spoofing detector and the results are quite encouraging. read more