Sunday, March 18, 2012

Study Shows Shoppers Reject Indoor Tracking

Exerpt from Infographic created by OpinionLabs

Image from Infographic created by OpinionLabs

Indoor GPS technology has become quite the topic here recently. Quite a portion of the articles I have found are on all the different methods that we can use to take GPS navigation and implement it inside a building. Airports, malls and other large structures would benefit, some say. However, the idea of a corporation tracking shoppers movements is not something that has been widely accepted.

OpinionLab recently conducted a study asking consumers whether or not they would be comfortable letting companies track them and under what circumstances it would be acceptable or not. The infographic they have created is below, but basically the consensus is that a majority of shoppers are definitely not comfortable with sharing their location and data with companies. The most common reason was security—they didn’t believe that the company would keep that information private. In fact, around 44% said that if a company implemented a tracking program they would be less likely to shop there.

Check out the numbers for yourself: read more

Smallest GPS Tracker Available Online

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A new GPS tracker claiming to be the ‘smallest real time GPS tracker in the world’ completed its funding on Kickstarter and is now available for purchase on their website. It’s called Trax and while I don’t know about it being the smallest, the device only measures about 1.5 inches by 2 inches and weighs around 30 grams (1.06 oz) which is pretty tiny. Trax is designed for kids and pets and can be attached to a shirt, lanyard, pet collar or any number of things. read more

Caref GPS Watch Helps Track Older Kids

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If you’re looking for a tracker for a small child, you don’t have any shortage of options to choose from. However, if you want something to track a wayward teen or middle-schooler, your options are slim indeed. Introducing the Caref GPS Phone Watch by Precise Innovation, a GPS enabled watch (that doesn’t look like a conspicuous tracker) which allows parents to track location and speed of their free-roaming teens. The device also features two-way voice and text calling that automatically answers, so they won’t have the option of ignoring your call, plus other features. read more

GPS Tracker Gets Overwhelming Crowd Support

TrackRThere are no shortage of tracking startup projects on sites like Indiegogo. and all of them claim to allow users to track valuables (or people) anywhere, with little or no cost, etc, etc. Most of them don’t get off the ground or have fine print that states that the only way that it would work as advertised is if everyone had that same device and could help you track your stolen or lost item. But what are the chances of that happening? Well, with the new tracking device, cleverly named TrackR, this idea might finally get off the ground.

I know what you’re thinking. What makes TrakR worth writing (or reading) about? Well, the device has many of the same sorts of functions like on every other Indiegogo project we’ve ever written about: location tracking, ringing your phone (or the tracker) if you lose one, distance indicator, etc. But it’s the crowd support and potential for a functional network that drew my attention. read more

Iotera Brings GPS Tracker to Kickstarter

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It seems like almost every week there is a new GPS tracker trying to gain ground on Kickstarter or Indiegogo, but this week I wanted to post about the Iota, a little GPS tracker with big dreams from Iotera. Last August, they raised $350,000 from Zenshin Capital to develop the tech, and have now taken to Kickstarter to crowdfund the testing and production costs. Now, you’re probably thinking that you’ve seen GPS trackers before, so what could possibly be so exciting about this one? Well, Iota is a little different from most of the GPS trackers that you find floating around the internet. And, while there are definitely some security concerns, the idea is pretty cool. read more

New GPS Sport Watch with Connected Devices Announced

Suunto Ambit3 family GPS Watch App Heart Monitor

Suunto has announced a whole family of connected devices to help athletes and outdoors enthusiasts get the most out of their sports adventures. Suunto’s first Bluetooth Smart compatible product family consists of a new Suunto Movescount App, Suunto Ambit3 Peak GPS Watch and Suunto Ambit3 Sport GPS watch, and the Suunto Smart Sensor for heart rate monitoring. The device family can either be used together or separately, and will be available for purchase in the beginning of September, 2014. Details on price have not yet been released. read more

Minneapolis Introduces Park GPS Tracker for Guests

The Three Rivers Park District in Minn. now offers free GPS tracking for loved ones.

The Three Rivers Park District in Minneapolis, Minnesota has announced the launch of a GPS tracking system designed to help vulnerable guests from getting lost. The tracking system is designed to be used to allow visitors with autism, dementia, Alzheimer’s or other conditions that give patients a tendency to wander, the ability to visit the park system without worry of getting lost. The new system, Protect And Locate (or P.A.L.) is available at 26 park locations in the area. With this device, caretakers can set a perimeter and be alerted when the party leaves the area, allowing caretakers to find the patient in minutes instead of hours. The PAL system involves a bracelet for the vulnerable party and a monitor to track them for the caretaker. read more

LG Launches Wearable Tracking Device for Kids

LG_KizON_500

LG is launching into the wearable technology market with no apologies and no reservations. The newest wearable GPS tracking device, KizON, was released in Korea on Thursday and is aimed at preschool and primary age kids. With GPS tracking capabilities and a simple button press to call a pre-selected number (or answer a call) the device is being marketed as a precautionary safety measure for small children and comes in three bright colors: pink, blue and green. Utilizing GPS and Wi-Fi, KizON can relay real-time location information to parents or caregivers and can be tracked on a phone or tablet. read more

World’s Smallest Industrial Tracker Released

GT0-09

The Geoforce Engineering team has released the GT0 Compact Asset Tracker for commercial and industrial use. The GT0 is the world’s smallest and lightest global satellite tracker with an internal battery that can last for years without recharging. The device is small, measuring just 2.7 inches square and 1.3 inches tall with an omni-directional antenna, so you can stick it wherever and not worry about the device. It is designed to last up to five years in the field and send location updates twice a day. read more

New Workforce GPS Tracking App Announced

Electric Compass Tracker Edited

A new GPS tracker app designed to help businesses track their workforce and assets in the field has been released this week. The Electric Compass Tracker will allow employers to see the location of all their workers in the field in real-time, allowing managers and dispatchers to more effectively address field business issues and increase productivity. The app can be used on any Android, Blackberry, iPhone, or iOS device and works with installed vehicle trackers and asset tracking devices also.

This app allows managers to find the closest worker to a location to respond to service calls or sales opportunities; receive alerts for workers speeding, entering or leaving undesignated areas or unauthorized travel; view full GPS history of workers movements and time elapsed; or access worker locations anywhere from a smartphone or tablet. read more