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

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

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

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