What You Need to Know About
GPS Personal Locators
Other systems work by sending the data by satellite instead of a GSM/GPRS system. Although considerably more expensive, the use of satellites to transmit location data has the advantage of working almost anywhere on earth, while a GSM/GPRS system has limited geographical coverage.
While a few systems require no monthly fee, most cost about what cell phone service costs per month. That is in addition to the cost of the equipment, which ranges from less than $200 US to over $4000 US.
Cell phones can be used to track people. However, with most cell phones the user can't access the GPS data. The data is received by a location-based service provider or 911 dispatcher who then directs the information to the necessary personnel. For more information, see GPS Cell Phones.
Examples of GPS Personal Locators
Wherify Wireless Location Services GPS Locator For Children - The locator looks like a wristwatch and can be locked on to your child's wrist. It uses GPS to determine position which is then transmitted to the Location Service Center. The user can access the position information by either calling a toll-free number or logging on to the Wherify website.
The GPS Personal Locator sells for $199.99, plus monthly service plans that are comparable to other mobile devices, like cell phones, or your Internet service. These are only available in the USA. http://www.wherifywireless.com/prod_watches.htm
Easylocate - Most of this small two-part device is hidden. One part - disguised and about the size of a button – is worn on the clothing. The other part – about the size of a cell phone – is carried in the pocket. The “button sized” component is remotely connected to the larger unit and – if one or the other is separated by more than 3 meters – an alert call is automatically initiated.
An alert can also be effected by pressing one button on either the small or larger component. Easylocate uses mobile phone technology to operate a two way tracking facility. Easylocate Internet Service displays the location of the user on the Internet and sends a street address to any previously authorized person’s cell phone giving the location and exact time the alert originated. http://www.easylocate.net/m_about.asp
The KidBug is a handheld device about the size of a small cell phone. Should the child become separated from a parent, the child can press a button and the location data will be sent to the parent's cell phone. At that time, the parent can speak to the child over the KidBug. The child can also press a "Panic" button which triggers an alarm at the monitoring service.
The service can speak to and hear the child and her or his situation, but can also track the child in real time, on a moving map display, guiding the Parents or Police directly to the child’s location. http://www.kidbug.co.uk/index.html
The LifeSaver GPS satellite transceiver is marketed mainly for farmers. For example, a farmer might have a severe accident involving hazardous equipment and quick response by emergency personnel could make the difference between life and death. Since farms are often located in remote areas, this system works by satellite and does not depend on cell phone coverage. The main unit is built to be mount to a vehicle's roof. The remote control has four buttons, each to signal a different level of emergency.
Signals are monitored by the LifeSaver Call Centre and the user can view the movement of the vehicle from any computer. The customer will get notified via an email message sent to her or his email(s) including cell phones and pagers. As an option, the designated next-of-kin or customer will get notified with a phone call when an alarm occurs as well as by email. http://www.lifesavergps.com/LifeSaver.htm
