| The number and type of personal tracking | | | | compatible with their system. These devices use |
| devices has increased in just the last five years. | | | | standard GPS to accomplish the tracking function. |
| Demand for these devices continues to increase | | | | This information is uploaded through cell phone link |
| as the sophistication of device technology | | | | to the company's data base. Once the information |
| continues to improve. Probably the biggest | | | | is located there you can access it through your |
| demand is for small devices that can be place on | | | | computer. |
| children and adults with diminished capacity. Many | | | | The service company will charge you for these |
| new devices are the size of an iPod and top end | | | | uploads depending on how often the information is |
| units can be worn as a pendent. | | | | uploaded from the tracking device to their data |
| There basically two types of personal tracking | | | | base. Uploading requirement depends on the |
| devices on the market today. The older logger | | | | needs of the customer. High value tracking needs |
| devices use standard batteries and GPS | | | | may be uploaded as often as every 5 minutes. In |
| technology to track the location of the device. | | | | other cases an upload of once every 20 minutes |
| The device is placed on a person for a period of | | | | would be sufficient. Real time personal tracking |
| time and then is retrieved. Once retrieved the | | | | devices are much larger than logger devices due |
| information is downloaded into a computer where | | | | to the cell phone and battery components. |
| software provides the tracking information in the | | | | The weakness of this system comes from the |
| form of maps and tables. This is information is | | | | fact that tracking uploads are dependent on the |
| good for gathering the tracking history of an | | | | availability of cell phone service. In many rural |
| individual or vehicle. These units are typically very | | | | locations there is little or no cell phone coverage. |
| small and can be hidden quite easily. In addition the | | | | In addition depending on the carrier and terrain |
| price of these units is relative low. The biggest | | | | features, there can be blind spots where uploads |
| problem is that the information is old and the | | | | will not possible. Also because you are using a |
| device must be retrieved in order to access the | | | | tracking service company your tracking |
| tracking information. | | | | information is not private and can be accessed by |
| Real time personal tracking devices are in much | | | | third parties. |
| more demand. Information provided by these | | | | You can expect new GPS personal tracking |
| devices is as the name implies is more or less | | | | technology to provide smaller units with better |
| current. Almost all these personal tracking devices | | | | battery life in the next few years. As with all |
| use GPS and cell phone technology to accomplish | | | | technology prices will drop over time and make |
| the tracking function. Unlike the logger system | | | | these smaller devices available to just about any |
| most real time GPS systems require the use of a | | | | budget. Already tracking service prices have fallen |
| GPS tracking system Service Company. These | | | | as a result of increase competition. |
| companies basically sell or lease you a unit that is | | | | |