Almost every parent wants the comfort of knowing where his or her child is when outside of his or her direct supervision. This has created a market demand for a variety of GPS units to passively or actively track children. This article contains information on some of the capabilities and features of these devices. Check the Internet for commercial sites selling these devices.
There is a trade off between your right to know and a child's privacy. You should be fairly sure of your reasons for doing this such as the safety of a child, concern that a child is not going where he/she said or he/she is speeding in the car as examples. Make sure you can live with your moral choices if using a passive device which the child is unaware.
In general, these tracking devices are much more expensive than their automotive GPS cousins. You should be prepared to pay a premium. They usually include RF (Radio Frequency) receivers/transmitters to/from satellites or base station; or a GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) digital cellular network to relay information to a base system that the parent monitors. The combination of GPS, REF transmitter and/or a cellular network is called AGPS (Assisted Global Positioning System).
These units may have some of the following capabilities or features:
Built-in microphones to allow you to hear your child and those around them.
Built-in speakers to allow you to communicate with your child.
May be used in conjunction with an intelligent geofence that will let you know when a child has left an established boundary. A geofence is a circular area that when your child enters or leaves it you receive an alert. This can provide freedom and safety for a child.
Alerts such as when your child fails into the water.
Be incorporated into a cell phone or cell phone watch.
Work in conjunction with an online Internet Tracking service.
Be built-in to a bracelet, watch, jacket or even a shoe.
Have a panic button.
Be active or passive (concealed).
The set of features should match the type of information you are seeking. It is very important to make sure you get the right tracking device for your needs. Some sites give advice on this but don't forget, they are in the business of making money so the may steer you to an expensive device that has more features than you really need.
Also remember no system is perfect and the same factors that can affect the accuracy of GPS can and will affect your system. Check a multitude of devices and go to a shopping comparison site to get the best value.
Many people are techno-phobic and you will need to thoroughly read and test these devices before using them. They are sophisticated systems and you need to understand them to use them effectively. If you are not ready for this level of commitment it is probably a bad idea for you to purchase a GPS kids' tracking device.
Properly used these devices can bring you piece of mind or make you aware of problems immediately. The future of these devices is virtually unlimited. As they become more and more popular there should also be a corresponding drop in prices.
Note: Many of these devices also require subscription to monitoring service online or otherwise and this is on top of the price for the hardware.
In conclusion, the features available today allow for very powerful tracking and monitoring.
| Price : | Post Date : Dec 25, 2011 14:00:46
