• What is a GPS unit and why do you need one?
• Big brother is watching
• Fun and GPS games
• What to look for in a GPS
• How the GPS works
• More than one system
• Location, location

Big brother is watching

GPS is all about being able to tell where things (or people) are. So it is no surprise that many commercial applications have developed for vehicle monitoring. Many companies now use GPS systems to monitor their vehicle fleets, giving them detailed reports on where their vehicles are and for how long. This application, however, is starting to get into the realm of "big brother" (no, not the reality TV show — the Orwellian idea of constant monitoring of individuals for control purposes).

Using this system you could monitor the vehicle of a sales rep, for instance, and tell when and where he was at all times; when the car was stopped, idling or mobile; if it strayed out of his "territory" and even if he made an unauthorised stop at McDonald's!

While sales reps may not applaud the idea of such close surveillance, a GPS unit in a car is becoming a must-have feature — not only to assist drivers to find their way around, but also to help prevent theft and assist in vehicle recovery. An anti-theft GPS unit can tell if a car is operated by an unauthorised user (GPS-speak for "stolen"). The unit emits a "vehicle tamper" notification which is received at a central monitoring base and police or private response teams are able to track the vehicle. Some can then immobilise the vehicle at the discretion of the pursuers. This type of system can even incorporate a "panic button" which can be used in the event of car-jacking; and incorporate an anti-tow sensor, so the vehicle can't even be picked up and carried away.

GPS tracking can also be applied to people. In other "big brother" news, it was reported recently in New Scientist that kids in Japan will soon be wearing GPS transceivers in their school blazers, allowing parents to track their whereabouts on a notebook!

Meanwhile, wearable GPS bracelets and anklets have been developed for tracking prisoners on probation or under house arrest. A similar device was reportedly pilfered by a burglar, who didn't know what it was but thought the techno-looking device must be valuable. Police wasted no time in tracking the device and educating the unwary thief.