Tracking -- Engadget

tracking posts

Ekahau's T301W Wi-Fi wristband wirelessly tracks kids, wandering grandparents

by Tim Stevens posted Oct 15th 2009 at 7:18AM

What's the best technology to use to track people who like to wander off? You might be inclined to say GPS, but stagger into a cave or basement (or, sometimes, a city street) and suddenly you're off the grid, man. Not with Ekahau's T301W wristband: it uses Wi-Fi to beam location information. Yes, we know that your average cave doesn't have Wi-Fi, but Ekahau has a range of beacons available that will fix that, and when in the presence of those beacons (or any other configured Wi-Fi network) a wristband can be located to within a few feet. It's the latest of a variety of similar devices from Ekahau, but the first small enough and waterproof enough to be wearable, which has the company envisioning everyone from cruise ship captains to secret service agents slapping these on their visitors. At $60 a pop, though, we're not sure how many organizations will be able to afford that many.

Lenovo's Lost & Found looks to guilt trip thieves into returning your ThinkPad

by Darren Murph posted Sep 30th 2009 at 7:36PM

So, a little situation for you. You leave your ThinkPad in the third row of waiting seats at Jackson Hole Airport, already distraught that you're departing Winter Wonderland and heading back to reality. A kindhearted Wyomian happens upon it, and clearly recognizes that he / she should figure out a way to return it. If you're signed up for the gratis Lost & Found service (which does require a subscription to Absolute Computrace), the finder will spot a 1-800 number on the outside of the ThinkPad or on the display as it's powered on. From there, he / she simply dials the aforementioned number, waits for the free pre-paid box to arrive, ships it off to Lenovo (to protect your address, naturally) and basks in the satisfaction of knowing that Lenovo will handle the shipping to you. Sound good? Great -- it's now available on all ThinkPads enabled with Absolute Software's Computrace. Phew!

Continue reading Lenovo's Lost & Found looks to guilt trip thieves into returning your ThinkPad

Video: TOTO robot catches tennis balls, hopes for a deeper purpose in life

by Darren Murph posted Sep 30th 2009 at 10:41AM

Fido conked out for the evening? Your youngster not really into "playing catch" at age 14? Enter TOTO -- a brilliant robotic contraption conceived at Reinhold-Würth University -- that can absolutely act as a suitable replacement. Short for Tracking of Thrown Objects, the camera-equipped system views and tracks incoming objects, and once said object is within catching range, it clamps down in order to grab hold. Eventually, the inventors would love to see the machine have an impact within a manufacturing facility, but considering just how effective conveyor belts have been over the past few scores, we'd say it has its work cut out for it. Video's after the break, and it's worth checking out.

[Via PlasticPals]

Continue reading Video: TOTO robot catches tennis balls, hopes for a deeper purpose in life

New Scientist and MIT track your trash for the good of the planet

by Vladislav Savov posted Jul 16th 2009 at 3:41AM

On a long enough timeline, all gadgets, white goods, furniture and consumables end up in the trash bin, and the latest tech from MIT is designed to track their subsequent journey from your porch to the great beyond. Partnering with the New Scientist magazine, researchers are hoping that by mapping where garbage ends up, they can awaken that atrophied muscle of environmental awareness in us all. The project will attach SIM cards to particular items of trash, which will beep out their location information every 15 minutes. You might think this somewhat underwhelming -- given all the bells, whistles and bomb-proofing that garbage cans have been adorned with over the years -- but interest appears high enough to justify exhibitions of the project in New York and Seattle starting this September.

CATSeye Mk2 tracking device takes the smaller, more waterproof route

by Ross Miller posted Jun 22nd 2009 at 2:07AM

Okay, so if you thought the CATSeye matchbox-sized tracking device was a bit too big or cumbersome, the gang is back with something decidedly smaller and more discrete. Introducing the CATS.i, also known as CATSeye Mk2. It's got all the same functionality as its predecessor -- GPS, GSM/GPRS, RF, internet / SMS controls, etc. -- but is now only eight millimeters thick (or twelve if you chose the thinner "folded over" arrangement) and completely waterproof. Power options include a Li-ion battery, solar power, or any number of other ways you can think to run juice. Have an urge to keep track of all your family members and loved ones even more secretly than before? The new devices ship next month.

[Via NaviGadget]

Ask Engadget: What's the best GPS tracker for under $300?

by Darren Murph posted Jun 5th 2009 at 12:28AM

Think fast! You've just stumbled upon this week's episode of Ask Engadget, and just like those "Choose Your Own Adventure" books from yesteryear, you've a few choices here. One is to leave like a coward; another is to really dig in and contribute; and another is to drop some knowledge and send in a question of your own to ask at engadget dawt com. While you ponder which route is best for you, here's Matthew's plea:

"There are so many GPS trackers on the market today to choose from. I'm just looking for basic monitoring abilities and decent battery life, and of course I want one that's as small and discrete as possible. Which is the best one for less than $300?"

No need to confess in comments what you use your own tracker for (trust us, we could narrow it down on our own), but do tell if you've found a winner. Bonus points if your module has landed your scandalous SO on a recent episode of Cheaters.

CenTrak intros world's thinnest active RFID, opens new realm of possibilities

by Darren Murph posted May 5th 2009 at 9:11AM

Despite being oh-so-promising years ago, we've seen little innovation in the RFID space over the past several months. Today, however, CenTrak's proving that the dream is still somewhat alive. The outfit has just introduced the planet's thinnest hybrid active Radio Frequency Identification tag, which is said to be so thin that it's almost "indistinguishable from a standard employee badge." The IT-740 Staff Badge checks in at just three millimeters thick and includes a trio of programmable buttons, a system controlled LED, hole mounts for portrait or landscape orientation, water resistance for easy cleaning and "ultra long battery-life." For employees, rocking one of these guarantees that your superior will recognize every step you take, every move you make and every bond you break. Which, sadly enough, isn't nearly as bodacious as The Police make it sound. Bonus coverage after the break.

Gallery: CenTrak intros world's thinnest active RFID, opens new realm of possibilities

Continue reading CenTrak intros world's thinnest active RFID, opens new realm of possibilities

NavGenius PND looks like a GPS, is really a covert location tracker

by Darren Murph posted Apr 3rd 2009 at 5:33AM

Those sadistic souls over at Lightning GPS are at it again, making the lives of parents and promiscuous children awesome and horrible, respectively. Just in case NavTrac's RTV10 PND isn't enough to keep your mind at ease when Johnny (and his track record of poor decision making) is out and about, there's the newly announced NavGenius. At first glance, this here navigator is about as vanilla as they come, but underneath the shell is a dedicated tracking module which enables the owner to monitor every turn, stop and donut from the web. Heck, you can even re-route vehicles from any connected computer, and the owner can get an SMS should the driver exceed a certain speed or break a customizable perimeter. All that's required to shatter the last pinch of trust you actually had with your offspring is $599.95 up front and $39.95 per month for the tracking service -- which you only pay until they wise up and take a Louisville Slugger to the device.

NavTrac's RTV10 PND does GPS tracking, two-way messaging

by Darren Murph posted Apr 2nd 2009 at 1:04PM

Can't say we've ever heard of NavTrac, but we are digging the differentiation seen in its RTV10 portable navigation device. Hosted up by LiveViewGPS, this unique navigator not only provides the usual turn-by-turn guidance to get you from point A to point Z, but it also includes a GPS tracking function (for fleet managers and suspicious parents) as well as two-way messaging functionality. While it's not truly a "connected GPS," this one does provide more communication with the outside world than most, and if you're curious of the specs, it features a 4.3-inch 480 x 272 touchscreen, built-in speaker, 4GB of internal flash memory, 64MB of DRAM, a SiRF Atlas III GPS module and a rechargeable Li-ion. Sadly, this no-namer won't run you cheap, as the unit itself rings up at $599 while the subscription to the aforementioned communication services will knock you back another $39.95 per month. Full release is after the break.

Continue reading NavTrac's RTV10 PND does GPS tracking, two-way messaging

Diminutive Spark Nano GPS tracker gives suspicious parents real answers

by Darren Murph posted Mar 18th 2009 at 5:02PM

Not that sneaky, minuscule GPS trackers are impossible to come by, but with kids growing more and more mischievous, outraged parents are demanding more options. At least that's the word passed on by Lightning GPS' Jason Lazarus, who has just recently decided to make its ridiculously small Spark Nano available to the public. You see, this here company has generally thrived on providing covert GPS trackers to military and law enforcement, but now even civilians are being allowed in on the fun. The device, which is obviously used to track whatever or whomever you wish, is about the size of a 9-volt battery and can easily withstand bumps, bruises and the occasional drink spill. Users who implant one can track the subject via the web (shown after the break) or phone, and you can count on five solid days of continuous tracking when the rechargeable battery is topped off. It's shipping now from BrickHouse Security for $299.95.

Continue reading Diminutive Spark Nano GPS tracker gives suspicious parents real answers

Geolocator-equipped backpacks to track bird migrations

by Darren Murph posted Feb 13th 2009 at 10:26AM

We've seen birds tasked with carrying around sensors in order to provide data about external happenings, but up until now, tracking birds' migration patterns from start to finish has been a tedious, if not impossible task. Gurus from York University in Toronto have apparently figured out the solution, and it all sounds much simpler than you might imagine. By equipping birds with minuscule "backpacks" -- which weigh less than a dime and use geolocators to collect all sorts of information about flight times, patterns, stopovers and speed -- scientists can get an accurate look at where the animals were and when they were there. In a recent test involving 34 birds, researchers were able to retrieve the packs from 7, and while that may not be a majority, biologist J. M. Stutchbury noted that this "was 7 more than anybody else." Right you are, Doc.

[Via New York Times, image courtesy of PaulNoll]

XACT | TRAX personal tracking device requires no monthly subscription

by Darren Murph posted Jan 9th 2009 at 9:12AM

Your options are pretty wide open when it comes to personal GPS trackers, but Xact Technology is hoping to catch your heart by promising no monthly fees for its XACT | TRAX. Hailed as an ideal solution for keeping tabs on pets, loved ones, movable property, etc., the GPS tracking module relies on a proprietary, web based portal in order to see where your subject is and to set "geo-fences." Location requests can be sent via the web or SMS, and readouts are provided on an easy-to-read map along with physical address, date and time. Sadly, we've no price to share, but at least you can rest assured that the cost of entry is it.

Lok8u launches Nu?M8 GPS child locator watch at CES

by Darren Murph posted Jan 6th 2009 at 5:54PM

Little known Lok8u has traveled all the way from the UK to be in Vegas this week, but it's certainly not for the despicable reasons you think. In fact, the locations services company is setting up shop at CES in order to debut its Nu•M8 GPS child locator, a so-called "innovative new best friend for parents and children." The device is said to be the first of its kind created specifically to be worn by children with the technology "cleverly concealed within a child's digital watch." Granted, the styling is questionable for youngsters over 9 or 10, but by that age they ought to be toting their very own beeper, right? Of note, the watch will also send an alert if it's ever "forcibly removed," though it'll cost you £149.99 ($218) for the peace of mind come Spring.

Sony patent app details motion sensing break-apart controller

by Darren Murph posted Oct 31st 2008 at 12:49AM

We heard some pretty far-fetched stuff back in June to the tune of a break-apart DualShock 3, and lo and behold, it seems that someone at Sony Computer Entertainment America is taking the idea quite seriously. A recent patent application was filed by the company, and it fairly clearly lays out the very kind of design we'd (not really) been expecting. In essence, the gamepad would consist of two pieces, each of which would utilize an "ultrasonic tracking system" for some type of game console / peripheral to recognize 3D inputs. Best of all, the approach here sounds significantly different enough from what's used in the Wiimote that Sony could avoid months upon months of litigation -- imagine that, right? It's hard to say whether this stroke of genius will ever amount to anything, but at least there's a chance, however minuscule.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

Vladimir Putin finally acquires satellite collar for his dog

by Darren Murph posted Oct 18th 2008 at 2:46AM

Just under a year ago, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced his hopes that one day he could pinpoint the location of his black Labrador, Koni, at any time of the day. Today, a dream has been realized. Mr. Putin has finally procured a satellite collar that will enable him to track the lab regardless of which of the eleven times zones she may be in while waltzing through Russia. Once the collar was slipped on, Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov immediately said "she looks sad, her free life is over." Putin didn't miss a beat when snapping back: "In Soviet Russia, GLONASS track you!"

[Image courtesy of Picasa, thanks MJ]