| |
Nathan Rodriguez, nrodriguez@vailtrail.com
July 9, 2008
Global Positioning Systems (GPS) have been around in one form or another since the Soviet Union launched Sputnik more than 50 years ago.
For decades the military used the technology, and it has proven to be a successful tool in disaster response. But for most people, GPS hasn’t seeped into daily life. Sure, some high-end vehicles have them, and more backcountry hikers are using them. But they’re not as prevalent as, say, the iPod.
That could change in the next couple years.
Corporate heavyweights Apple and Google have recently jumped into the GPS game. The new iPhone hits store shelves this weekend at half the cost of the original, and features GPS capability. Meanwhile, Google signed an agreement last week with Tele Atlas for navigation content. Although Google already had a primitive system in place, it can now offer turn-by-turn navigation.
The Center for Transportation Studies in Minnesota predicts there will be more than 50 million GPS users by 2010, and research from ABI Research, a technology research firm, shows global shipments of GPS devices are expected to double in less than five years.
Locally, sales are up. Wristwatches with GPS and hand-held devices “have been gaining in popularity and are definitely still on the rise,” said Dan Bogarduf, manager of Bag & Pack Shop in Avon. “We’ve seen a big increase in sales over the last couple years, but this year especially. It’s gaining momentum.”
It’s not just that current technology will become more popular, it’s that GPS is being integrated into more devices. GPS will likely remain a constant feature in vehicles, but now it’s being used in everything from tractors to cameras to dog collars. It’s worth taking a glance at the innovations now entering the market.
In-car information
Many GPS devices provide traffic and weather information, but more are beginning to carry things like movie theater showtimes and local gas prices.
“Most of the big advances right now are related to Internet connectivity,” said Tim Flight, editor and owner of the Web site GPSreview.net. He went on to say that a permanent connection to the Internet will become more common in vehicles, allowing people to “find a number of things like gas prices, homes for sale nearby, weather and traffic information.”
Earlier this year, Dash Express software was released, offering live traffic information using embedded road sensors. The feature is sexier than it sounds, as users can view average speed on roads in real-time to determine the quickest route based on traffic flow.
Live crowd movements
CitySense maps where GPS users are concentrated in cities allow anyone in business or marketing to identify “hot spots” in cities. Soon, people will be able to analyze their travel history and see where friends travel. Another slick feature is if CitySense determines there are larger crowds (worse traffic) than usual, it can adjust your alarm clock by a few minutes. The application is available on BlackBerrys as well as the new iPhone.
Avoiding high-crime areas
In Japan, Honda has a GPS system that gives directions to avoid “bad neighborhoods,” or areas with high rates of vandalism and auto theft.
Will we see this in the U.S. anytime soon?
“It’s definitely something that consumers are interested in because people use GPS in areas they’re unfamiliar with,” Flight said. “There’s some hesitation right now due to political correctness, so I think we’ll see the user community establish it first with their own files.”
Trucking
Motorola just completed a study showing GPS could save the trucking industry $53 billion annually by providing data on things such as low bridges.
“There’s an untapped market right now,” Flight said.
Agriculture
Farmers have used GPS for years, but the practice has only recently gained traction on midsized and smaller farms. Having GPS in a tractor ensures straight rows that don’t overlap, which reduces fuel, time, chemicals and product. Though this may seem like overkill under clear conditions, the technology can come in handy as the sun goes down or blustery winds blur visibility.
Most systems have manual guidance, which tells the operator how much to correct the steering, but the assisted steering systems are even more impressive because after the first initial pass is made by the farmer, the tractor takes over, steering itself through the remaining rows.
Real estate
A few Internet sites offer downloadable “Points of Interest” of homes for sale. Homebuyers upload the information to a GPS device, and as they drive past a place, an audio recording kicks on with information about the location.
Personal safety
Remember those “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” commercials? Well, now “personal beacons” are being marketed as a lifesaver for hikers in distress. The technology is slightly different than GPS, as one receives information and the other transmits.
Flight said most personal beacons are able to transmit signals where GPS devices would not function, adding they can pinpoint a position within 10 meters, even if the view is obstructed.
“They keep a track log of where you’ve been and how long you’ve been there, so you will still have a last-known location,” Flight said.
“I think everyone remembers the story of Aaron Ralston,” said Steven Lundholm, sales associate at Bag & Pack in Avon, referring to the hiker forced to cut off part of his arm after being pinned under a boulder in Utah. “Now he’s the biggest spokesman for personal beacons.”
Children and pets
In addition to protecting yourself, GPS-type devices are now advertised as the solution to prevent losing a child or pet. Instead of milk cartons or homemade posters, people will be able to set up a tracking device that activates when your child or pet leaves a specific zone. With these systems, kids generally wear a wristwatch while dogs sport a collar.
Cameras
In what may be the most interesting new wrinkle, some cameras now have GPS. Snap a photo, and the navigational coordinates are automatically stored.
It’s easy to envision software that allows users to organize photos either chronologically or geographically. Hiking trails could become well documented.
Once GPS becomes common in cameras, expect to see virtual libraries containing massive photographic databases of locations around the world. Social networking sites like Facebook will likely provide applications for users to search their friends’ photos by location. Online travel sites may take advantage as well, enhancing their ability to preview destinations and accommodations.
Finally, there are a couple advances for in-car GPS technology worth mentioning.
First, they’ll have a new look. “Suction cups with cords hanging down isn’t a long-term solution,” Flight said, laughing. “One of the disadvantages of a typical GPS system, especially those installed at the factory, is that you have to look down to see it.”
And while this may remain the case for the next few years, help is on the way. A New Jersey company has developed Virtual Cable, which projects a 3-D image on the windshield that appears to be suspended over the road ahead. Now instead of being told to turn in 500 feet, the software shows the exact path to make the turn. Flight said the technology is “still several years down the road.”
In the meantime, people can set their sights on something a little more geek-chic: “Knight Rider.” Next month, Mio will release an in-car navigation system featuring the voice of William Daniels, “Knight Rider’s” Kitt. There are 300 names stored in the device, to add a personal touch. At $270, the device also has a Trans Am icon to mark progress on the journey, as well as red LED lights that flash as Kitt voices instructions.
Pretty soon, will it be possible to say no one will get lost again?
Nathan Rodriguez can be reached for comment at nrodriguez@vailtrail.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment