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Shopaholics get help curbing their spending with a new GPS-tracking handbag.

Whether a shopper is suffering from an actual addiction to shopping or simply can’t pass up a good deal, there’s a new “smart bag” that stands to offer benefits to anyone with a shopping problem.

On the outside, the new bag looks just like a regular handbag. But on the inside, modern technology takes over by using a GPS tracker.

Using global positioning software (GPS) for more than just navigational purposes isn’t new, but this is the first of its kind using GPS to thwart excessive spending. Not only does the hi-tech bag have tracking capabilities, but it also includes a radio sensor and has the ability to “lock down,” which prevents the owner of the bag opening it to retrieve money or credit cards.

The creator of the iBag is an Australian credit card service, called Credit Card Finder (creditcardfinder.com.au). As a company providing credit card comparison services to its visitors, it knows a lot about credit card spending. Their primary goal is to help people put a stop to excessive spending, particularly with credit cards. Read the rest of this entry »

There’s no doubt GPS fleet tracking technology improves business costs by reducing how much is spent to operate a fleet of vehicles. But now we also know that fleet operators are also highly satisfied with their use of GPS fleet management systems, according to a new study conducted by C.J. Driscoll & Associates, a GPS and wireless products marketing consultant and research firm.

C.J. Driscoll & Associates has compiled data for a new research study to identify the satisfaction level of fleet owners and managers utilizing GPS fleet tracking technology.

The survey, called the 2013-14 Survey of Fleet Operator Interest in MRM Systems and Services, compiled data from more than 500 fleet businesses throughout the United States, looking at those that were using this advanced technology in the fleets, particularly mobile resource management (MRM) systems (which includes GPS fleet management, GPS asset management, location-based services (LBS), and consumer telematics.) Read the rest of this entry »

Researchers use GPS technology to warn people of severe storms before they occur.

The current winter season is proving to be a record-breaking one with harsh winds, severe snowstorms and ice storms, and possibly more to come. This is just another reason to add to the existing reasons of why advanced technology like GPS tracking is so important.

Researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography recently announced how they are using modern technology for predicting severe weather patterns before they occur.

The method researchers are using is through piggybacking of technology. They are accessing GPS satellite stations that are located in various spots in Southern California, and using these networks to gather information for upcoming winter storms. This is possible because at many satellite stations, they have the ability to measure tectonic plates with sensors for seismic and meteorological uses. The same technology can be used for potentially hazardous events and perils, like a severe snowstorm. Read the rest of this entry »

Who knew? New GPS tracking technology helps scientist discover why birds often fly in a “V” formation.

It is no mystery that birds often fly in a V formation when in flocks, and there have been many theories as to why that is. Now, thanks to GPS tracking technology, the answer is no longer simply speculation. The technology has led researchers to the conclusion that they do so on purpose, in order to improve their aerodynamics.

When birds fly in the V formation, they typically beat their wings at precisely the same time. This allows them to take advantage of upwash from the flow of air at the edge of their wings, improving their aerodynamics as they fly. Read the rest of this entry »

A new study in Torrance, New Mexico asks for participants to track their daily activity with a GPS tracker.

The participants come from Torrance County in New Mexico, and are volunteering for a new health study. Each person who participates in the study will carry a GPS tracker during the upcoming summer. The GPS tracking device will track the participant’s movements and location throughout a typical day. The main focus of the study is to look at the health choices of people in local rural communities, particularly the poor choices people facing obesity have in a normal day.

Corina Chavez-Neish, a home economist form the New Mexico State University, says the study will track eating, exercise and what is available to the participants in their area. If they have barriers as far as safe places to exercise or healthy eating options, the study will hopefully help them find alternatives. One example Chavez-Neish uses is the many dirt roads in this community makes it difficult to walk or run. Read the rest of this entry »