Comments on: Local in a Ford Near You http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/01/15/local-in-a-ford-near-you/ Developing Knowledge about Local Search Wed, 23 May 2012 20:49:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: G P S Tracking http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/01/15/local-in-a-ford-near-you/comment-page-1/#comment-416180 G P S Tracking Thu, 13 Aug 2009 07:25:22 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2177#comment-416180 One of the problems with the Ford Sync model for tracking GPS position is, as you say, it requires a voice plan with a carrier like Spring or AT&T. We actually find that many people are interested in service models that do not require contracts with carriers simply for providing location data. The alternative for vehicle tracking or position monitoring with GPS is to broadcast location data not over cellular but over radio frequencies. It is a lower cost alternative and not subject to the oversight of the cell carriers. Good post. -Mike One of the problems with the Ford Sync model for tracking GPS position is, as you say, it requires a voice plan with a carrier like Spring or AT&T. We actually find that many people are interested in service models that do not require contracts with carriers simply for providing location data. The alternative for vehicle tracking or position monitoring with GPS is to broadcast location data not over cellular but over radio frequencies. It is a lower cost alternative and not subject to the oversight of the cell carriers.

Good post.

-Mike

]]> By: martijn beijk http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/01/15/local-in-a-ford-near-you/comment-page-1/#comment-322708 martijn beijk Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:21:47 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2177#comment-322708 @Mike I believe Volvo already has a system where it prevents the car from being started when it detects alcohol in your breath :) And a couple of years ago I was prototyping (university) a system with bluetooth/GPS/mobilephone to automatically warn emergency services in case of a collision (sensors : airbags, belts, etc ). All reported accidents were plotted on a Google Map using the API and all the data from database (each accident got stored..). I love these developments, and actually that project was what dragged me into Google Maps ! @Mike
I believe Volvo already has a system where it prevents the car from being started when it detects alcohol in your breath :)

And a couple of years ago I was prototyping (university) a system with bluetooth/GPS/mobilephone to automatically warn emergency services in case of a collision (sensors : airbags, belts, etc ).
All reported accidents were plotted on a Google Map using the API and all the data from database (each accident got stored..).

I love these developments, and actually that project was what dragged me into Google Maps !

]]> By: Mike Blumenthal http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/01/15/local-in-a-ford-near-you/comment-page-1/#comment-320949 Mike Blumenthal Fri, 16 Jan 2009 22:39:17 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2177#comment-320949 @Miriam Or philandering spouses tracked to their rendezvous :) Mike @Miriam

Or philandering spouses tracked to their rendezvous :)

Mike

]]> By: MiriamEllis http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/01/15/local-in-a-ford-near-you/comment-page-1/#comment-320944 MiriamEllis Fri, 16 Jan 2009 22:36:36 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2177#comment-320944 Haha! I hadn't thought of that. Good points, Martijn and Mike. The world is really changing. A couple of weeks ago, there was a story about a cell phone location being used to find a missing child. Now car thieves will captured by dint of GPS. Strange goings on. Amazing to be seeing. Miriam Haha! I hadn’t thought of that. Good points, Martijn and Mike.

The world is really changing. A couple of weeks ago, there was a story about a cell phone location being used to find a missing child. Now car thieves will captured by dint of GPS. Strange goings on. Amazing to be seeing.

Miriam

]]> By: Mike http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/01/15/local-in-a-ford-near-you/comment-page-1/#comment-320585 Mike Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:12:18 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2177#comment-320585 @Miriam Perhaps the voice system also prevents you from accessing the internet when you're drunk. :). I would agree with Martijn, that this would not be the ideal car to steal and use in a bank robbery. Although on a more serious note, the privacy issues are monumental. Mike @Miriam

Perhaps the voice system also prevents you from accessing the internet when you’re drunk. :) .

I would agree with Martijn, that this would not be the ideal car to steal and use in a bank robbery. Although on a more serious note, the privacy issues are monumental.

Mike

]]> By: Martijn http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/01/15/local-in-a-ford-near-you/comment-page-1/#comment-320581 Martijn Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:06:39 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2177#comment-320581 @Miriam In that case you would be able to track your stolen car <i>because</i> it has phone/GPS capabilities! and bet you can always secure some personal info with a PIN. @Miriam
In that case you would be able to track your stolen car because it has phone/GPS capabilities!

and bet you can always secure some personal info with a PIN.

]]> By: MiriamEllis http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/01/15/local-in-a-ford-near-you/comment-page-1/#comment-320437 MiriamEllis Fri, 16 Jan 2009 08:50:04 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2177#comment-320437 Gosh, how fascinating. Your comment about the pizza parlor made me laugh, Mike. But, does this mean if someone stole your car with your phone in it, someone could get access to all of your 'stuff'? Cars do get stolen all the time, as do cell phones. What would happen in such an event? Miriam Gosh, how fascinating.

Your comment about the pizza parlor made me laugh, Mike.

But, does this mean if someone stole your car with your phone in it, someone could get access to all of your ‘stuff’? Cars do get stolen all the time, as do cell phones. What would happen in such an event?

Miriam

]]> By: Popular News http://blumenthals.com/blog/2009/01/15/local-in-a-ford-near-you/comment-page-1/#comment-320162 Popular News Fri, 16 Jan 2009 03:31:28 +0000 http://blumenthals.com/blog/?p=2177#comment-320162 Hmmm Ive always liked driving ford cars. Good news that this wont go the way of the detroit lions... Hmmm Ive always liked driving ford cars. Good news that this wont go the way of the detroit lions…

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