Have PDA? Will Track Wild Animals

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.economist.co.uk/science/displayStory.cfm?story_id=2745545' target='_blank'>http://www.economist.co.uk/science/...tory_id=2745545</a><br /><br /></div>I spotted this in the <a href="http://www.economist.co.uk/">Economist</a> magazine the other day:<br /><br /><i>"CyberTracker is a hand-held device that lets users record what they see quickly and easily, and then plots maps showing exactly where the observations were made, using the Global Positioning Satellite navigation system. Mr Liebenberg's invention is designed to allow currently untapped expertise to be used when trained scientists are not around to note things down. Rangers, park guards and even well-informed tourists could use it to record handy data as they work or play. There are other advantages, too. Many expert trackers are illiterate, so CyberTracker uses only symbols and pictures. And it is cheap. The software to run it, which is now available for general use, can be downloaded from CyberTracker's website for nothing. All that is needed to run it is a mass-produced hand-held computer." </i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/Karoha.jpg" /><br /> <br />Looks good. Trouble is, when I went to the <a href="http://www.cybertracker.co.za/"> Cybertracker website</a>, it turned out that the only 'hand-held computer' they offer the software for, was PalmOS. :? It would be useful if Cybertracker ported the software to the Pocket PC, as PPCs are poised to <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=27498&amp;">overtake Palm</a> in terms of shipments very soon. :wink: (The point of the post is NOT Palm vs PPC, but rather the interesting use to which PDAs can be put etc. OK? :wink:) Cybertracker has proven useful for park rangers, conservation projects etc. and has even been used to track down muggers and improve management in hospitals! Now that's what I call a versatile piece of software!

[gorkon280]

All he's holding is a Handspring Visor Deluxe and a Magellan GPS Springboard. Only new thing is the software.

[MaximumPDA]

The Will Olsen of Paravis have a great app for the Pocket PC: http://www.pdatoday.com/more/109_0_1_0_C/

That;s actually the Bird app but here is the link for Game Tracker: http://www.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=3984 (non affliate) I checked for it on PPCT Handango store but they dont carry it.

They came to our club meeting a couple of years back. I have been meaning to ask them back to see what new stuff they are working on.

--Bill Landon

[Brad Adrian]

I can see all kinds of uses for this, if it really is that simple to use. For example, give a few hikers some of these tools and and they can periodically plot their location; in no time you'll have reliable trail maps. Or, give them to whoever it is responsible for our road care. They can drive around town, quickly collecting data about where all the potholes are.

This could be really great!

[Phoenix]

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/Karoha.jpg

This photo alone, to me, is amazing, but not surprising. Talk about a photo with contrasting elements.

He barely has money for decent clothes and a high quality bow and arrow, but he's sporting a handheld computer :lol: I think it's cool, but it just cracks me up. Technology certainly has made its rounds. :)

[Jonathon Watkins]

All he's holding is a Handspring Visor Deluxe and a Magellan GPS Springboard. Only new thing is the software.

Funnily enought - this post is in the 'Software' forum. Take a quess why? :wink:

Brad's got some interesting ideas about this software and that's the kind of thing I though would be interesting to talk about.

He barely has money for decent clothes and a high quality bow and arrow, but he's sporting a handheld computer I think it's cool, but it just cracks me up. Technology certainly has made its rounds.

And that's the other thing I thought was interseting........

Makes you think, doesn't it?

[jonathanchoo]

Without turning this into a flame war, maybe a old PalmOS device is useful for such activity because it uses AAA batteries and can last for up to 2 months normal usage. This is for use in such places like in parks and mountains that electricity sources are hard to come by. Just carry a couple of AAAs in your pocket and you are set to go. Newer Palms and PocketPCs has rather pathetic battery life. I can't even last 2 hours with my iPAQ at the beach surfing the web with WiFi turned on.

[maximus]

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/Karoha.jpg


Well, if he has a PDA, logic says that there is a big department store back where he came from. There is always a mcdonalds, starbuck or KFC in every department store. So, why does he still need to hunt for food ? He'd be better off spending his time using the PDA to browse the net, while sipping a cup of frappucino in starbuck ... afterall, hunting has an inherent risk of getting stampeded by animals, right ? :mrgreen: