You FindME / I FindU

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://jprestonsystems.2mydns.com/' target='_blank'>http://jprestonsystems.2mydns.com/</a><br /><br /></div><i>"You may already have everything you need for a personal tracking solution. You will need a Pocket PC running Windows Mobile 2003, a GPS receiver attached to it, and a cellphone paired with the Pocket PC. The Pocket PC will send GPS position reports to a server via the cellphone's internet connection. Let your family keep track of where you are in real time from any web browser, or keep track of them. I use it to keep tabs on my 17 year old daughter when she borrows the car."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20041107-FindME.jpg" /><br /><br />Well, no matter what your intentions are – if you've been searching for a personal (and might I add <b>FREE</b>) GPS tracking service, this may be of interest to you. Using an application called findMe, your GPS position is sent to a server called <a href="http://www.findu.com">findU</a> and anyone with a web browser can track your location. Now if the 17 year old daughter was smart, she'd turn off the GPS receiver; but then this software would be made redundant, wouldn't it? :P<br /><br />The developer strictly states that this tracking system is purely for entertainment purposes. I'd like to think so too...

[OSUKid7]

Now if the 17 year old daughter was smart, she'd turn off the GPS receiver; but then this software would be made redundant, wouldn't it? :P

The developer strictly states that this tracking system is purely for entertainment purposes. I'd like to think so too...
This 17 year old son would not go for this. :lol: This could be useful in some instances, but this really touches on invasion of privacy. If I really wanted people to know where I was (or where other people were), I'd pick up the cellphone and call them! :lol: I'm all for new GPS gadgets, but these locator-type devices aren't sitting well with me yet.

I suppose some day every cellphone will have a GPS chip turned on by default. Once RFIDs become prevalent, you'll be able to tell where nearly everything you own (or someone else owns ;)) is. The plus is you should never lose anything, but is that really worth the loss of privacy? Hmm...kinda got OT there, but anyway...back to the 17 year old girl. ;) :lol:

[Darius Wey]

This 17 year old son would not go for this. :lol: This could be useful in some instances, but this really touches on invasion of privacy.

Privacy! That was the exact same thing I was thinking of when I was typing the post. Yet interesting nonetheless, so I decided to go ahead with it anyway...

It's just nice to see all these different GPS developments popping up here and there. Its use certainly has boomed over the past few years.

[JoshB]

Actually, it looks like this system is based on a location system used by Amateur Radio (Ham) enthusiasts, to keep track of each other (possibly during search and rescue operations, etc.), rather than a Big Brother-eque attempt at invading someone's privacy.

There's a bit of effort involved in setting it up, so I imagine that most participation is strictly voluntary.

[hamishmacdonald]

"Computer, where is Mr Smith?"

"Mister Smith has flushed his com-badge down the toilet."

"Dang!" (*searches for flashlight, knowing he's going to end up looking in the Jeffries tubes all night*)

~

Geez, I really geeked out there for a minute.

[bigray327]

It'd be cool to run this in the background on our way to visit the parents, so they can quit calling and asking where we are. I can see a problem with this program and Mapopolis (for instance) both using the GPS at the same time, though. I'll have to look into that.

[oxcarz]

Just a little update on this project. It DID start out as a way for licensed HAM radio operators to use their APRS location system. But since it used cellphones, no license was needed. One of the guys who runs gpsPassion wrote a positive article on the software and I went from having a dozen HAMS using my server to over 400 people. The article was in French, and almost all the folks trying to use it were in Europe. Apparently, GPRS is popular over there. I had to shut the server down.

SO......You can still set this tracking system up, but you have to go through that hassle of setting up your own IIS server. It's included in Windows XP pro, but it can be a pain to setup. Although I did write up a step-by-step how-to which should help. The pocketPC software is easy to use and setup.

You download the server software, set up your server, then use the pocketPC program to send data to the server. It's all free and you can get it at:

www.geocities.com/oxcarz12

How its used (or abused) is another issue. I have heard some interesting stories, mostly involving the guys in Europe tracking wives/girlfreinds, etc. The way I use it: I stick my pocketPC and a bluetooth GPS receiver in my wife's car. It uses her cellphone (SOny Ericcson T610) to send her position to my server every 30 seconds while she is moving. I go to a web page from any browser, and I can see a breadcrumb track of where she has been as well as her current postion. I do it with her permission, and would never track her or anyone without their consent. My wife actualy LIKES that I can see where she is. SHe says she feels secure, and that I can help her if she gets lost.....which is often.