Tom Tracker
Tom was last seen at the following location:
[ View Gmap-Track site directly ]
What is the Tom Tracker?
This is somewhat of a cellular phone based version of the Automatic Position Reporting System, which itself is based on amateur radio. Basically, these are methods by which GPS-enabled mobile units report their positions to some central site. This site then displays to others the locations of the mobile units. It provides location-based tracking of mobile units as well as the means for others to view that information.
What equipment are you using?
1) Phone:
In 2007, I finally hopped back into 2003 and got a cell phone. Before I made the plunge, though, I researched phones for features I wanted. I didn’t need one with a crappy camera or a crappy media player. On the other hand, “tom-proof” ruggedness, an old school extending antenna, and GPS were high on my list. I found that combination in the Sanyo SCP-7050. It claims to offer true and “autonomous” GPS which means that it gets position information from the sky rather than cell towers and should work where there is no cell service.
Presumably, any other GPS-enabled phone with Java J2ME support should work. In the absence of an integrated device, a bluetooth phone paired with a bluetooth GPS should work as well.
2) Mapping Application: Mobile GMaps
This is a lightweight J2ME midlet that you install onto your GPS-enabled phone. It has two views: one is a little compass with an arrow to show your heading. The second is a zoomable map view centered on your position. Both views have read-outs of your latitude/longitude/heading/speed.
For maps to show up on your phone, you need to be within a cellular service area, as mgmaps pulls that data via a web connection (make sure you have a data/web plan!).
Finally, you set the application to report your position to the web site.
3) Tracking Site: Gmap - Track
When you register, you get a user name (in my case I chose my amateur radio callsign, KB9IQX) as well as a private tracking ID that you punch into the phone. The ID somewhat acts like a password to uniquely identify the phone/user as yourself.
That’s it. Pretty painless.
Why compromise your privacy by being tracked?
First and foremost, your own mobile transmits your vague position to the cellular network whenever it is switched on. By law, emergency services have to be able to locate you should you make a 911 call. So, as long as your phone is already broadcasting your location, the least it could do is have the decency to do it in a way useful to you, no?
Secondly, position reporting in such a public forum as the Tom Tracker is not switched on by default. First, my phone has to be running the mapping application. Then, it has to be told to report my position to the web site. Essentially, I have complete control over when I report my position to the public.
Why do it, then?
1) Safety.
I run around taking photographs. I walk all over and sometimes poke my nose into places where I should perhaps not stick my nose. Just in case something happens, I want to be able to have my position reported so that loved ones and authorities have a lead to go on.
2) High geek factor.
Whenever I decide that I want to report my position, I have the means to publish that real-time information and my friends have the means to see it.
