How Location Tracking Works

by Kevin Bonsor
source:http://people.howstuffworks.com/location-tracking.htm

...................Conceptual Idea:::::::::...........

As children playing hide and seek , there seemed to be so many places where we could hide and never be found. With the world becoming ever smaller through technology, hiding is increasingly difficult. Cameras peer down on us at red lights, in our workplace, in stores and even at home. Now, those cameras are being augmented by new technologies that track our cars, cell phones and possibly any product we buy.

This location-tracking technology also is being used to streamline supply chains for corporations, seeking to move products to the market faster, and to monitor assets and prevent inventory loss. Soon, companies also will be able to track your location. Imagine walking through your local supermarkets, and as you pass through the aisle, an electronic coupon for your favorite cereal is beamed to your phone.

However, many privacy advocates are worried about the implications of these new surveillance systems. Such technology means that marketers and others could know your whereabouts at any time.

...................Current Technology:::::::::...........
by Kevin Bonsor
source:http://people.howstuffworks.com/location-tracking1.htm
Current technologies being used to create location-tracking and location-based systems include:

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) :
  

• Global Positioning System (GPS) :
  
  might be useful: GPS info in list
  

• Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

• Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) :
  
  

Any location tracking or location-based service system will use one or a combination of these technologies. The system requires that a node or tag be placed on the object, animal or person being tracked. For example, the GPS receiver in a cell phone or an RFID tag on a DVD can be used to track those devices with a detection system such as GPS satellites or RFID receivers.