Geocaching
July 2, 2009
Almost all of you might have played hide-n-seek or treasure hunt in your childhood years and might have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and adventure of the game. Growing up doesn’t have to necessarily mean losing the joy and excitement of going on a treasure hunt or playing the age-old hide-n-seek games. You can play it the adult way; Geocaching using sat navs. This is a high-tech treasure hunt game that can be played by the adventurous lot anywhere across the world.
To understand Geocaching, one needs to firstly understand what is meant by the term geocaching. It is a combination of two words; geo short for geography, and caching which indicates the process of hiding a cache. Cache is referred to a hiding place for concealing and preserving things.
The game starts of with a geocacher hiding a geocache anywhere in the world. There are certain points to be taken into consideration while placing a geocache. These geocaches are to be placed in waterproof containers and it must include a log book, a pen, and some sort of treasures. The exact location is determined using GPS technology and this information is shared online with millions of users. Anyone can go out on a treasure hunt and try to locate the geocache after getting the information about its co-ordinates from the internet. You can set-out on the treasure hunt with the help of a hand-held satellite navigator that supports geocaching functionality. The GPS system gets an accurate fix from the satellites that include information about the altitudes, latitudes and longitudes. Anyone on a geocache trail can record their feats in their logbook as well as online.
The geocaches may not carry high monetary value, but they definitely hold oodles of personal value. The products placed as geocaches can be almost anything ranging from antique coins, old currency of the 15th and 16th century, CDs, rare books, etc. There are three major rules that are to be followed by anyone whoever participates in this treasure hunt game. Firstly, the finder must leave behind something of equal or higher value while taking anything from the cache. Secondly, you need to record the details of your findings in the logbook. And finally, you must log your experience in the geocaching website. Also the cache should not be moved from the original location, the rights exist only with the owner. However if you have a better location for placing the cache, you can note it in its logbook.
Types of GeoCaches : - The geocaches can be classified into three major categories. Most of the geocache variants fall into any one of these kinds.
- Traditional : This is the basic type of cache that includes a logbook, and some trackable item. The major difference between a traditional cache and the others is that the cache will be found at the specified co-ordinates and involves only one stage.
- Multi-Cache : As the name suggests, it involves more than one stage in geocaching. There can be many intermediate points where one leads to the other and the final point contains the logbook with the cache item.
- Mystery or Puzzle : This involves the finders to be able to correctly decode the mystery and puzzle information in order to find the location of the cache. It can involve one or more stages.
Problems Encountered while Geocaching
Although, this is legal, there may be a few problems when one sets out on this type of treasure hunt. Many a times, cachers have been questioned by police when they find them acting suspiciously. Sometimes the cache may have been placed on private property. This invites trespassers. There have been a few issues in cases where the cache has been placed in schools and the teacher or student happens to find it. Sometimes the cache may be mistaken for bombs and have been destroyed by the bomb squads leading to a missing cache when the finder tries to locate it. It may also be mistaken to be a drug stash.
Apart from these few issues, geocaching is definitely a fun-filled outdoor game that can be enjoyed by people of all age groups, who possess an adventurous sat nav with geocaching facilities.
SiRF’s Multifunctional Chipset – SiRFprima
July 1, 2009
These days almost every vehicle comes with a satellite navigator and people are becoming more addicted to navigational units. Last year SiRF announced its multifunctional chip-set and named it SiRFprima. This multifunctional platform was introduced to enhance the customer experience in the navigational sector. With the GPS systems likely to fail by 2010, it is mandate that the navigational chip-set must be compatible with the other navigational satellite systems such as Galileo. This factor was taken into consideration while designing SiRFprima, thus this new chip-set has been configured to be compatible with both American GPS and European Galileo systems.
The SiRFprima platform is made up of a powerful application processor and good multimedia features that include not just audio and video recording but also playback abilities. Furthermore, it is also believed to be capable of handling high resolution 3D graphics. All these applications have been programmed to run concurrently. It supports both Win CE and Linux operating systems. This makes SiRFprima a highly flexible and cost-effective navigational platform that has been designed to meet the customer experiences when it comes to performance and accuracy.
The SiRFprima platform is equipped with a very-high speed multifunction processor that includes the advanced ARM11 core and a good performance engine compatible with Galileo and GPS satellite systems along with an on-chip digital signal processor (DSP) and a satellite tracking circuit. For providing multimedia functionalities, multimedia encoding and decoding engines have been incorporated along with a hardware accelerated 3D graphics system. Its hardware scalable engine consists of more than 1,000,000 correlators. Besides it is one of the first applications that is capable of simultaneously working with GPS and Galileo signals. It has been specifically designed to support SiRF’s patented GPS technology, hence it includes a dedicated accelerator for the SiRFInstantFixII technology.
As this SiRFprima platform is integrated with lot many applications, it has eliminated the need of many additional coprocessors, thereby reducing the bill-of-material (BOM) cost for all of its customers. Along with cost reduction, the integration of various applications into one single chip-set has reduced the complexity of the board design. SiRFprima is believed to be capable of delivering all the necessary technologies with increased amount of user flexibility.
Owing to all these qualities it has currently become one of the most sought after navigational platforms.
Nav-Mat – A One-Stop Solution to Sat Nav Crimes
June 30, 2009
With more number of people owning sat nav devices, there are bound to be sucker ring marks on the wind-shield of the vehicle. These marks attract thieves to break-in to the cars causing a lot of damage to life and property. Now a simple and novel device has been designed to combat sat nav crime. This is the Nav-Mat which can be placed on the dashboard. The satellite navigator can be comfortably nestled inside it. This prevents any kind of mark on the dashboard or the wind-shield.
It comes with an anti-skid bottom that prevents the unit from sliding from the dashboard. Additionally, it has contoured and weighted edges that makes a perfect seating arrangement for your portable satellite navigator. This Nav-Mat serves two purposes. Along with keeping the dashboard free of ring and sucker marks, it also provides the driver with a clearer view of the GPS device. Although it has been designed to hold hand-held sat nav units, it can also be used to securely place other electronic gadgets such as the mobile phones.
This Nav-Mat has been highly rated by each and everyone who have been using it. It is considered as a one-stop solution to all the major sat nav crimes that is happening day in and day out. It does not require any kind of installations or fastenings that makes it highly convenient to move from one vehicle to another. With a price tag of just £19.99, it is a small price to pay for safety of your expensive satellite navigational unit.
Sat Nav – A Boon or Bane
June 20, 2009
As per a survey, satellite navigation systems have been blamed for causing about 300,000 accidents in Britain. Moreover, around 1.5 million drivers have taken a sharp or illegal turn in congested traffic zone whilst following its instructions. Added to that many have been sent down a one-way street or a narrow lane. Such incidents cause huge amount of damage to life and property.
Ideally, in-car navigational systems have been designed to assist people in getting from A to B safely and quickly, but of late it is proving to be more of a hindrance. Almost half of Britain’s driving population have been found to use GPS units to get to their destination. satellite navigators are in fact making people to follow them slavishly resulting in accidents and mishaps. Almost everyday the news is filled with accidents occurring due to drivers blindly following a sat nav unit.
While they are here to help you, you still need to understand that it is after all a gadget and cannot be completely relied on. If it is telling you to take a turn then do make a note of any road signs that state the lane to be a one-way lane or a restricted zone. Trust your instincts rather than just act as a puppet to the GPS system. After the damage is caused is there any use blaming the gadget for the error; the loss to life and property cannot be undone.
Why Accidents Might Happens while Using Sat Nav Units ???
Although the manufacturers advise against it, many users read the maps or programme the route while driving. This makes them to loose concentration on the road inturn losing control of the vehicle. Some drivers have also admitted to have changed the course of route while driving. This led them to ignore the vehicle coming towards them leading to collision. Few others choose to ignore the road signs that are placed en-route. Some roads and lanes may have height and width restrictions which would be displayed on a signboard, but drivers easily choose to neglect it. Only when they are caught they realise their folly and then blame the gizmo for it.
Preventive Measures
- Firstly, understand that it is you who is driving and not the gadget. Thus it is your responsibility to ensure that you do not commit an offence or crime, which means that you follow the road safety rules and read and follow the road signs.
- Next, trust your instincts. If you feel the road or lane is unfit for your vehicle and yet the device advises you to go through it then do not take it. There have been several instances of vehicle being stuck on a wrong lane or under a bridge etc.
- Get a GPS unit that has been designed for your vehicle. If you are using a truck or trailer then get one that can be configured such that it will guide you through lanes suited for HDVs.
- Always ensure that you concentrate on the road while driving. Plane and programme your route before you start the journey. If you need to change the course then it would be better to halt and then reprogramme the unit rather than do it while on the go.
- Place the sat nav where you can clearly read its instructions and directions. However do ensure that it does not block your view of the road.
- These days satellite navigators are coming with lots of useful features such as voice control, Bluetooth, etc. Make use of them for optimum navigational experience.
- Keep the device updated. Ensure that the maps are up-to-date.
Finally, remember that the gadget has been designed to guide you. You are the master and you have the deciding authority. Do not let go of this power, it is you who needs to make the final decision as your safety and the safety of many others on the road is in your hands.
MOND2 launched by Telmap for Mobile Navigation
June 18, 2009
Telmap is a leader when it comes to mobile mapping and navigational solutions. It has an excellent track record for providing innovative navigational solutions. With more and more phones coming with navigational properties, it is important to have a compatible mobile navigational software. Telmap navigator is one such GPS navigational solution that runs on all the major mobile platforms. Now the latest addition by Telmap is the MOND2, which is the next generation of MOND mobile navigational application software.
MOND stands for Mobile Optimised Navigation Data, and is Telmap’s patented technology. This technology allows for smooth and optimised experience in case of mobile navigation that is independent of the service provider. Telmap said that it has performed a complete analysis of more than one billion journeys that was designed using their own routing and navigational services. The result of this analysis has propelled them to launch a technology that is all set to optimise the mapping information in case of mobile navigational activities. In fact, with the help of this technology, Telmap has been able to provide the best of services intelligently in a cost effective way. This service is made available to both low-end and high-end mobile devices.
The latest MOND2 technology boasts of having Telmap’s latest innovations that aims at taking the mobile navigational application over and above the ones that are currently available. The CEO of Telmap Oren Nissim believes that technology is just half of the present challenge. The main responsibility stands in modulating and restructuring the navigational application to suit the unique aspects of the mobile handset. Thus Telmap’s current and primary focus is to create a highly customised and personalised location experience that the user can use to go almost anywhere he or she wishes. Also it should be able to cater to all modes of transport not just the car.
Many other wireless navigational applications download the route that is requested by the user. In case the user gets diverted from the specified path, then the device needs to reconnect and perform the task of downloading the new route details. On the contrary, the MOND2 technology comes with the ability to automatically adjust the change in the route information without the need to recalculate the new route or download any extra data. Owing to this feature, it is able to prevent delay in the user’s navigational activity. This experience is not deterred even if the user utilises any other application of the handset.
Due to its constant innovative applications, Telmap has become the numero uno choice for mobile navigational and mapping applications. It is reported to have outdone even Nokia maps, Garmin or TomTom in the field of mobile navigational applications. It was awarded the “Life on Blackberry” award by the Research In Motion (RIM) in November 2008 in Monaco. This award identifies Telmap’s contribution to the novel experience a user gets when using a Blackberry device as well as the overall product differentiation it has added to the Blackberry platform.
