Satellite Navigation System Could Collapse by 2012: US Government
May 29, 2009
The US government has expressed their concern over the danger of the satellite navigation systems in the world breaking down within 2012. The concern that the twenty year old system of global positioning was heading to a break down has been not only pestering the officials, but also has spread to the reach of the commoner. It is yet to be analysed how the news will affect the sales of the sat nav devices throughout the world.
The whole episode was unearthed by a research conducted by GAO of the US (Government Accountability Office of the US), which admonished that atleast a handful of satellites were rapidly approaching their expiry date, particularly for the lack of investment compounded by mismanagement. In case of the inevitable happening, millions of sat nav consumers in the world will obviously be at the receiving end predominantly, even as the national security as well as the military segments would also feel the impact.
The Air Force of the United States has been overseeing the satellite sector, since early 1990s. It has been reported that the US Air Force is at present spending billions to revive the system to an up-to-date status. However, GAO has chastised the satellite maintaining authority fro overspending and delays that are putting the entire system in jeopardy. This argument of the GAO is based on the fact that the first replacement system, the launch of which was due in 2007 had been severally delayed to finally shedule for 2009 November.
In the UK as well, sat nav devices has evolved into nothing less than a routine in the peoples’ lives. It will be tough on these people if a sat nav breakdown occurs abruptly. The GPS analyst of Satellite Navigation, Akeila Kahn opined that the numerous unsavourable sat nav misleading episodes in the UK can be, to an extent linked to the degraded state of the satellite system, which hampers the accuracy of even the most advanced sat navs.
Navman Mio Spirit SatNav Range Launched in the UK
May 19, 2009
Navman and Mio have introduced their first and flagship satellite navigation system to the sat nav market of the UK, as a joint company. Three sat nav models will be launched initially as part of a broader ‘Spirit’ satnav range launch by the Mio Navman brand. The spirit range satnavs have emplyed a fresh software with a view to provide the user the required services in just a few taps on the display.
TruMap mapware is complimented by Junction View feature and NavPix photo navigation to enable easier reading of the maps in the Spirit models. Apart from these, a range of new features such as Google Wcities and Local Travel Books and Explore mode are also boasted by the satnav range. According to the manufacturer, these features would help the drivers to befriend with their location more conveniently.
The new features, according to Mio Navman would help the satnavs to provide the smoothest navigating experience with their ability to find POIs, along with a detailed list on where to visit, eat, and stay, and contact information for local businesses. Moreover, the company also claims that the Spirit satnavs can be used even used outside the vehicles, owing to their 2D city maps projecting Pedestrian mode.
Of the lot, Mio Navigon Spirit 300 Traffic SatNav is the base model that comes with a 3.5 inch display, as Spirit Flat SatNav and Spirit 500 would come with 4.7 inch displays complying with widescreen aspect ratio. The higher end models would also accommodate handsfree calling enabled by Bluetooth, weather information via AccuWeather and roadside assistance.
Although no word has been let out regarding the launch-date of the Spirit sat-nav models, Spirit 300 would be hitting the market with a price tag of GBP129.99. The prices of the higher-end models will be starting from GBP149.99.
Garmin’s Latest Oregon 550 and 550T Sat Navs
May 12, 2009
Garmin has launched in the US, a couple of satellite navigation devices namely Garmin Oregon 550 Sat Nav and Garmin Oregon 550T Sat Nav. Garmin boasts these models complying with the term versatility, apart from being fortified with powerful features suiting perfect navigation. The sat nav is designed lightweight at just 192 grams of weight.
Both the models offer an onboard storage space of 850MB alike, apart from a microSD expansion slot from expanding the memory. For a perfect file transfer, the user is simply asked to connect the device to a personal computer or laptop using the USB port of the devices. The screen of the devices are transflective TFT LCDs that reduces light reflection considerably.
Furthermore, both the devices come with City Navigator maps with roads and numerous points of interest. Apart from these turn-by-turn guidance is also offered by the satellite navigation units, although not that effective as the Lane Assistance feature. The only difference between the two models is that while, the 550 comes with a shaded-relief standard worldwide base-map, the 550T comes with 3D perspective enabled 100K US topological maps preloaded.
Garmin Oregon 550 has been priced $499.99 in the US, while the 550T comes with a price tag of $599.99. However, offers may vary in different stores.
A Sat Nav System that Helps Alzheimer’s Patients
May 1, 2009
Scientists at Newcastle University, a north-east research institution have invented a unique satellite navigation system for elderly dementia sufferers including people with Alzheimer’s disease to encourage their safe movement in usually familiar spots.
The university had invested GBP 12 million in the project that is all about a digital technology, which effectively combines satellite navigation technology with touch resistive technology to bring forth a new gadget that has the wherewithal to emerge as a milestone concept in the field of health science.
The gadget, once materialised can turn out to be an essential tool in the hands of dementia sufferers that even prompts them to reckon certain faces of a task, such as making a cup of coffee using a kettle to boil the water. The advanced satnav device is also expected to help the people suffering with Alzheimer’s disease safely cruise around supermarkets with increased comfort.
A senior scientist and a predominant member of the team that developed the device, Professor Paul Watson said that numerous older people lacked the confidence to continue with their normal walking habits, which could have been triggered by their anxiety of losing way in new, unfamiliar or changing environments.
However, the research institution has not yet unveiled the details of the new sat nav gadget, such as the specific technologies employed, features of the gadget, date of availability and price information.
London Waits For the GPS Enabled iBus
April 28, 2009
Transport for London has come up with a new passenger bus concept that is all about buses that will not let the passengers wait for them. The new concept of the TfL refers to a transport system called iBus, which provides next stop announcements on board. This has been made possible with all of the eight thousand buses belonging to the capital being fitted with route information providing on board sat nav systems and electronic tour guides.
The combination that makes iBuses unique is the location finding GPS satellite data with GPRS data transfer technology for information transmission to a control point. The data trnsmitted thus would then appear on the the bus stops’ count down boards. The data also gets frequently updated. The GPRS technology is at present widely used in the mobile phones.
The most important aspect of the activation of this new system is that it can pave way for more significant mobile applications in the future. The concept of an advanced system was recently put forth by Boris Johnson, the London Mayor that referred to the introduction of a mobile phone version of the iBus service that would let the passengers access the arrival and departure times of the buses over their mobile phones at their houses or amidst their walk to the bus stop.
He had said in one of his briefings that the iBus system is expected to lay the foundation for the delivery of information regarding bus times downright to the internet or mobile phones. However, an impediment found here is the apathetic attitude of the TfL. As a matter of fact there was no much interest apparent on the part of TfL either towards web or mobile applications.
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