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People

General points:

GPS tracking of people continues to grow both in popularity and adoption worldwide and will be increasingly used in years to come. This popularity arises from their considerable safety role, but in many regards also.  Although cell phones are widespread, GPS trackers have some advantages in that they create trails on a virtual map that can be reviewed if necessary.  They can be set to transmit alert (SMS or Email) messages in circumstances defined and controlled by the customer.  They are also capable of operating at much lower GPRS signal strengths than a mobile phone, and so might work where a phone doesn't.  It matters that people, especially employees, provided with GPS trackers are aware of their presence, their purpose and consent to their use. GPS2Find does not accept responsibility for the unlawful or unethical use of GPS trackers.

People in high risk situations / Lone workers:

If someone is working in, or visiting, a risky situation, having a GPS tracker provides a number of potential benefits,  such as someone going to the Bank to make a lodgement. Obviously it needs to be charged and switched on.  

Distress:   In the event of any form of a distress situation, the SOS button can be manually pressed and held for about 4secs.   In advance, it is necessary to define in the Admin section of the Track Panel the mobile phone numbers or email addresses of those (up to 4) who will receive alerts.  Each device can be individually set in this regard.  The device's account needs to have some SMS credits, as each alert or SOS message requires and uses 1 SMS credit.  The number of available credits is displayed in the customer's Track Panel.  Additional credits can be added in the Top-ups area of the website.

Kids going to and returning from school:

To detect when a tracker enters or leaves a particular place or zone, it is first necessary to go to the Zone area of the Track Panel and define and name a (circular) perimeter somewhere on the map.  This is known as a Geo-Fence, Safety zone, or Virtual perimeter, around a particular location, such as a kid's school.  It is also necessary to enter the mobile phone numbers of those who are to receive the SMS message in the Admin section.  Each zone can have up to 3 alert recipients.  Email alerts for zones are not available.
By swiching on a
 charged tracker and putting it in, or attaching it to, a child's schoolbag an SMS text message is possible when/if the child enters and leaves the zone/school, providing there are some SMS credits remaining. The balance of unused credits is always visible in the Track Panel's bottom right corner.  Zone alert messages don't contain WAP links, just the name of the zone, which can be viewed in Track Panel.

People with impaired memory:

If someone has vascular dementia or Alzheimer's Disease, their memory, especially their short term memory may be poor and they may be prone to wandering off and not being able to return home.  If still driiving, they may forget where they parked their car. If a person is provided with one of our GPS Tracking and Alerting devices, possibly in the belt pouch that comes with Prime trackers, possibly on their waist belt or in a pocket, it will help others to find them.  Clearly putting it in a handbag runs the risk that they might lose the bag, making it preferable for it to be on their person.  

Youngsters going out for the night:

When young people go out for the night, there is always the possibility that they might get into a menacing situation and not be able to use their phone.  Pressing the SOS button on one of our devices, possibly inside a pocket, will send a distress message to up to 4 phone numbers, email addresses, or both, within seconds.  The details of the recipients of these messages needs to be carefully considered and entered in the Track Panel Admin area.  Pressing the button on one of our devices might be possible when making a phone call might not be, or the phone might need more GSM signal strength than is available.

Adventure sports:

If an individual engages in hill-walking, mountaineering, or suchlike, accidents can happen such as twisting an ankle or worse. As with having a cell phone, a GPS tracker's SOS button gives an immediate distress message that includes the exact location of where it was pressed, which others (Rescuers) can follow to effect a rescue. You will need to give the Rescuers the following information to enter into their smartphones: the website address: www.mytrackingpanel.com; the device's number or Account Reference; and the password if you have set one, so they can track the device/person.

Employee privacy:

In general, it is necessary to make a person carrying a GPS tracker aware of its presence and purpose.  If the person is an employee, a consent form should ideally be signed and the preservation of their privacy rights outside of working hours needs careful consideration.  The device can be simply turned off if necessary.  See the following FAQ on the Irish Data Protection Commissioner's website outlining the potential issues with vehicle tracking.