Geospatial Inteligent Mobile Application – Touch Inspect

I am not much on mobile GIS as I spend much of my time in the office, but this new technology is one of a kind.  The release of the Touch Inspect™ has been out for a few months.  It is put out by Mobile Epiphany which was founded in 2008.  Mobile Epiphany is a Colorado-based software development company that creates enterprise class mobile solutions that improve workflow and productivity across a variety of industries.

So what is the Touch Inspect™ ?

Touch Inspect™ is an application for Windows Mobile, XP, Vista and Windows 7 devices, which provides enterprise class, media-enhanced, geospatially intelligent, asset-centric field data collection and worker decision support.

What can the Touch Inspect™ do?

Touch Inspect™ was designed to collect a wide variety of data types in the field using capabilities far beyond simple forms and barcode scans. The application uses GPS to allow workers to map the location of individual assets as well as search for them by proximity to the user. Using an array of multimedia features, users can gather more detailed visual information about assets as well. For example, a utility inspector could take a picture of a metal power pole then use the drawing tool to circle rust spots in the picture and save it to the inspection history. Inspectors who see the pole at some later date could then call up the picture for comparison, to see if the rust spots have grown, and decide whether or not to recommend maintenance. Mobile epiphany refers to this as one part of field decision support.

The new application also solves data problems associated with other solutions. Data loss is prevented by storing information on the handheld device itself, then transmitting it to the database when a connection is available. Even if the connection is lost, the data is safely stored on the device for later transmission. Another noteworthy feature is the ability to transmit data in real time and auto-generate reports in moments.

What makes the Touch Inspect™ different ?

Unlike other applications which require server setup time and cost (not to mention that everyone doesn’t have their own IT department), Touch Inspect™ allows their system to be purchased monthly (Software as a Subscription) or hosted quarterly, meaning the users do not have to even think about server technology. That approach makes functionality that was traditionally only available to the largest of corporations now readily available to small and medium size business users. It is designed to be configured in hours and start running almost immediately. And for the larger enterprises that insist on housing their own servers, Mobile Epiphany makes the technology available in that format as well.

More News on Touch Inspect

• Touch Inspect to Certify Intermec Handheld Computers as Authorized Hardware
• Biologists in Argentina to Study Penguins Using Touch Inspect
• Touch Inspect to Certify Psion Teklogix as Authorized Hardware
• Panasonic Toughbook Certified as Authorized Hardware for Touch Inspect
• Mobile Epiphany Launches First-of-its-Kind Geospatially Intelligent Inspection Application

WebDiet™ – GPS and Meal Planning

I just found this website that is integrating dieting and GPS.  At first I did not know how in the world the two even related, but after reviewing the website I have found how the two work together.

The basic idea is that you have access to WebDiet™ on your phone and you can us GPS to locate restaurant near you.  The program searches these restaurants and creates a healthy meal plan based upon your diet requirements.  You can even place your order on your phone if you are on the go.

I believe that this is a crazy, but great idea.  Who would have ever thought that GPS and Dieting would go together?  I know that I will not be using it because I am not the dieting type.  However, I use Live Search on a regular basis from my phone to locate restaurants near my location.  I believe that WebDiet™ could be big.  This just goes to show you that using GIS and GPS can go as far as your imagination will allow.

Check it out and form your own opinion….WebDiet™

Saving Gas in SC with GPS Units

South Carolina is trying to save money by buying GPS units to monitor their gas usage.  They are spending 4 million dollars on 12,250 units.  Approximately half of the units will go for public school’s buses and the other half to the Department of Transportation.

The article says that if they can save just a few gallons per bus a day, the savings will pay for the units.  The GPS is suppose to record speed, idling time and acceleration in addition to tracking.  When they see an issue, they can notify the driver.

Although this may sound practical, this is not a feasible way to reduce gas usage.  Can you really save a couple of gallon of gas a day by not idling?  I think they need to focus on the routing aspect.  If they can reduce their route, that is where the real savings will come in.  With the technology that GIS provides, they can be more efficient with their routes.  One way to do this is to reroute on a daily basis.  If a parent can call and notify the school that their child will not be riding for that day, then the can be removed from the database for that day.  The would in return reduce the length of the route.  And by having GPS units in the bus, this will give the drive the ability to follow the new route given to them.

The artile does go on to say that there can be a significant savings for the SCDOT as well.  Islip, NY is referenced as saving 14,000 gallons of gas in three months by using the GPS units.

What do you think?  Read full article…

GPS Devices Help Prosecutors Win

Be careful before you commit that next crime.  Your GPS unit in you car could be the deciding factor to landing you in jail.  A news article released by the Associated Press tells of how prosecutors are winning convictions based upon vehicle GPS devices.  These GPS devices contain tracking points that can tell others where you have been.  Eric Hanson was convicted of murdering four family members based upon his GPS unit in his TrailBlazer.  Read Article

On the flip side, the Technology Blog of the DallasNews has an article entitled GPS violates the civil rights of murderers, other criminals.  They bring up the point of this evading out privacy.  The question is whose privacy is this taking away?  The criminal or the average citizen?  I do agree with Andrew Smith here in the fact that GPS data should be available to police when needed.  But at the same time I do not think that the government should be “following” us like Big Brother (However, I am sure they already are.)