4. Using WorldTracker PLD

Figure 7: WorldTracker PLD's Buttons and Functions

One of the first things you notice about WorldTracker PLD is the lack of a power button -- the unit is always on. An engineering decision designed to avoid confusion (and possibly disaster), this Personal Locator Device cannot be powered off; if the battery is charged, the unit is on.

LED indicators on the top of the device display its current status, including battery life, GPS reception, and GPRS/GSM cellular reception.

One small gripe I had when first using WorldTracker PLD is that the function of each physical button is not obvious, so you'll have to crack open the manual and figure out what function each button performs -- a small issue, but a nuisance nonetheless. Let's take a closer look at the controls and their function:

• Push To Call (PTC) - allows the user to place a call to a number that has been programmed into it, such as a family member's cellular phone or emergency services.
• Geo Fence - Can be configured to setup a Geo Fence around your current area, and send an alert if the device moves outside that area
• User-Defined Button - Reserved for future use (currently this button does nothing by default, but can be configured perform various functions.
• Volume Buttons - The + and - buttons are used to increase or decrease the audio volume level.

Figure 8: Inserting the SIM card in the WorldTracker PLD

In order to access the SIM card slot on WorldTracker PLD, you'll need to remove the belt clip, battery cover, and battery. Then slide the SIM tray to the unlatched position and insert the SIM card. Replace the battery and cover.

It takes 12 hours to fully charge the device. Once the battery is fully charged, WorldTracker PLD is ready for use.

Location data is accessed via TrackingTheWorld.com's website, and can be setup with or without a password, depending on your own personal preference. The company also provides a smartphone-friendly version of the page for viewing location data from a Blackberry, iPhone, or other smartphone with internet access.

Figure 9: Bird's Eye Map Report

WorldTracker PLD has some of the best location reporting I've ever seen. Leveraging both Google Earth and Microsoft's Virtual Earth, the web-based location report provides 5 different ways to view the WorldTracker GPRS' location, including the Bird's Eye view, shown above.

Reports are accessed via TrackingTheWorld.com (IE6 or higher is required). Maps can be viewed in 2D, 3D, Road view, Aerial view, Hybrid (Road & Aerial), or Bird's Eye. The map can be zoomed in or out, and panned by dragging the mouse around or using the pan/zoom control in the upper-left corner of the screen.

The page also displays a calendar that allows users to choose a different day's reports, and a Geo Fence button for drawing a Geo Fence on the map.

Figure 10: Bird's Eye Map Report

The Bird's Eye map view, shown above, combined with the accuracy of WorldTracker's Personal Locator Device makes it easy to pinpoint the GPS's location on the map.

Figure 11: Viewing Breadcrumb Trails

Breadcrumb trails can be turned on or off by checking or unchecking the BreadCrumbs checkbox on the reporting webpage. When checked, the breadcrumbs visually display the path the WorldTracker PLD has taken.

Figure 12: Viewing Breadcrumb Details

Each point along a breadcrumb trail can be clicked, displaying the exact street address, speed of travel, heading, date and time.

Figure 13: Microsoft Virtual Earth's Aerial View

The Aerial view is a 2D map that combines aerial photos with street names..

Figure 14: Microsoft Virtual Earth's 2D View

The 2D is less visually stunning than the Bird's Eye view, but provides a clearer overview of where WorldTracker PLD has been.

Figure 15: Setting a Geo Fence

A Geo Fence is a virtual boundary on the map that will trigger an alert if crossed. Geo fence boundaries can be drawn on the map, and an email address can be setup to receive alerts. It is possible to configure multiple Geo fences in as many locations as you want. You can also configure a Geo fence in an area WorldTracker PLD is not currently in, and be notified when it enters that area. For example, you could configure an alert to let you know when your child successfully arrives on his/her college campus.

Figure 16: Viewing Monthly Driving Reports

Because WorldTracker PLD keeps track of both speed and location information, the device knows the difference between walking around on foot and traveling in a vehicle. WorldTracker PLD provides a number of useful driving reports, and time spent in a vehicle can be viewed as a monthly report that shows distance, drive time, idle time, starting and ending addresses. Speed information for each trip can also be viewed on a different page.

Figure 17: Viewing Daily Driving Reports

Daily driving reports offer more granularity than the monthly report, showing the entire day's activity, including time spent parked, mileage driven, and addresses visited.