It is common nowadays to depend on the smartphones to track the location. There are various apps using by the society for good purposes. Anyway, how about bad purposes? Have you ever think about it? People make good use of the tracking software located on smartphones smartphone from looking up directions to a hotel to checking the local traffic updates while in route to work. However, they might be unclear that those locations are actually stored in the smartphones. The stored list can be used to send out local ads or be used to target that individual. Hence, everyone must be aware of location-based tracking software.
1. Location-based tracking is common
to all smartphones, for good reason or bad, the popular location-based service
company Foursquare has an app so you can check in at various locations to
receive discounts, become Mayor, and see who else might be there. DealLeak
which aggregates deals from the likes of Groupon and Living Social, needs your
location in order to offer local discounts on products and services to you. How
many location-based service apps do you have on your smartphone? How often do
you use them and why?
2. Apple and Google defended their
processes by stating that their privacy policies very clearly stated what
information would be gathered, how that information would be used, and how and
with whom that information might be shared. When was the last time you read the
privacy policy of any technology tool, such as a Web browser or app? Do you
think very many people actually read these? Do the disclaimers in these privacy
polices give the offering organization the right to do anything with your
information?
3. What about location-based tracking
in car systems like GM’s OnStar? Those systems know the car’s location to give
you driving directions and perhaps identify local restaurants or other venues.
Are you comfortable with this? When was the last time you bought a paper map?
How much do you rely on your car’s GPS system?
In Malaysia, OnStar is not popular
and frankly speaking that I totally have no idea about it. I searched thru the
best tool, Google and found the information below. According to Google, OnStar
systems have been proven to be extremely helpful in emergency situations.
OnStar provides subscription based communications, in-vehicle security, hands
free calling, turn-by-turn navigation and remote diagnostics systems which are
very welcomed by U.S, Canada and China. A new aftermarket interior rear-view mirror with a built-in OnStar module, branded as OnStar FMV,
became available to the public on July 24, 2011. It provides some of the
features an OEM system has, such as Automatic Crash Response, Stolen Vehicle
Tracking, Turn-by-Turn Navigation, and Roadside Assistance. Besides, drivers
and passengers can use OnStar’s audio interface to contact OnStar
representatives for emergency services, vehicle diagnostics and directions. However,
in daily, it can be used to identify local restaurants or other venues as well.
It will bring additional benefits to the users. If OnStar is available in
Malaysia and I am not necessary to buy GM vehicles, I would find it useful and
comfortable as it seems like an invisible body guard to me. However, a body
guard could be hazardous to me also, if I am lucky enough to be targeted by
someone doing bad thing.
4. What about smartphone tracking for
parents who want to know where their children are and where they’ve been?
Minors under the age of 18 have very few privacy rights, especially when it
comes to parents’ knowledge of where they are. Are parents going too far in
wanting to know where their children are? What are the benefits of such systems
for parents? For the children? What does the term “helicopter parent” refers
to?
Parents nowadays have no difficulties or gap in knowing where is their children or where have been going to. It gives the authority to parents of monitoring the children. But however, in my opinion, I feel that a parent should use all the available resources to understand their children’s curiosities and be able to address them appropriately with ample knowledge. By knowing where the children have gone to, the parents should not only forbid the children to go somewhere, but by telling them when is the right time to go. A parent can’t stop his children from going pub or karaoke while he is doing the same thing. However, the parents should spend more time with the children. For example, bringing them to travel during holidays or a small picnic gathering during weekends. Tracking system in smartphone has brought to the parents of monitoring but it does not bring family happiness. Hence, the parents should use the tracking system wisely and make improvement from it. From the searching result of Google, a helicopter parent is one that pays close attention to their children's experiences and problems socially and within their educational experience, similar to how a helicopter would hover.
