Latest Technology Articles http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us The Wide Use Of GPS Devices http://www.articletrader.com/technology/the-wide-use-of-gps-devices.html http://www.articletrader.com/technology/the-wide-use-of-gps-devices.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:42:17 -0600
Over all GPS devices are very appropriate for military use to track and control forces, as they help to locate people and targets. It can also be of great help during fog, darkness or some other low visibility situations, and also while traveling as it can be employed to get directions, customized maps to a particular place from the current location. As a result, many vehicles are featured with GPS devices to facilitate travelers taking the shortest and right route.

Today, many cell phones come with GPS and this is increasing as they have the technology to locate a person through their cell phone during emergency. Coast Guard and Navy also use GPS cell phones to locate lost people. Also the device is useful for wilderness explorers, hunters and other outdoor sportsmen as they can use it to navigate to find their way in and out. Surveyors may also have the need for GPS cell phone to survey as well as establish boundaries or other locations. As for entertainment, GPS is also present in the sport game GeoCaching which uses the device to find small treasures or caches in where a person hid the treasure or cache and post the details on a geocaching website, making it a fun and interesting game.

GPS cell phone can have applications supporting over 40 sub functions and this can be beneficial as users can find whatever they want by typing in the name of place. This works similar to Google like search and finds a list of all the nearby places, initiating from the nearest location. GPS cell phone can also be useful while hiking as there is a sub function called Fugawi, that offers information on topographical features apt for camping or hiking, besides the typical map which informs the street name and other related information.

Passing on information to your friends and family or followers about the exact location you are is simply possible by using Buddy Beacon, another sub function of GPS that sends information to your choice of people within a button click regarding your location. Truck tracking for GPS is also new and has shown significant effects in proving that this tracking of vehicles keeps the overhead down and the mileage tracking allows the fleet managers to understand the vehicle maintenance and performance. GPS cell phone is known for its versatility as it also supports amusement with its sub functions such as `Digging to China`, that offers fun and entertainment.

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You can have access to articles about GPS in portuguese language from page GPS

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for Polomercantil

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>
Live Video Streaming Services http://www.articletrader.com/technology/live-video-streaming-services.html http://www.articletrader.com/technology/live-video-streaming-services.html Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:33:26 -0500
If you want to stream live content to the internet, the easiest way to do so is with live video streaming services. Many of these services use your bandwidth to stream content to the internet, but other service providers may provide you with the opportunity to stream content using a satellite connection. A satellite connection is often ideal because there are no bandwidth caps to worry about. A minimum bandwidth connection of 384Kbps is recommended, but ideally you should have 500Kbps or more in order to provide the best quality in video. Choosing a free or premium live video streaming service that offered satellite streaming would reduce the risk of subpar video quality, since there wouldn't be such a low bandwidth ceiling to worry about bumping into.

When looking into live video streaming services, you need to consider more than just the cost. If you're not thrilled with the idea of paying for live video streaming, think about the quality and other features you're being offered in return. Many streaming video service providers offer co-hosting, text chat, multiple cams and streams, recording of video, and more. These are all useful tools that can help you make the most of your live streaming event.

The beauty of live video streaming is that there is just about no limit to what you can do with it. Schedule a special pay-per-view event that will stream a feed via satellite, or schedule a sponsored event. Or, create a channel that focuses on a topic that is a passion of yours!

What will you do with a live stream? Do something that interests you, entertains you or provides a profit will providing others with something they want to see. Once you know what you want to do, seek out live video streaming services that can meet your every need!

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Author Kimberly Green has used live video streaming services and loves it!

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>
Real time Vehicle Tracking Explained http://www.articletrader.com/technology/real-time-vehicle-tracking-explained.html http://www.articletrader.com/technology/real-time-vehicle-tracking-explained.html Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:06:12 -0500
Real time tracking calculates the exact position of a vehicle at the current time and updates it constantly as time and the vehicle's position changes. Information concerning the tracked vehicle is not delayed or recorded for post-analysis, but uses accurate GPS positioning and the mobile phone network for communication, updating in real time over the phone. GPS systems that utilise the satellite-based network rather than just relying on the mobile phone network have the advantage of extended coverage; helpful if your fleet operates in more remote locations.

Different technologies are used in real time vehicle tracking systems including vehicle tag-based AVI and video image processing. While these commercial image processing systems work well in free-flowing traffic, they tend to be less effective in congested situations or where built up areas cause shadows and lighting transitions to ‘mask' the location of the vehicle.

Knowing exactly where your vehicles are in real time gives the fleet manager a huge advantage. It enables you to be far more streamlined in your operation, giving you the ability to make changes to planned routes in case of emergencies, breakdowns or other variables that may interfere with the usual routes taken by your vehicles. Something as simple as road works may mean that a planned collection from a customer is delayed. By utilising real time GPS tracking, a fleet manager can redirect the nearest vehicle to a destination, saving time, money and, most importantly, keeping the customer happy.

Real time tracking can also help fleet managers to ‘keep an eye in the cab' of every vehicle on the road. The data sent back can immediately tell fleet managers of any deviation from set routes, whether drivers are using excessive speed or even help drivers out if they get lost. Real time tracking can also be used in emergency situations to notify Police or emergency services of the exact location of a vehicle if it is stolen or involved in an accident. This also gives a fleet manager the ability to re-route other vehicles to cover the deliveries or pick-ups effected by such a situation.

GPS tracking not only tells fleet managers about the vehicle, it can also be employed to keep track of the cargo as well. GPS trailer tracking are an excellent method of keeping track of the cargo being transported by the vehicle, particularly important if the goods are perishable or time-sensitive. The most up to date systems even employ 3D modelling, which involves recovering trajectories and models with high accuracy. These systems work well on small to medium sized fleets, but can become inherently complex on larger fleets. Region-based real time tracking uses a system of overlays identifying a connected region in the image associated with each vehicle and tracks it over time using a cross-correlation algorithm.

Modern real time vehicle tracking systems are becoming increasingly complex, but the information they provide is invaluable to effective fleet management. Although expensive to begin with, the long-term savings for any sized fleet can be considerable.

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Kent Stabler - Marketing Manager - Chameleon Direct are suppliers of gps vehicle tracking systems, gps tracking devices and hands free car kits. Our fleet management system aims at helping improve your fleet operation and efficiency using vehicle tracking.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>
The Hovercraft's Journey - From Plan to Present http://www.articletrader.com/technology/the-hovercrafts-journey-from-plan-to-present.html http://www.articletrader.com/technology/the-hovercrafts-journey-from-plan-to-present.html Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:37:30 -0500
The ideas behind using air pressure to hover were first documented in 1716 by Emanuel Swedenborg, a Swedish Scientist.

Remarkably though, the first demonstration of a hovercraft wasn't until just fifty years ago, in 1959, when Sir Christopher Cockerell's design was built after ten years of attempted development and successfully crossed the English Channel.

Funded by the National Research Development Corporation, and manufactured by Saunders Roe, the vehicle was only built after the army, navy and RAF had expressed a complete lack of interest in it.

However, the version that went across the channel lacked one important feature that people recognise as a part of the hovercraft today: it didn't have a skirt.

Without a skirt, the craft needed a far greater amount of pressure to stay above the surface, and the fact it was floating was far more obvious. Fortunately, once its ability to cross the channel was shown plenty of people became interested; companies began their own research and development into hovercrafts, and from that came the idea of capturing the pressure underneath the hovercraft by using a skirt.

This meant that larger, more efficient hovercrafts could be made, and that they could carry a greater load with less energy required. Transport hovercrafts, capable of carrying not just large amounts of passengers but cars as well, began being made. These are used in areas of Alaska in the US, where ice and snow can cover rivers and make for hazardous crossings for land-based vehicles, and to ferry people to the Isle of Wight in the UK for holidays or business.

Once all these uses were demonstrated, and advances were made that enhanced the hovercrafts ability to travel on terrain that even tracked vehicles would have difficulty with, such as mud flats or swamp land, the military became interested again, and hovercrafts are now used as personnel carriers in plenty situations, even being deployed in the recent Iraq war.

They've also proved useful in rescue situations as well, with the Red Cross utilising them during floods, and the Royal National Lifeboat Institute having an active group of them for use on river estuaries or mud flats.

For a while, there was even talk of hover technology being used instead of trains, but these projects suffered from funding difficulties and issues with how platforms would deal with the rush of air created by these vehicles. Because of this, hovercraft seem to have found their niche and remained filling it for the moment. Whether they'll expand again in the future, nobody knows.

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Written by Tom Sangers on behalf of St Maur, a hotel on the Isle of Wight.

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Make Your Best Buy On the Web http://www.articletrader.com/technology/make-your-best-buy-on-the-web.html http://www.articletrader.com/technology/make-your-best-buy-on-the-web.html Sun, 11 Oct 2009 05:28:45 -0500 Alongside information collection, on-line shopping is, probably, one of the most essential functions of the Internet at present.

Shopping online is time-saving and financially beneficial. You can make yourself comfortable at home and you do not have to suffer from bad weather conditions or line up in overcrowded shops. You do not need to drive for miles searching for a parking place spot and to make a list of shops you have to go to to purchase everything you need. You will discover that on the Global net you have a much larger access to a variety of goods and services. When you shop in the area you live in, you are commonly limited by goods the shops have decided to stock. Whether you shop for books, CDs, clothing or even foodstuffs, this might be a range that leaves to be desired. Take some time and think what a selection of goods and services is easily available when shops around the country or even all over the world are open to you via the Global net! It can help you refine your tastes and discover things that you have never been aware of before. On-line shops often have great sales and offer free delivery. The main advantage of online shopping is that it allows buyers to search through a lot of things and categories while staying at home, to compare prices and to buy as many items as they can afford without having to worry about how they will be transported to your place, because online shopping websites do also deliver things to the customer's home. Furthermore, the Global net is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, thus you do not need to rush.

There are a lot of good shopping sites out there and some have better prices and offers than others. But to save time on searching through innumerable websites searching for the best offers you can simply find an online directory to compare prices on various products there. On-line shopping directories are great search tools, since they have links to a large range of websites, and stores are grouped in categories depending on their area and on goods that they sell. Some online shopping directories also provide reviews of the shops they are linked to for a customer to decide whether to shop there or not.
On-line shopping is the most convenient and hassle-free way of shopping suitable for every buyer.


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Some people are shopaholics, others consider it a boring chore. Online shopping is the best solution for both. To make shopping simpler use an on-line directory. There you may compare prices on various products to make a good buy. For example, compare cell phones prices.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>
Oil Separators: Key to Wastewater Treatment http://www.articletrader.com/technology/oil-separators-key-to-wastewater-treatment.html http://www.articletrader.com/technology/oil-separators-key-to-wastewater-treatment.html Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:44:32 -0500
Due to its reliability and effectiveness, Hunter Alliance's standard coalescing plate oil separator is the standard in the industry when it comes to pre-treating general industrial waste water, before release into the sewer systems. Coalescing plate oil separators are used to encourage the coalescence of the droplets of oil in the water, in order to improve the rate of hydrostatic elevation. Once these oil droplets have risen to the surface, they can be collected and removed. Hunter Alliance has a diverse range of stainless steel oil separators that use polypropylene coalescing plate pack, with both 6mm and 10 mm spacing. Their standard sizes are: 700, 1,500 and 3,000 litres per hour and control panels and pumps can be customised to meet their clients unique specifications.

Vertical gravity oil separators are multi-plate, cylindrical oil separators that utilize gravity to separate as the mechanism for separating oil from the waste water. As the heavier water sinks to the bottom, the plates encourage coalescence of the oil droplets where they rise to the surface, for collection and disposal. Hunter Alliance offers vertical gravity oil separators with high quality polypropylene conical plate packs in a variety of configurations. These range in size from 50mm to 1200mm and greater. Maximizing performance and minimizing space requirements, units are available in a variety of sizes including: 700, 1500 and 3000 litre per hour capacities.



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Victor Schmidt is an accomplished writer of Environmental Reviews. His job is to write about different companies and technologies such as Hunter Alliance and Oil Separators.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>
5 Tips To Make Your PS3 More Interesting http://www.articletrader.com/technology/5-tips-to-make-your-ps3-more-interesting.html http://www.articletrader.com/technology/5-tips-to-make-your-ps3-more-interesting.html Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:34:08 -0500
Along with playing games, you can also listen to music or connect to a PSP system. Its high profile Internet and networking features make it easy to connect with friends. It also provides the advantages of viewing photos and watching movies. But there are still several features which you are not aware of and which are not listed in the manual. Let us find out some of these.

1. Regionally liberated - Unlike the PS and the PS2 which were region specific, the PS3 allows you to play titles released in any country. For example, if you have bought the device in the UK and you spot a game you want to play while visiting the US, you can do so easily. The games are not region coded. But you can`t do the same with Blu-ray movies, which are released only in certain regions and you cannot play them elsewhere.

2. Ability to reset the video - Many a times, you may have been disappointed when playing your PS3 in your friend`s house. Because of a different cable connection and resolution, the device won`t work. But, in fact, there is a way out. You can completely shutdown and restart while keeping the power button pressed down for a long time. This will take you back to the 480p graphics mode after which you can choose whether you want to view through component, RGB SCART or HDMI.

3. Checking the charge - The charge left on the pad is usually noticed on the screen while playing the games. There was no known way of checking the amount of charge left on the pad. But, this is in fact quite possible by holding down the PS button on the pad. An indicator in the form of a battery will show up indicating the amount of charge just like in any laptop. A full battery means that the pad is fully charged.

4. Download - You can take advantage of the number of game saves on the Internet. Many people play and outwit the kingpin in the different games. You can download these game saves and learn the tricks to play better. It is generally available in a PS3 folder which you can transfer to your PS3 through a USB port. You can then access your game save in the game menu. Pressing triangle will help you download this game save into your hard drive.

5. Free video calls - The accessories required are an EyeToy camera and a USB headset. You can plug them in through USB port. You can access a friend through the friend menu and then press the triangle. You can then start chatting after choosing Start new chat. If you want the video feature also, you can choose Videochat. Now you are ready to make video phone calls from PS3 to PS3. The broadband connection charges are all you will incur in this conversation.

With a host of efficient features, the PS3 is all set to capture the hearts of all the people who have a passion for playing games and want to enjoy the extra privileges of using the advantages of the Internet and wireless connectivity too.


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You can have access to articles about video games in portuguese language from page Video_Games

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for Polomercantil


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>
How To Make The Best Use Of A Digital Camera http://www.articletrader.com/technology/how-to-make-the-best-use-of-a-digital-camera.html http://www.articletrader.com/technology/how-to-make-the-best-use-of-a-digital-camera.html Sun, 04 Oct 2009 11:20:17 -0500
However, there are many who are still yearning for tips to make best use of this proudly-possessed digital device. It might sound funny but many digital camera owners do not have much idea about taking great photographs. Great photography is simply much more than just taking ordinary pictures; it is about capturing the precious moments in a way that makes you cherish the memories for eternity. So what does it take to learn the art of wielding your digital camera as a professional photographer? Let us delve into the details:

Sun light - One of the key skills of professional photographers is their ability to exploit sun light to their advantage. As a matter of fact, natural sun light offers wonderful lighting opportunity for best shots with vivid colors and deeper details. However, beware of the bright and overhead sunlight as it can cast harsh shadows and worse, wash out details in faces. Always try to shoot with the sun behind you.

Cloudy conditions - Contrary to what many believe, overcast conditions actually bring the best out of your creative flair for capturing breathtaking pictures. If you know how to use the digital camera skillfully, you can actually achieve interesting highlights with enhanced mood under the cloudy sky. The key is to make colors pop up in contrast to the cloudy sky. Just be careful enough to wrap your camera in some plastic bag with a hole to let the lens poke through.

Night-time photos - Night can be a fun time to take spectacular pictures even while you turn off the flash. To avoid any chances of blurred pictures, ensure that you stay steady and set the shutter speed slower to let enough light in. Better still, try placing your digital camera on tripod and set its shot timer to avoid any risk camera movement just when you hit the trigger.

Using flash - Flash can be a critical tool of a digital camera for achieving great results. You just have to maintain proper distance from your subject. By and large, the flash in most cameras has a range of ten feet. Therefore, if you get too far to your subject, you might end up with dark pictures. On the contrary, if you get too close, you might get overexposed flash photos.

Camera positioning - Often, how you hold your digital camera to your subject can make all the difference between a good photo and an amazing one. You just need to change its angle for capturing creative shots. Besides, just move your camera in relation to the subject. Just to see what works best, experiment a little with you composition by zooming in and zooming out. The results often can be very rewarding and delighting.

Background elements - Background elements behind your subject can potentially make or mar the outcome of your photography efforts. Hence, you should be aware of the clutter and other disturbing elements behind your subject. Try to avoid taking photograph with a competing or busy background. Besides, look for any connecting objects with your subject and remove them before taking photographs.

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You can have access to articles about digital camera in portuguese language from page Digital_Camera

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for Polomercantil


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>
A Review of Vehicle Tracking Systems Solutions http://www.articletrader.com/technology/a-review-of-vehicle-tracking-systems-solutions.html http://www.articletrader.com/technology/a-review-of-vehicle-tracking-systems-solutions.html Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:52:31 -0500
However, the sheer choice of vehicle tracking systems available to fleet managers can be baffling. There are free options available on the Internet, so why would you want to spend money on a system that theoretically you can get for free off the Web?

The simple answer is that the free options do not deliver the same amount or quality of information that vehicle tracking systems supplied by manufacturers deliver. There are two tracker systems freely available - Google's Latitude and the alternative independent system, Locatea.net. Google's ‘Latitude' is a free access system that shows people using the software their location to within a few metres anywhere on the planet, as well as the location of any friends and family who are also signed up to the system. An extension of the immensely successful ‘Google Earth' application, Latitude is a fun way of keeping in touch with friends and family. However, it does not really have a practical business application or use in fleet management as the data supplied is limited only to location.

Locatea.net is similar to Latitude, giving locations of everyone who signs up to the system but again doesn't really have a practical business application. The other major drawback of the free systems is that they are voluntary systems, making it very easy to opt out should a driver wish to. This factor makes the free services almost useless as effective commercial vehicle tracking systems and the data is limited to location only. No other additional information is given, such as speed, diagnostics or any piggyback function connected to the vehicle's immobilisation system in the event of a vehicle theft.

There are a few points to consider when choosing a vehicle tracking system that may help make the decision a little easier. Vehicle trackers fall into two camps, passive and active. Both gather GPS device location information, speed, heading and other diagnostic information. Active devices differ from passive ones in that they transmit this data in real-time to a central location, enabling the fleet management team to use this data to optimise routes, priorities pick-ups or deliveries or act in the event of an emergency or theft. Passive vehicle tracking systems store the data and download it at a given point, usually the end of the day or even once a week.

When choosing a GPS tracking system, consider exactly what you want the system to do for you. Learn as much as you can about the different systems and what coverage, data and diagnostics are included - even areas such as upgraded software patches, warranties or after-sales service the provider offers. Ask questions such as what happens to the data if the GPS tracking device goes into a ‘black spot' where there is no coverage. Does the unit store the location updates and if so how many and for how long?

If you are only looking for a vehicle tracking system to improve security or you only want a tracking report once a week, make sure the vehicle tracker you buy delivers what you want and you don't end up paying for more features than you require. Alternatively, if you are looking for a system that gives you detailed information and diagnostics on each vehicle as well as a GPS tracking function, ensure that the package you buy is a comprehensive one.

Finally, make sure that the vehicle tracking system you purchase does not have any nasty ‘hidden extra' costs such as additional ‘monthly airtime' charges and that the supplier offers a Service Level Agreement or full warranty that includes updates, maintenance and replacement of any parts that may fail. For effective fleet management, vehicle tracking systems and GPS tracking are essential tools that make the complex and costly operation of running a fleet efficiently much easier.

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Kent Stabler - Marketing Manager - Chameleon Direct are suppliers of gps vehicle tracking systems, gps tracking devices, hands free car kits and speed camera detector equipment. Our vehicle tracking aims at helping improve your fleet management. With over 1 Million UK customers Chameleon Direct also provide hands free installation services.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>
How Streaming Video has Changed The World http://www.articletrader.com/technology/how-streaming-video-has-changed-the-world.html http://www.articletrader.com/technology/how-streaming-video-has-changed-the-world.html Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:02:56 -0500
Streaming internet has changed the way we watch the world around us. Here are a few examples of how these advancements have changed how we live our life:

TV Shows
While it still might not be replacing watching it on live, or as some people have come to prefer, on DVR, full length TV episodes have begun to catch on online. Websites like Myspace.com, Youtube.com and Hulu.com have partnered with specific networks and TV shows to show new (and old) episodes in their entirety to viewers. Internet and network specific advertisements are included in these shows so networks are able to get their advertising revenue even online. Compared to radio and live news events, full TV shows are a relatively new technology to hit the internet so it will be interesting to see where this it goes in the next few years.

Radio
Radio stations were one of the big winners of high speed internet as they are now able to broadcast anywhere in the world. Thousands of stations now transmit around the world so people looking to hear talk radio from Boise, ID can hear it in Paris, France, or those wanting to hear a rock station from Iceland can hear it in Vancouver, Canada. It used to be that one of the hardships of moving out of the city you grew up in was not getting to hear your favorite radio stations anymore. Now all you need is an internet connection and you can hear it anywhere in the world.

Sports
About a decade ago someone came up with the brilliant idea of having pay-per-view packages where you could watch every pro football or college football game from your TV no matter where you live. Now, this popular endeavor has been expanded to the internet where, for a price, you can watch just about any sporting event live on your computer. It's the same idea as with the internet radio: no matter where you are, no matter what your team you root for, you can see them on your computer. Any sports fan will tell you this is a very welcome idea.

Politics
One of the first realms to benefit from the live streaming video revolution is news. News networks first began putting video reports out for the viewers to watch online, and then gradually began to stream live events and news reports on their sites. This both benefited and bemused politicians as now their best, and worst, moments are available for the world to see at the push of a button. Sound bites have now given way to full speeches and round the clock coverage which is available to potential voters around the world. To put it in literary themes, for politicians it is the best of times and the worst of times with live streaming video.


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Author Kim Green gets most of her information using high speed internet to watch videos streamed.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>