Smartphones Raise Privacy Issue in Healthcare

As reported by Sydney Morning Herald: We've all heard the urban legend of the patient who turns up in hospital emergency with something inserted where it shouldn't be.

But is the easy availability of camera phones encouraging doctors and nurses to take a souvenir snap of the occasion?

A study of one big Australian hospital has found about half of all doctors and nurses take photos of patients in hospital – and one in five are using their personal smartphone.

Study author and researcher at RMIT University in Melbourne Kara Burns said the easy availability of camera phones was improving patient care and medical training, but raised serious privacy issues.

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"Everybody that you talk to that works in healthcare will have an experience of seeing a doctor pulling out a phone, or even being the patient who is being photographed," said Ms Burns, a medical photographer. "Doctors definitely feel that it is part of good practice to document a patient's condition."

Yet nearly 40 per cent of doctors and nurses surveyed did not always obtain consent for their photos. And "non-compliance with written consent requirements ... was endemic", she wrote in the journal Australian Health Review.

She said the photos were overwhelmingly taken for inclusion in a patient's file, or for medical education, but it was clear there was also immense public interest in medical photographs.

A recent story in The Canberra Times documenting a medical report of a 70-year-old man who had a fork stuck in his 'groin area' was shared more than 21,000 times on Facebook.

And the respected New England Journal of Medicine runs a popular "Image Challenge" on its website where viewers can guess what caused often gruesome medical conditions.

Fairfax Media is not suggesting these images violate patient consent or privacy.

Australian Medical Association head Steve Hambleton said it was taking the issue extremely seriously, with three committees now developing guidelines for doctors.

With the integration of medical tools
and smartphones, image capture for
healthcare fields will be an important
topic.

"These new technologies have been really great for helping patients," he said. "For example, if a patient has a fracture, that can be photographed and transferred to [other doctors] and that makes the job of deciding who comes in and what sort of care is required much more simple."

He said if images were used for teaching or medical case reports, doctors went to great lengths to ensure the patient could not be identified. But doctors needed guidance on how best to protect images they took.

"Does it go straight to the patient's medical file, or does it stay on the phone, and does the phone have the right level of security?" he said. "Doctors need to be aware of the magnitude of the risk".

GPS III Satellite Control Software Passes Test

As reported by the Denver Business Journal: A new software system for the next generation of global positioning satellites has passed a key test of its launch and early orbit operations, the two Denver-area companies building the system for the U.S. Air Force reported Thursday.

The operations and control software for the GPS III satellites, created and run by Raytheon Co.’s Information and Intelligence Systems (IIS) division in Aurora, recently passed the third of five tests planned ahead of the 2015 launch of the first of the new, GPS III satellites, which Lockheed Martin Space Systems is building in Jefferson County.

Raytheon is creating the ground control and satellite operations software for the GPS III system at its Aurora offices.Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co.(LMSS) built a GPS III production facility at its Waterton Canyon campus that opened in 2011 for the first six GPS III satellites.

The companies combined have secured more than $2 billion worth of contracts for the work.

The Raytheon OCX software met “mission requirements and is on track to support the launch of the first GPS III satellite,” the company said. Two more readiness exercises and a half-dozen launch rehearsals will be conducted before the first GPS III satellite is launched.

The GPS III system is being designed to have a signal far more powerful than today’s GPS, making it more accurate and requiring much more powerful signal-jamming equipment to interfere with it.

In 2012, U.S. Air Force Gen. William Shelton, commander of the U.S. Space Command, expressed concern about Raytheon’s OCX software not being ready for the first launch, which then was expected to take place as early as 2014.

Intellectual Property Considerations when Evaluating a GPS Fleet Tracking System

Intellectual property and prior art are key factors when evaluating
GPS Fleet Tracking system providers.

Written by Thomas L. Grounds: If the adjective 'tried and true' is a notion you're familiar with - then consider how that may apply to your GPS Fleet Tracking system provider.

As a business develops products and services in the marketplace, it develops insight into how their customers operate, and how to most efficiently and reliably approach solutions.  Over time, they can develop a significant amount of intellectual property and 'art' in the market-space; some of which can be patented.  Anything not patented still has standing as 'prior art', or 'trade secrets'.

There has been some discussion in the media lately about intellectual property and patent trolls, which has set off some heated dialogue about the additional costs to businesses licensing patented technology of this sort.  

In the US, patents cannot be filed by corporations, they can only be filed by individuals or groups - though, corporations can acquire patents from these individuals.  Patents were originally awarded so that developers could have time to develop their ideas in the market without being pushed aside by larger forces.  It also gave them the right to license the technology so they could benefit from being an innovator.

'Flash of Genius' is a 2008 American
biographical movie about Robert Kearns and his
legal battle against the Ford Motor Co when
he developed and patented the
 intermittent windshield wiper.

However, not all competitors are willing to wait for the patent to expire, or to acquire a license, especially if the market is large and lucrative.  They may choose to infringe now, and wait out the patent holder - as in the movie "Flash of Genius".

Filing against an 'infringer' in the court system, usually (but not always) a corporation, can be difficult if the individuals holding the patent do not have funding and/or legal staffing to go up against potentially large companies with deep pockets; especially if the patent field is fairly technical, and there are a number of other patents in the same space, or if there is a lot of 'prior art' in the field.

So, in many cases, developers, designers, or engineers who have good ideas, who filed early and have been able to create the requisite models, demos, or systems to support their patent claims - but without the funding to carry them forward against the 'Goliaths' of their industry, feel that they are forced to either settle with the infringers on terms that are not necessarily beneficial to the patent owner; or they must team up with a patent troll for a potentially more favorable outcome.

Patent trolls typically buy up several patents in a particular market space, and then with large amounts of capital go head to head with leaders in a particular market.  They have the staff, and the funds to make sure that the 'Goliaths' can't just crush them in the court system.  Patent trolls may seem like a boon to small entrepreneurs going up against behemoths; but they can sometimes turn their patent portfolios around and use them as leverage against individual patent holders to get a larger portion of the profits.  They're no angels.

Because the purchase of the patent rights is mostly speculative, and the expenses of going up against such large entities varies but can be quite sizable (and risky) - patent trolls end up with the lion's share of the revenue from any licensing agreement.  80% is typical depending on the financial status of the developer, and how narrow or wide the patent coverage is on a particular market and how large their existing portfolio is.  This may or may not be comparatively beneficial to the original patent holder - especially if the idea is worth millions, if not billions in the marketplace.

So when I hear that we need new laws attempting to control 'patent trolls', it sounds to me like large businesses being resentful of the rights of patent holders, and/or poor behavior on the part of the patent trolls that are leveraging to enforce those licenses in court.  

I agree that the patent system - which was originally designed to give individuals a fighting chance against large businesses with deep pockets, is broken.  And while I don't personally believe in working with patent trolls; if carefully managed they can be effective sometimes, especially when the alternative is potential bankruptcy for the individuals going up against big business with no intention of negotiating.

So, how does this reflect back toward the GPS fleet tracking industry?  While portions of the science seem fresh and new to users, the technology has been around for a fairly long time - since the early 90's (or earlier if you consider Loran communications systems providing location over private 800MHz radio); and some of these early systems existed in the 'cloud' at that time; some written in Java to live on the Internet, even before 2001.

So you may want to look for companies that have been in the business for many years (or that have been 'rooted' in the science for more than a few years), with patents on their inventions (licensed or not), and with years and years of 'prior art' which can act as a form of protection - to the company, as well as their clients.
  
Prior art can be helpful in that even if the company doesn't own patents on all of it's techniques (such as geo-fence alerts), if it's use of the technology pre-dates patents in the industry, then it cannot be forced to subject to licensing.  There are several patent trolls looking for geo-fence infringers in the industry - and even though some of the new ad systems utilize geo-fencing in new and interesting ways, they are still using the same basic concept of setting up a fence around an object, and using a GPS tracking device to forward that data and make the comparison - and alerting the customer.

Newer companies in the industry may have a novel or new way of presenting location data, but since the data gathering techniques have been around for a long time, they are likely subject to licensing of these former patent holders - and that generally means, higher services or product pricing for companies that don't have the significant history in the market.

So if you are looking to keep your costs down, look at businesses that have a significant amount of time in the GPS Fleet Tracking industry, as well as patents, prior art and trade secrets that create a solid base of technology from which to build the next generation of GPS tracking innovative products and solutions. 

'Tried and true' is not just important indicator with regard to intellectual property - it's also a key to long term reliability in the market.

Fleet Management and Logistics in Food and Beverage Transportation

As reported by SupplyDemandChain: Many executives of food and beverage distribution and logistics companies are aware of the need for oversight of employees, vehicles and other assets. It has become a necessary task that businesses in the field face on a daily basis. Fleet and asset tracking are becoming more common than ever as executives and fleet managers look to ensure the efficient and effective use of their fleets, assets and employees.

At the basic level, telematics refers to the use of telecommunications and informatics to provide many practical applications for the food and beverage distribution industry. For example, in the supply industry, accurate delivery times are crucial to ensure the rest of the day’s tasks stay on time.

Another term for telematics is global positioning system (GPS) fleet tracking, however, that terminology does not fully encompass what a GPS fleet tracking solution can do for a food and beverage logistics business. These solutions have many more capabilities than simple track-and-trace options, allowing fleet managers to do more than locate vehicles or assets on a map. A comprehensive GPS fleet tracking solution should be an essential business tool for any food and beverage companies with a fleet, no matter how small. Even with the most basic usage, GPS technology allows for increased fuel efficiency and employee productivity, showing a reduction in overall operating expenses.


Companies must be able to track and manage their investments without compromising security or efficiency. GPS fleet technology, paired with an easy-to-implement solution, effectively monitors fleets, ensuring efficient use of the company’s fuel and time. Whether your business has three vehicles or 300, this technology plays a vital role in maximizing revenue, increasing operational efficiencies and achieving a return on investment (ROI).

Vehicle Tracking to Save on Fuel
GPS fleet tracking solutions offer benefits that go beyond simply knowing where vehicles are. The functions of a GPS fleet tracking solution save companies money, even when the features don’t directly target an issue, such as excessive fuel spend. The routing feature of a GPS fleet tracking solution not only ensures your drivers can get to their next delivery, site or warehouse on time, but also ensures that drivers have the most direct route to a location, thus reducing excessive fuel use.

Some GPS fleet tracking solutions integrate with intuitive and popular GPS systems such as Garmin or Magellan. Many companies choose these solutions for their fleets because of the appeal of the consumer-facing GPS systems that they are accustomed to using in their personal lives. However, a GPS fleet tracking solution that integrates with such a GPS system can have more benefits than a minimal learning curve. One supply chain and goods transportation company, SEKO, cut down on surplus driving in its fleet and reduced fuel costs with the voice-guided, turn-by-turn directions. By using the fleet tracking solution’s routing functionality, the company’s fleet manager made his drivers more productive, and cut down on fuel costs, and vehicle wear and tear.

Hard Data to Cut Back on Costs
A look into operations makes it clear what’s working and what’s not.

GPS fleet tracking solutions provide a variety of reports and information on a number of driving factors, including how many times a truck starts and stops, how long it idles, and if any dangerous driving behavior occurs.

These reports are not used to target or scold drivers, but to simply identify driving habits that can be altered to save money for the company.

The reporting capability provides a wealth of information and valuable insight at a moment’s notice. Perhaps most importantly, the collected data can be presented in a graphically rich dashboard and is actionable, which means the data can be used to improve processes. Dashboards also give fleet managers the ability to set user-defined goals that allow for benchmarking operations.

GAO: Air Force needs better analysis of new GPS sats

A modenized GPS IIR-M satellite was recently
declared operation by the Air Force after being
lofted into orbit last month. (Lockheed Martin)

As reported by Air Force Times: The Air Force should come up with better cost estimates and options for new GPS Satellites, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.

The GAO was responding to an Air Force study on lower-cost space solutions for GPS. The Air Force identified nine space options ranging from $13 billion to $25 billion between 2013 and 2030, with each option based on 30 satellites instead of the current baseline of 24.

Additionally, the Air Force has recently found a method for lengthening the life of several of the GPS satellites already in orbit.

“More information on key cost drivers and cost estimates, and broader input from stakeholders would help guide future investment decisions,” GAO concluded.

“Specifically, the key cost drivers include dual launch capability (launching two satellites on a single launch vehicle), navigation satellites (smaller GPS-type satellites yet to be developed), and a nuclear detection capability. The cost estimates also excluded the ground control and user equipment segments and cost risk.

“Further, the Air Force did not obtain inputs from some key stakeholders such as those from the GPS positioning, navigation, and timing advisory community.”

Raytheon Receives Order for GPS Anti-Jam Prototype

As reported by GPSWorld: Raytheon UK has taken its first order for a pre-production MiniGAS, the latest in GPS Anti-Jam technology, designed and manufactured by the company in the U.K. This contract, awarded by an undisclosed customer, requires Raytheon UK to produce demonstrator units for customer evaluation.

MiniGAS is the latest in Raytheon’s GPS anti-jam family of products, and it aims to be the lightest and smallest GPS anti-jamming system produced by Raytheon UK. It will have flexible form factors, suited to land, unmanned aerial vehicles and missile platforms. Raytheon is also producing demonstration units of its Landshield high performance digital anti-jam product for customer evaluation.

As well as developing new products, Raytheon has also received an order for a further 100 of its Advanced Digital Antenna Production (ADAP) systems with the U.S. government. To date, more than 500 ADAP systems and more than 6,600 GAS-1 systems have been delivered to the U.S. government and other international customers over the course of 15 years.

“Raytheon UK is a world leader in the production and supply of GPS anti-jamming systems to the majority of the world’s military forces,” said Richard Daniel, defence director for Raytheon UK. “These contracts and milestones demonstrate that we continue to make advancements in new systems, ensuring that Raytheon’s systems continue to meet the latest platform requirements.”

Raytheon continues to deliver GPS anti-jam systems to Northrop Grumman Italia to be used in the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, and the company has also delivered a significant number of systems for the Airbus Military A400M aircraft. The company also completed the delivery of its first order for its latest GPS Anti-Jam Land product to the UK Ministry of Defence within six months of contract award.

This GPS-Based Plane Tracker Makes Highways in the Sky

As reported by Gismodo: At bustling traffic hubs like O'Hare International, planes can spend an interminably long time waiting for their turn to land. And at airports like Rio de Janeiro–Galeão International, pilots must contend with tight flight paths to avoid crowded population centers and hills on their final approach. But thanks to a new hyper-accurate GPS-based tracking system, airliners will no longer have to contend with land-locked navigation beacons and overworked control towers.

The technology is known as Required Navigation Performance (RNP). Rather than the Eisenhower-era traffic management systems and land-based radio navigation beacons we've been using, RNP utilizes GPS satellite navigation to track planes with an accuracy of 32 feet and within 10 seconds of their arrival. It also demands that the planes fly along specific three-dimensional flight paths, resulting in a more efficient flight path for the plane, shorter flight times for travelers, reduced fuel costs for the airlines, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Everybody wins.

RNP is more a system than any one specific piece of technology. Developed by GE Aviation, it combines software, hardware, and procedure very similar to what's known as area navigation (RNAV, which differs in that it doesn't require on-board performance monitoring and alerting should the pilot screw up and fly outside the lines) to ensure that all aircraft operating within a specific airspace are doing so within bounds at least 95 percent of the time. This allows air traffic controllers to develop specific landing approaches that avoid noise-sensitive areas and geographical obstacles.

Depending on the specific topological conditions, the level of tolerance an RNP allows can vary. For example if an area has an RNP of 10, such as over oceans, all aircraft operating within that space must be able to calculate their positions within a 10 nautical mile radius. An RNP of .1, as is the case in Rio de Janiero, means they have to resolve within a tenth of a nautical mile.

RNP technology has slowly been gaining traction at airports around the world in recent years but the pace of adoption is quickening, especially with the very real cost savings the system provides. In Brazil, which has installed the system at nearly a dozen airports around the country, planes travel 22 miles less and spend 7.5 fewer minutes per landing than before, translating into an estimated 1,620 fewer pounds of emissions and $24 million in operational savings over the next five years. In New Zealand’s Queenstown airport, the system reduced monthly cumulative delays from 2,400 minutes to 200 minutes. In both Temuco, Chile and Cajamarca, Perú, the RNP system has drastically simplified approach patterns in these mountainous regions (see above), and in Cusco, Peru, on the slopes of Machu Picchu, the system has reduced weather-based flight cancellations by a whopping 60 percent.