Intro Assignment #1

     Upon reading these two informative articles, I feel that as a society, we must focus on utilizing less information that is GPS location based.  I feel that for every individual in our society, he or she is entitled to his or her own privacy.  Therefore, if a GPS unit is to be used to track an individuals whereabouts, then I feel it is only fair that who ever wants to track someone, gets that persons permission to do so.  That way, if they are supposedly being made as a helpful device, like the Personal use of GPS article states, than every person involved should be on board already.  However, with this said, I also feel that the benefits of the GPS tracking system can outweigh the risks if handled in the correct and honest way.  In order for these GPS tracking systems to be used as a benefit to society, we must find a way to regulate them and their usage to a certain degree.  If the way that they are actually being used surpasses the limit to with which they were supposed to be used, then this is what will cause for a flip of power, leading to the risks beginning to out weigh the benefits.  GPS is a great technological invention that is able to do a lot of good, however, with all of this ability comes the ability to use it in ways that as a society we really need to make an effort to keep from happening, such as an invasion of privacy.  We as a society need to have everyone that wants to use the GPS type trackers to sign a legal document with all of the parties involved, (I.E. a mother tracking her son’s car, or a son following his mother’s movements because of her dementia, etc.)  Here, the son and mother in both cases would need to sign the same document, showing that they both are aware that there is a GPS tracker set in place.  An example of GPS invading individuals lives is in regards to I believe the company Verizon Wireless and the latest information on their cell phones and how there are GPS trackers that allow for people to be followed anywhere, at any time.  This shows how privacy really cannot be taken for granite.

Institutional Scholarly Resource:

http://www.engr.mun.ca/~mhahmed/privacy/mobile_phone_privacy_report.pdf