E911 Featured Article

E911 Services Expected to Improve from Updated Positioning Technology

By Susan J. Campbell, TMCnet Contributing Editor

Innovations in technology emerge on a consistent basis to make our lives easier. In the next few years, mobile technology is expected to reach the milestone of everywhere location capabilities. When that happens, enterprise users and consumers alike will benefit from personalized services and E911.

According to this GPS World piece, current mobile device location platforms are lacking when it comes to positioning for E911 or location-based services. This accurate everywhere location will be a significant step forward for applications for indoor navigation, and customers will be able to easily integrate this E911 technology on all of their mobile devices.

E911 and LBS technology will enable pinpoint location on any mobile device. Knowing where we are at all times, our hand-held technology will behave much differently than it does now. It will vastly improve how we go about our day to day lives, evolving standard applications to fit true location capabilities.

When users are driving or even walking, text messages and images will appear much larger than they are now. Social media can send alerts automatically or be disabled when the user does not want them. As you and your mobile device head to the local pharmacy, a particular item on the shopping list can pop up as a reminder. The possibilities surrounding the benefits of everywhere location are seemingly endless.

The downside to the GNSS technology is that it won’t be able to deliver the most accurate position in every environment. To do this, customers would incur higher costs, something that wouldn’t suit many mobile devices or their supporting plans. In order for everywhere location to be efficient and effective, a hybrid solution must be executed.

Hybrid is an ever-changing concept, especially as it relates to positioning technology for mobile devices. Much of the GNSS technology is geared toward mobile devices and is assisted by GPS and A-GlONASS.

This particular technology focuses on connecting mobile devices to more available satellites, which can keep E911 signals strong in even the most challenging of environments. However, this technology might not be very beneficial to the person riding in an elevator in a city skyscraper.

The hybrid technology works by simply connect cellular signals with other measurements of specific satellites. The two are cross referenced to help provide the most accurate of positioning signals. This is incredibly beneficial for E911 services and LBS.

When this approach doesn’t work, many mobile devices are capable of Wi-Fi positioning through their cell ID component. The two can connect on that platform to access the GNSS positioning element. This technology continues to evolve, along with the accurate capabilities of everywhere location to provide a better life-saving approach in a cellular world.

 

Susan J. Campbell is a contributing editor for TMCnet and has also written for eastbiz.com. To read more of Susan’s articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Stefania Viscusi

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