2007
Improving Taxi Service In New York? When Satellites Fly
New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission imposed a new mandate requiring new technology, including GPS receivers and credit card terminals, in all 13,000 taxis in the city. Some taxi drivers and taxi companies have objected.
Waiting at the New York Bus Stop with GPS Accuracy
GPS is also being applied to public transportation challenges. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City began a pilot program to track buses with GPS devices, and use this data to calculate and display estimated arrival times at bus stops.
Real-time Traffic Updates for Your Commute
The role of consumer GPS units for personal cars is evolving from static maps and directions to dynamic content. Innovative new technologies are using additional connectivity provided by wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) or cell networks for real time traffic updates and accurate information on points-of-interest.
Brazil Uses Satellite Network for Rural Schools
Satellite communications enable a growing number of distance learning and tele-education programs. In 2007, the Brazilian education network, enabled by Hughes Network Systems’ HughesNet, completed rollout in the state of Amazonas.
Moon Exploration from the Desktop
Google Moon, originally released in July 2005, was updated in 2007 with high-resolution imagery from NASA, including images and tours of Apollo landing sites.
Personal Stargazing Guide
A new application of GPS technology is making star-gazing more accessible. The telescope manufacturer Meade’s mySKY handheld digital astrolabe uses a GPS sensor and a magnetic compass to identify celestial objects.
Phoenix Rises Above Mars
The first mission intended to “touch and examine water on Mars,” was launched by NASA in August of 2007. The Martian probe Phoenix was scheduled to land in May 2008 near the Martian North Pole. From this location, the Phoenix mission involves direct observation of the water cycle, assessing the history of water on Mars and its effect on weather.
Land a Lunar Rover, Win Money
A new X PRIZE competition, sponsored by Google, began in 2007. The Google Lunar X PRIZE is a $30 million competition designed to stimulate entrepreneurial activity and investment. The prize will be awarded to the first team able to land a privately funded robotic rover on the lunar surface capable of roaming 500 meters and sending still images, video, and other data back to Earth.
Deep Space Probes from the Far East
In 2007, a number of robotic probes and planetary landers were launched as several nations developed their space exploration programs. Among these launches were the first lunar orbiters from Japan and China.
Virtual Private Networks from Space
New technologies allow satellites to play a key role in Virtual Private Networks (VPN) — the ability to have secure network communications over the Internet. This provides a relatively inexpensive solution to management and communications challenges of geographically dispersed companies.