Latest news with #GPS
Scotsman
3 hours ago
- Scotsman
11 basic life skills we've lost since the 60s, which almost everyone used to have
1 . Reading a map Reading a map used to be an absolutely essential skill but now we all have GPS and Google Maps on our phones, it's an ability many of us have lost. That doesn't mean the days of taking a wrong turn in the car are over, of course, but the youth of today may never get to appreciate the simple pleasure of getting lost in a new city and stumbling on an unexpected gem. | Getty Images Photo: Nick Yapp/
Irish Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
League of Ireland players reach compromise on tracking technology blackout
League of Ireland players have agreed to a two-week blackout on clubs using technology to track their fitness in the off initially wanted a four-week lockdown where their physical activity was not being monitored, but have indicated they will meet clubs proposal is that players get a four-week off-season break after their final game of the season, with 'at least two of those weeks being completely commitment free'.PFA Ireland chief Stephen McGuinness wrote to all clubs this week, requesting their co-operation ahead of formally introducing the measure to standard player contracts. McGuinness wrote: 'This period is essential for players to recover physically and mentally from the demands of the season and to reduce the risk of injury and burnout.'Seen by Mirror Sport, the letter continued: 'Players should not be issued any structured or informal training plans, fitness schedules, or physical conditioning expectations. Click this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest League of Ireland news and top stories from the Irish Mirror. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 'Clubs are asked to refrain from using GPS, heart rate monitors, wellness apps, or any other tracking technologies during this time."There should be no club-led training sessions, meetings, or check-ins - either in person or remotely - during the blackout period. Players should be free to use this time as they see fit, without any pressure or implied obligations from club staff or management.' PFA Ireland conducted a recent survey of 319 players, the majority of whom felt that wearing GPS tracking vests in the off-season was 'like working from home.'This week's PFA Ireland letter to clubs concluded: 'These safeguards are not merely recommendations. They are evidence-based standards aligned with global occupational health and safety principles.'As such, we believe their implementation is not only in the best interest of the players but also of the clubs and the league as a whole. It is our expectation that the above blackout period and related terms are recognised in the Standard Player's Contract (SPC) ahead of the 2026 season.'The National League Committee will meet to discuss the players' proposal. Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email.
The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
One Tech Tip: No more lost cats and dogs. Use tech to track your pet
LONDON: "Have you seen the cats?' That's a common refrain in my household because our two felines, Maple and Juniper, can venture outside through a flap in the backdoor. Like many other London house cats, they're free to come and go, roaming the surrounding backyards and beyond, equipped with microchips to identify them if they get lost. If your cat likes to prowl outdoors for long stretches, or your dog has a tendency to run off, it can be distressing when they don't return as expected. If you're worried about your furry friend's whereabouts, technology can help you keep tabs on them. How pet tech works Dedicated pet trackers are collar-worn devices that typically use GPS signals to pinpoint the location of the animal wearing them. They use a 4G cellphone signal or your home WiFi connection to relay the position to a smartphone app. There are many products on the market. Tractive, Jiobit and Pawfit are among brands that offer trackers for both dogs and cats. Devices for the latter are generally smaller and lighter. An Apple Air Tag and a Chipolo Bluetooth tracker are seen on a keyring next to a cat in London. — AP Dog trackers with integrated collars are available from Fi and Whistle. PetTracer is a cat collar that uses both GPS and radio signals from a home base station. FitBark, also for dogs, has an Apple Watch app to monitor location and other activity. Garmin has a range of GPS dog collars that work with handheld devices resembling walkie-talkies, but they're pricey and aimed at outdoors enthusiasts like hunters. Phone signals Most trackers let you designate a safe zone on a map, usually your house and surrounding area, and alert you if your pet has left it. They usually operate on the 4G LTE spectrum commonly used by wireless carriers. It typically has the longest range of any cellular signal, said Andrew Bleiman, Tractive's executive vice president for North America. That means strong connectivity in most of Europe and North America "unless you're in a really far flung place like the middle of a national park,' Bleiman said. What it costs Exact price depends on brand and model. Most devices sell for less than US$100 (RM425). However, keep in mind you'll also have to pay a subscription fee for the cell service to function. While that could cost US$100 or more a year, for some pet owners it's worth the "peace of mind,' Bleiman said. Battery life The collars usually have a built-in rechargeable battery but battery life varies. Most will be last at least two to three days before they need charging, and a lot longer in ideal conditions. One big factor is signal strength. The battery will drain faster if the device has to work harder to pick up the GPS or connect to WiFi. Some save power by not sending coordinates in the safe zone. Other features Like fitness watches for humans, pet tracking apps offer health and activity monitoring features. You can see how long your cat or dog has spent resting or exercising on a daily or hourly basis. But be aware, a tracker is "not going to keep your pet in the backyard," Bleiman said. It will only "alert you when they leave the virtual fence area that you set up.' How to use it This One TechTip was inspired by Maple, who once went AWOL for days. It turned out he was hanging out in a backyard 10 doors down the street. We only found out after the residents got hold of a pet microchip scanner to look up our contact details to let us know so we could retrieve him. A screenshot of the Tractive pet tracking app shows the path that a cat has taken in a London neighborhood in London, on May 29, 2025. — AP Tractive provided a loaner device to try. Using the included breakaway collar, we put it on Maple, who clearly didn't like it at first. He dashed out the back door and jumped through a hole in the fence. Over the next day, I used the Tractive app to monitor his movements. It showed his travels back and forth onto various neighbouring properties. He came back to rest for a few hours around midnight, went out to prowl again around 3am, then came back after an hour to nap some more. It was fascinating to see where he was spending his time. According to the app's "heatmap," one of Maple's favourite spots was the same backyard where we had to retrieve him previously. Losing track About 24 hours after I attached the Tractive collar on Maple, I noticed he was no longer wearing it. It had somehow come off. If you can't find your pet's exact location, or the device gets lost, Tractive has a "radar' feature to pinpoint it with your phone's Bluetooth. Other brands have similar features. On the app's map, I could see it was in a nearby backyard and that I was getting closer because the circle was getting bigger. But I couldn't figure out where it was and, not wanting to disturb the neighbours, I gave up. Bleiman recommends using a harness for cats that don't like collars, but I'm not convinced. Microchips It's common for cats and dogs to be implanted with microchips, with the details added to a database. That makes it much easier to reunite owners with lost dogs and cats, even if they've strayed hundreds of miles away or gone missing for years. Pet microchips, about the size of a grain of rice implanted just below the skin, are legally required in some European countries. There's no federal law in the US, though some places like Hawaii now require them, so check with state or local authorities. But there's some confusion about what microchips can do. Because they don't have a power supply, they can't be tracked in real time. Whoever finds your pet would need to take it to a vet or a shelter to can scan the device for contact details. Air Tags and similar devices are another option Many pet owners use Bluetooth trackers like Apple's Air Tags, Samsung's SmartTags or similar devices from Tile, Cube and Chipolo, which rely on low-power signals relayed by passing smartphones. Bluetooth trackers have a range of 100 to 500 feet (30 to 150 meters), depending on the model. The batteries last for months if not longer, and there's no need to pay for a subscription. However, they're not specifically marketed for pets. That hasn't stopped pet owners, judging from many recommendations they've posted in online forums. Chipolo advises that its round plastic trackers are only for "in-house pets like house-trained cats and smaller dogs' and warns against using them on "larger dog breeds and outdoor cats". Still, they can be a solution for some pet owners. "Bluetooth is a totally reasonable solution if you're in a downtown urban core,' Bleiman said. "But pets move fast. And if you're in a wooded park, or you're in a suburban area – let alone a more rural or wilderness area – it's pretty unlikely your pet is going to be close to a Bluetooth device." – AP
Rhyl Journal
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Steve Borthwick wants as many England players as possible involved with Lions
There are five uncapped names in an experimental England squad that was announced on Thursday, three of whom are set to start the match, with 14 players currently in Dublin with Andy Farrell's side for Friday's game against Argentina following Jack van Poortvliet's call-up this week. Amongst those playing from the start in west London will be Gloucester centre Seb Atkinson, selected after an impressive year in what was only a second professional season at Kingsholm for the 23-year-old, during which he ranked top in carries, tackles, and passes amongst centres in the Premiership. Back in action this weekend 🙌 Head coach Steve Borthwick has named his match day squad to face a France XV this Saturday at @allianz_stad 🌹 Watch live and free on @RugbyPass TV 📺@O2 | #WearTheRose — England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) June 19, 2025 With this summer's tour of Argentina and the United States overlapping with the Lions' time in Australia, Borthwick is looking forward to experimenting with his side beyond Saturday's non-cap international. 'We've spoken very publicly, we want as many England players in that Lions squad as possible,' he said. 'JVP is over there at the minute with them. There might be situations where other England players join that squad and we'll be delighted for our players to do that. 'It creates opportunities for others in the England squad. What I'm seeing so far this week is players grabbing that opportunity. 'Seb Atkinson, starting at 12 this week, the way he has embraced training, the way he's jumped into it. He's smashed every record we have on GPS in terms of his running. 'We have a group of players – Sladey (Henry Slade), Tommy Freeman, Freddie Steward – Seb has come in and put himself right in that mix or even just above that. When that happens, you're raising the standard of everybody.' Also set to start on Saturday is Bath flanker Guy Pepper fresh from a starring role in Saturday's Premiership final win over Leicester. The 22-year-old, who was awarded man of the match as Bath ended a 29-year wait for the title, was called up to train with the team during the 2024 Six Nations having made an impression on Borthwick during his time at Newcastle. 'You've seen enormous growth in Guy,' he said. 'The first time I met Guy was about 18 months ago at a hotel in Newcastle airport. I had a coffee with Guy and watched his game the next day. 'He hurt his hip and had to leave the field after about 30 minutes but in that 30 minutes he played so well. I thought then this is a player that's got a future in the England team. 'Since then his game has grown and grown. You saw his performance Saturday in the Premiership final, he's been tremendous. I'm looking forward to seeing him at this level.' Borthwick pointed to the emergence of Tom Curry for England in 2017 when the Lions were touring as reason why Saturday's non-cap match should be respected. 'The way change happens is, when opportunity comes along, somebody grabs it,' said Borthwick. 'The players understand that. 'The number of players in 2017 who emerged on that tour that summer who played such significant roles in a team that went to the World Cup final a few years later in 2019, the likes of Sam Underhill, Tom Curry, Mark Wilson emerged on that tour. 'That's the opportunity that presents itself this summer.'
Leader Live
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Steve Borthwick wants as many England players as possible involved with Lions
There are five uncapped names in an experimental England squad that was announced on Thursday, three of whom are set to start the match, with 14 players currently in Dublin with Andy Farrell's side for Friday's game against Argentina following Jack van Poortvliet's call-up this week. Amongst those playing from the start in west London will be Gloucester centre Seb Atkinson, selected after an impressive year in what was only a second professional season at Kingsholm for the 23-year-old, during which he ranked top in carries, tackles, and passes amongst centres in the Premiership. Back in action this weekend 🙌 Head coach Steve Borthwick has named his match day squad to face a France XV this Saturday at @allianz_stad 🌹 Watch live and free on @RugbyPass TV 📺@O2 | #WearTheRose — England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) June 19, 2025 With this summer's tour of Argentina and the United States overlapping with the Lions' time in Australia, Borthwick is looking forward to experimenting with his side beyond Saturday's non-cap international. 'We've spoken very publicly, we want as many England players in that Lions squad as possible,' he said. 'JVP is over there at the minute with them. There might be situations where other England players join that squad and we'll be delighted for our players to do that. 'It creates opportunities for others in the England squad. What I'm seeing so far this week is players grabbing that opportunity. 'Seb Atkinson, starting at 12 this week, the way he has embraced training, the way he's jumped into it. He's smashed every record we have on GPS in terms of his running. 'We have a group of players – Sladey (Henry Slade), Tommy Freeman, Freddie Steward – Seb has come in and put himself right in that mix or even just above that. When that happens, you're raising the standard of everybody.' Also set to start on Saturday is Bath flanker Guy Pepper fresh from a starring role in Saturday's Premiership final win over Leicester. The 22-year-old, who was awarded man of the match as Bath ended a 29-year wait for the title, was called up to train with the team during the 2024 Six Nations having made an impression on Borthwick during his time at Newcastle. 'You've seen enormous growth in Guy,' he said. 'The first time I met Guy was about 18 months ago at a hotel in Newcastle airport. I had a coffee with Guy and watched his game the next day. 'He hurt his hip and had to leave the field after about 30 minutes but in that 30 minutes he played so well. I thought then this is a player that's got a future in the England team. 'Since then his game has grown and grown. You saw his performance Saturday in the Premiership final, he's been tremendous. I'm looking forward to seeing him at this level.' Borthwick pointed to the emergence of Tom Curry for England in 2017 when the Lions were touring as reason why Saturday's non-cap match should be respected. 'The way change happens is, when opportunity comes along, somebody grabs it,' said Borthwick. 'The players understand that. 'The number of players in 2017 who emerged on that tour that summer who played such significant roles in a team that went to the World Cup final a few years later in 2019, the likes of Sam Underhill, Tom Curry, Mark Wilson emerged on that tour. 'That's the opportunity that presents itself this summer.'
