From: js@wolfenet.com (Jay W. Summet) Subject: Re: TECH: GPS in helmet tracking? Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 13:01:27 GMT Message-ID: <4jgvhj$q1k@tahoma.cwu.edu> Organization: Central Washington University From: js@wolfenet.com (Jay W. Summet) GPS (the publically accessable verson anyways) is not accurate enough to track a head or hand. (It's made for location on a world scale, not room scale). However, there is a new technology out, which uses a known location fixed antenna to improve the accuracy. (Details complicated, but it works) This improved method could probably get you to within +/- 6 inches or so, but that is still not good enough for most tracking applications. NOTE: This improved method is actually better than the military version of GPS (although the same method could be used to improve the military version of GPS as well, if the government every decides to privatize it.) The improved military version would probably still not be accurate enough for VR applications. NOTE#2: GPS is designed to work outdoors, indoor applications may or may not work. If you had a LONG time to track something (such as a few weeks) you could take multiple readings, and use some fancy computer software to get accuracy to within cm's. This method is used to detect contenental drift/fault activity/etc...but, as I said, takes a fixed receiver several weeks, with a lot of complicated software work as well. It's a bit cheaper and MUCH more accurate to use Magnetic or Optical tracking for VR applications. Jay Sharon David wrote: >From: Sharon David >Does anyone know if any helmets are being manufactured that use GPS >for positioning? Since GPS technology is getting so small and >accurate you would think someone would incorporate it into a helmet >tracking system. >Any comments on this appreciated!