GPS Tracking Technology Used To Keep Kids In School

Who would have thought school truancy would play a part in the high tech world of gadgets? The Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD), that's who. Faced with a dropout rate ranking them seventh among large school districts, according to America's Promise Alliance, and a truancy rate of 15%, the school was not only losing students but also the funds connected with school attendance. It was clear they needed something to stem the leakage. The solution fell into the lap of Bryan Adams High School which is currently using GPS tracking devices in a pilot program to retain their student population.

The GPS tracking devices worn by students are similar to those used by law enforcement keeping tabs on individuals under house arrest, rather than a simpler less obvious GPS tracking watch. Six students, out of the 300 sent to truancy court, from Bryan Adams were chosen to participate in the program. The price tag for the digital age truancy program? $26,000. The investment covers a case worker whose duties include tracking the students, assisting them in their daily activities, as well as providing assistance to families.

The program is proving more cost effective for the state compared to the alternative of detaining repeat truancy offenders in a juvenile detention facility. The program also benefits students by providing a measure of structure, which will translate to a greater ability to become a functioning member of society — like showing up for work on time. This structure is priceless for many of the students enrolled in the program because it is hard for them to create this structure otherwise.

Other than making students show up for class and train for adulthood, the GPS program for truant students hits more personal issues. Most truant students are dealing with more than just running late for class. Issues facing the majority of truant students run the gamut from drugs or alcohol, gang involvement, issues in their family life, or any mix of the above. In the past year, the GPS system helped find a student in the pilot program on the verge of a drug overdose. The program also led case workers to a student that had ditched school and was contemplating suicide. In both situations, a GPS tracking device helped case workers find and assist these students.

Sounds like a great system? Not everyone thinks so. One Texas law maker, as summarized in the New York Times, dislikes the idea since “ankle cuffs used in an earlier version were reminiscent of slave chains.” No one wants to make these students out to be slaves, just to help them. The comment could stem off of the fact that the majority of Bryan Adams High School is non-Caucasian. The high school's representation includes 53% Hispanic American, 32% African American, in addition 62% of the student population is grouped as economically disadvantaged.

In any case it seems Dallas ISD and Bryan Adams High school are trying to do a good thing. They're just using the greatest and latest technology to do so. Who doesn't want help students maintain attendance, graduate high school, and attain prime jobs? Of course, the utilization of GPS technology in improving the systems in place, such as student truancy, needs to be further tested in a variety of situations if we are to fully develop and utilize this powerful technology.


Joe teaches people about GPS tracking watches and about how to get kids to use their GPS kids devices.
http://www.gpsfortoday.com

Laptops- Efficient and Helpful Gadgets

A laptop is an efficient and highly advanced movable computer that helps the users to carry out all their tasks with great ease.
Technology is on the path of advancement and its amazing growth has bestowed the human race with incredible capabilities. Laptops are one of the major contributions of the enhanced technology. They have smartly replaced the conventional personal computers and now every body wants to own a sleek and portable device which has mammoth capabilities. These devices are the most popular and advanced gadgets that are a great aid to various business professionals.

Today computers have influenced each and every arena of our lives, in such a scenario these gadgets play a very vital role in successful completion of various tasks related to business or work. No matter if you are a professional programmer or a businessman, whether you are writer or a lecturer- every body needs to have a portable computer in today’s fast paced world. Gone are the days when your work was restricted to your office or home, you need a portable and mobile computer with which you can carry our all your important tasks no matter where you are. Whether you are going on a business meeting or a holiday trip, it’s always advantageous to keep your laptop with you so that your work does not get hampered. These high performance gadgets are not very expensive and you can easily get cheap laptops.

Various brands like Acer, HCL, and Sony etc manufacturer high quality laptops that are extremely robust and efficient. This gadget weighs around 2 pounds to 18 pounds and has different sizes, configuration etc. They have a battery which can be charged through the AC/DC. These devices also run on the main power supply through the external AC/DC adaptor. They sometimes also feature a cell which is used to run major processes in case of power failure. These gadgets have advanced and highly sophisticated equipments and electronic circuits. They have high definition LCD displays and a variety of memory modules like RAM etc. They feature advanced keypad, a touch pad with which the pointers are controlled and the high performance processor from ace brands like Intel and AMD.

These gadgets feature active matrix displays with high resolution and they also have a PC card. They are equipped with hard disks, Video and sound cards, graphics adaptor etc. These advanced gadgets have all the capabilities and functionalities like the personal computers- they have CD drives, USB ports, LAN card etc. The cheap laptops can be easily used over the network and to surf the internet. The performance of the laptop largely depends upon its configuration and price range. Better the configuration -- higher the prices and hence better performance. Laptops are available in different price ranges and the users can select the one based on their needs and budget.

These highly efficient computers can be easily upgraded, however the compatibility depends upon the brand and model of the machine. The laptops have MinIPCI slot which can be used for Bluetooth or WLAN card. The USB ports provide ease to attach various devices etc to the machine.

These days Lenovo laptops are gaining great success in the market. The Lenovo Thinkpad computers are an innovative range of advanced laptops which have high performance processors and advanced TrackPoint pointing device. They feature high tech keyboard and Active protection system that shuts down the hard disk drive when the machine is falling, and thus avoids damages. The Lenovo laptops also have a biometric device that reads finger prints.

Samsung Laptops are also very efficient and sophisticated. These computers have state of the art electronic components, high performance display and fast speed processor. The premium laptops rank high in the context of performance, quality and technology. They are built with advanced technology and great efficacy. The Japanese giant brand Toshiba has also presented some of the high end laptops in the market. The Toshiba laptops are trusted by the people from different industries and professions.

These days various online shopping portals offer amazing deals on the laptops. Customers can search for cheap laptop UK to avail beneficial offers like discounts etc.