Municipal map coverage extended within the GTA to include the municipality of Toronto and parts of Vaughan.
March 2, 2010
A new coverage map expanding the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) to include the municipality of Toronto and Vaughan Ontario is now available. The coverage maps include speed limit information, red light camera intersections, crosswalks, deer crossings, school zones, and playgrounds.
Click here to see the GTA coverage that is now available for the Otto-driving companion GTA and Hamilton Regional Coverage shaded in black over the map image
Expanded GTA coverage maps now available!
February 18th, 2010
New coverage maps expanding the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) are now available. These maps include the OakVille-Burlington area within the Peel/Halton Region, and the Markham, Scarborough and Pickering area with the York, North York and Durham Regions. The coverage maps include speed limit information, red light camera intersections, crosswalks, deer crossings, school zones, and playgrounds.
Map updates are also available for the City of Hamilton, and for the Rural Provincial coverage area around the City of Winnipeg.
Victoria and surrounding region - coverage map available!
January 25, 2010
The first release of the region around Victoria British Columbia is now available for your Otto-driving companion. The map includes speed limit information, red light camera intersections, crosswalks, deer crossings, school zones, and playgrounds. The region extends north to Sidney and the airport and east to View Royal and Burnside Rd W.
Winnipeg coverage map updated
January 9, 2010
The Winnipeg coverage map update includes the addition of a red light camera at the intersection of Balmoral St. and Sargent Ave. A speed adjustment on Main Street, near Selkirk Ave., has also been made.
Calgary coverage map updated
December 27, 2009
The Calgary coverage map udpate includes road network updates for the recently extended Stoney Trail (Provincial Highway 201) from Country Hills Blvd NW to 17 Ave SE. Additional road network extension along 16 Ave NE (Highway 1), 32 Ave NE, McKnight Blvd NE, Country Hills Blvd (Provincial Highway 564), Deerfoot Trail (Highway 2), Harvest Hills Blvd NE. have been updated with speed limits. School zones and playgrounds have been updated in the Harvest and Coventry Hills area.
Brandon, Manitoba coverage map now available
December 21, 2009
The first release of the region around Brandon Manitoba is now available for your Otto-driving companion. The map includes speed limit information, as well as crosswalks, deer crossings, school zones, and playgrounds.
New Map coverage areas and map updates available
December 16, 2009
New map coverage areas are now available for the following regions: Montreal (Ile de Montreal from Baie d Urfe to Montreal Est), Mississauga region (407 East of Milton to Hwy 427 East of Pearson Airport), Hamilton region (West of Stoney Creek to Hwy 403 East), and the Greater Capital region around Winnipeg. For greater details on the map coverage areas, click on the following link.
Click here to view the new coverage regions just released.
NOTE: New map coverage releases are directed towards Otto-driving companion model PM2626 only. First generation Otto-driving companion models, OM0405, will support one home map only. All new maps contain large numbers of roads and content and only the second generation PM2626 and newer Otto applications can store and process these maps.
Map updates are also available for Winnipeg and Edmonton. Winnipeg map update includes speed zone adjustments on McGillvray Blvd., St. Mary's Road and Dugald Road East near Pth 101. The red light camera alert on Osborne St N near Mostyn Pl. has been removed, and various playground alert extensions have been implemented. The Winnipeg airport speed limit transitions have been adjusted from 30 to 50 km/hr and a crosswalk has been added on Sargent Ave. at Ferry Rd. Edmonton Map updates include changes within Sherwood Park area with speed zone adjustments on Sherwood Drive, Lakeland Drive, Clover Bar Road, Jubiliee Dr., widening of Highway 21 and speed adjustment, school zones at Lakeland Ridge, playgrouds on Jim Common Dr. and Crosswalks along Sherwood Dr. These updates are backwards compatible to the model OM0405 Otto-driving companion.
Map updates available
November 2, 2009
Map updates are available for Winnipeg. Winnipeg map update includes speed zone adjustments on St.Anne's road - between 2 Mile Road and Aldgate Road, Dugald Road - Provincial Highway 15, Highway 59 north of path 101, and a speed zone transition on Waverly st at Bison Ave. The red light camera on St. Mary's Road at Warde has been added as well as a crosswalk on Jubilee at Riverdale Ave, and a school zone on Debourmont Ave between Maginot and Elizabeth. The shopping mall "out of coverage" area zones have been restored to a default "inside coverage area" with a speed limit of 50 kph.
Map updates available
September 8, 2009
Map updates are available for Winnipeg, Regina and Moose Jaw. Winnipeg map update includes speed zone adjustments with opening of Fort Garry Bridge and numerous PTH 101 adjustments, exclusion areas for certain shopping malls, and the addition of playgrounds and the removal of a school zone on Nairin. Regina speed adjustment on Albert and adjustment to RLC on Albert. Moose Jaw map changes include school zone, playground and crosswalk additions as well as 30 km/hr speed zone in park off 9th Ave SW.
Map updates available
May 28, 2009
Map updates are available for Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Kalamzoo. Winnipeg map update includes a speed zone change on Waverley, playground alert adjusments on Henderson Highway and school zone adjustments on Island Shore Blvd. Ottawa map changes include various speed limit adjustments and the addition and adjustment of Red Light Camera controlled intersections.
Winnipeg map update available
April 13, 2009
A map update is available for Winnipeg. The Winnipeg map update includes the speed zone changes along Bishop Grandin in-and-around the Fort Garry Twin bridges, speed zone adjustments on McGillvray and McCreary Road, and additions of a school zone, crosswalk and two playgrounds.
Lethbridge coverage map now available!
February 10, 2009
A map is available for Lethbridge, Alberta. The coverage map includes posted speed limits, school zones, playgrounds, crosswalks, and deer crossings. Hazardous intersection data has not yet been included, and currently there are no fixed red light camera intersections.
Kitchener-Waterloo Map update available and first release of Kalamazoo, Michigan Posted Speed Limit map available.
January 6, 2009
A map update is available for Kitchener-Waterloo. The map update includes the addition of several Red Light Camera alerts and adjustments to some crosswalks and schoolzones. The first version of the Kalamazoo Michigan municipal map is now available. Only posted speed limits have been incorporated into this initial release and there are no other alerts included at this time.
Winnipeg Map update available
January 2, 2009
A map update is available for Winnipeg. The Winnipeg map update includes a Red Light Camera alert for the diamond bus lane on Osborne Street North, speed zone changes, and changes and additions to school and playground areas in Winnipeg.
Otto-driving companion system recognized by CME and NRC-IRAP for innovation!
November 6th, 2008
The Canadian Manufacturers' & Exporters (CME) and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC-IRAP) recognized PERSENTECH's innovation activities in the design and development of the Otto-driving companion system. The award was presented at the CME Annual Deputy Ministers' Dinner on November 6th, 2008 at the Fort Garry Hotel. For more http://www.persentech.com/news.html
Device firmware update and Winnipeg Map changes!
October 30, 2008
A device firmware update is now available. This firmware update includes support for OttoLink and OttoView device connections to the Otto-driving companion, and also provides Otto-driving companion model PM2626 devices with an additional trip logging annunciation. This device firmware does not change the Otto-driving companion models OM0405 or OM0405b.
The new trip logging functionality for model PM2626 involves a trip mode reminder, annuciated as either "Personal" or "Business". This reminder will occur immediately after the device is powered-up, if logging is enabled.
A map update is also available for Winnipeg. The Winnipeg map update includes speed zone changes, and changes and additions to alerts associated playgrounds.
Map updates available for Winnipeg and Regina; Moose Jaw Saskatchewan map released!
September 8, 2008
Map updates available for Winnipeg and Regina. Winnipeg map update includes speed zone changes, and changes and additions to alerts associated with school zones, playgrounds, crosswalks and a removal of a red light camera. Regina has one speed zone change.
The coverage map for the municipality of Moose Jaw Saskatchewan has been completed and provides most alert notifications with the exception of red light camera intersections, as Moose Jaw does not have any.
Map updates available and support of U.S. maps released on website
July 30, 2008
Map updates available for Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, and Ottawa. Grand Forks ND, East Grand Forks MN, and Palo Alto map available. Idling warning configuration and control feature now available.
Map updates include adjustments and changes in speed limits, school zones, and playgrounds. In Winnipeg, a speed zone adjustment has also been made from 80 km/hr to 60 km/hr on Waverly St. between Sandusky and just north of Bison drive, to accomodate the longer term construction area.
US map support has also been published on the website, allowing users to select between the Imperial (U.S.) and Metric (Canada) systems for speed and mileage calculations. Users will be required to download a new ActiveX control to be able to connect and retrieve the new firmware update for this new functionality.
Coverage in the U.S. is preliminary and currently only Grand Forks ND, East Grand Forks MN, and Palo Alto-Mountain View are available. These coverage areas are published with current speed zones, and some school zones, playgrounds, and crosswalk alerts as made available by the local municipality code and State legislation.
The idling alert functionality released in support of the CST idling study can now be configured and controled via the website. Go to myDevice, "Personalize General Otto Settings" to access the controls.
PERSENTECH awarded patent for “Vehicle Warning System”
April 22, 2008
Persen Technologies Inc. (PERSENTECH) announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued patent number 7,362,239, titled, "Vehicle Warning System."
The patent relates to a vehicle warning system that responds to the speed and position of a vehicle as determined by Global Positioning System (GPS) or other location based system information to alert a vehicle operator of potentially unsafe conditions when either exceeding the speed limit on a given road segment, or when approaching coordinates of a designated location alert point. The system includes a remote server having a segmented database to provide updates and personalization functionality.
For more information, browse to www.persentech.com.
Map update available for Winnipeg plus new data logging feature released!
April 17, 2008
Winnipeg map update includes adjustments and changes in speed limits and playgrounds.
The new data logging feature is available for the model PM2626 of the Otto-Driving Companion. The feature provides for a selection of Business or Personal logging and all report templates available with the OttoLog data are now organized according to business and personal trips. The new feature requires a firmware upgrade for model PM2626 units only, and there are no changes to the model OM0405.
With the new feature on model PM2626 units, depressing the Speed-button (right-most button on the front of the unit) will provide you with an annunciation of the data logging mode, "Business" or "Personal" immediately following the "Point of Interest" annunciation. You can select the data logging mode by pressing the Speed-button immediately after the annunciation of "Business" or "Personal" and it will switch modes.
Technical Support and Development for model OM0405 ends for Road Safety-Data Logging Switching Mode
April 17, 2008
As of April 30, 2008, PERSENTECH will no longer continue to provide technical support towards fixing any issues with the Road Safety-Data Logging switching model. The current dual functionality for the OM0405 model will remain "as-is" on the website and no new developments and bug fixes will be supported. The company will focus on new developments and technical support for the model PM2626 Otto device as well as for new product developments.
Map update available for Calgary plus new map of Airdrie now included with Calgary release!
April 8, 2008
Calgary map update includes speed limit changes, the addition of school zones, and deer crossing alerts. The new map of Airdrie includes speed limits, school zones, playgrounds, crosswalks, hazardous intersection, and deer crossings.
Map update available for Ottawa
February 10, 2008
Update includes speed limit changes, the addition of several Red Light Camera intersections, school zones, playgrounds and deer crossing alerts.
Map update available for Edmonton, Sherwood Park and St. Albert
January 21, 2008
Update includes new extension of Anthony Henday (Hwy 216) from St. Albert to Hwy 14. This is a new road with speed limits and deer crossings. Ray Gibbons Drive from 137 Ave NW added within St. Albert corporate limits as well as a number of deer crossings, crosswalks and School Zones.
Thunder Bay coverage area map is now available
January 7, 2008
The Otto-Driving Companion is now operational in Thunder Bay, Ontario. A coverage map including speed limits, deer crossings, crosswalks and a limited number of school zone and playground areas has been released. Note that most school zone areas are speed limited to 40 km/hr. This coverage map includes the new Harbour Expressway (Shabaqua extension of Highway 11/17).
Map update for Winnipeg and new firmware upgrade is now available
December 21, 2007
The Winnipeg map update includes crosswalk changes along Pembina Highway and two speed zone changes, one on Saskatchewan Boulevard and one on Pipeline Road.
The new firmware upgrade includes a new compass feature for model PM2626 units. For model PM2626 units, depressing the Speed-button (right-most button on the front of the unit) will provide you with an annunciation of the compass heading direction immediately following the annunciation of the posted speed limit.
Medicine Hat and the town of Redcliff map released plus updates for Winnipeg and Regina maps available
November 23, 2007
A coverage map for The City of Medicine Hat and the nearby town of Redcliff Alberta is now available for your Otto-Driving Companion. The municipal information include posted speed limits, school zones, playgrounds, crosswalks, deer crossings and hazardous intersections. There are no red light camera controlled intersections in the municipality, but speed enforcement includes mobile photo radar in school and playground areas. All such areas are speed limited to 30 km/hr.
For Winnipeg, a playground was added on Columbia, the RLC intersection at Grassie and Lagimodiere was adjusted, and the 80 km/hr speed slowdown on Pth 101 at Saskatchewan Boulevard was adjusted.
For Regina, an 80 km/hr zone on Highway 1 about Lewvan Drive was added.
Winnipeg and Calgary map updates available
October 9, 2007
For Winnipeg, on Route 90 - Kenaston underpass, speed limit was adjusted at the 60 to 80 transition southbound, and the 80 to 60 km/hr transition northbound; Haney St. speed limit changed from 50 to 30 km/hr; a playground on Raleigh in front of Gateway arena was added; and Highway 101 - Perimeter highway doubling on east side - road and speed limit adjusted.
For Calgary, the RLC at 16 AVE and 10 st NW was adjusted post construction; Deerfoot south of Marquis of Lorne speed limit adjusted to 110 km/hr; and adjustment to RLC at 64th ave and 4th st NE.
Region of Kitchener-Waterloo map released
August 30, 2007
A map of the region of Kitchener-Waterloo is now available on the www.myottomate.com website. The map includes all posted speed limits, crosswalks, red light camera intersections, school zones, hazardous intersections, and some playgrounds. There are no deer crossing alerts released in this version.
Map update available for Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD)
August 7, 2007
Addition of Red Light Camera intersections, speed zone changes, school zones and playground zones added, crosswalks added in GVRD area.
Map update available for Winnipeg and Edmonton-Sherwood Park-St. Albert
July 5, 2007
Playgrounds added in Winnipeg, Wpg. airport speed adjustment and Empress St. adjustment. Highway 16 near Cloverbar Rd. adjusted.
Map update available for Edmonton-Sherwood Park-St. Albert
June 26, 2007
Changes to speed limit by-laws along Whitemud at 34th, and Hwy 16, as well as on Shwerwood park fwy. at exit 216 southbound, 50th St. N, and Baseline Road.
Otto Website Registration and Configuration operational again
June 8, 2007
Otto Website Registration and Configuration under maintenance
June 8, 2007
Please note that the website registration, configuration and updates portion of the website are currently being maintained. An update will be posted as soon as the maintenance is completed.
Map update for Edmonton-St.Albert-Sherwood Park available
June 6, 2007
A map update is available for the Edmonton-St. Albert-Sherwood Park area. Please visit www.myottomate.com and select “Login to my Otto” , “myDevice”, and click on “Update and Manage Coverage Maps” to retrieve this update.
Regina Map release and map Updates for Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Calgary are now available
May 23, 2007
The coverage area for the city of Regina has been released and is now available on the www.myottomate.com website. Please note that there are no Wildlife-Deer Crossing alerts in this map release, but all other alert zones are included.
Map updates for Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Calgary are now available and include additions and adjustments to roads and alerts within the coverage maps.
Website Maintenance Notification
May 7, 2007
Please note that the www.myottomate.com website will undergo maintenance on Monday May 7th, 2007, from 9:00 pm until the next day. We apologize for any inconvenience.
BC Conservation Foundation - Wildlife Collision Prevention Program Acknowledges PERSENTECH's Contribution
March 7, 2007
PERSENTECH worked with the BC Wildlife Collision Working Group to develop an Otto device that would be used in-and-around the Prince George area to help record wildlife sightings on local highways. The identification of wildlife locations is used to deploy other wildlife sensor technologies whose aim is to provide alerts and notices to motor vehicles and to commercial transport vehicles of the potential danger areas for a collision.
Click here to view the letter of thanks from the committee
February map updates, sounds and firmware update
February 16, 2007
A map update is available for the Winnipeg and Calgary Regions. Changes to Winnipeg include: Crosswalk alert adjustments, the inclusion of three playground zones including Dalhousie Forest, Anderson Park and Centennial Park, and speed changes around the Winnipeg International Airport with the recent roadway changes. Changes to Calgary include: Red Light Camera intersection changes, several speed zone changes along Barlow Trail near the Calgary International Airport and speed zone changes along Stoney Trail.
Fourteen new sounds have been added to the sound lists. These sounds are displayed next to the alert categories under the myOttohome ? Personalize section of the website. Click on the "drop-down" arrow box next to the “Play this sound” selection and a list of all the languages, voices and alerts appear. The new sounds include a Harley Davidson motorcycle, fog horn, fire truck horn, steam whistle, "beam-me-up" Star Trek sound, Chainsaw sound, school bells, and a number of voice sounds.
There is a firmware update for the Otto model PM2626 only. This firmware update relates to the functionality of the "speed button" on the PM2626 device. In the current operation, pressing the speed button on the PM2626 device results in a menu list being annunciated with the first item being “Speed” followed by “Point of Interest” and “Logging – Enable or Disable”. A second button push is currently required to hear the “Speed Limit” and many of you have commented that you would prefer to hear the posted speed limit immediately after the first button push. The new firmware provides this change in functionality. After downloading this new firmware, a single button push will result in the posted speed limit being annunciated immediately. The other two menu items will be annunciated in the same manner as in current operation.
Lastly, thank you to all those who have taken time to provide us with your feedback on the product and its operation. We post such comments on our website under "Check out Otto --> User Testimonials".
Note on Map Updates with Extended Logging
February 3, 2007
For the Otto model PM2626 only, setting the allocated data logging memory beyound 320 hours may result in insufficient space for map updates. Users experiencing map update problems should check their data logging interval setting.
Go to www.myottomate.com and browse to Configure Otto and then to OttoLog. When a new browser window opens, clink on "connect to Otto". After Otto is connected, click on "Configure Logging on my device", and then click on "Clear/Allocate OttoLog Memory". If you have any log files that you want to keep, make sure you upload these files before continuing. Select the slider and move it down until you set the data logging allocation to 320 hours. Click Continue and the memory will be reformatted for the new setting. Once complete, click Finish and then return to www.myottomate.com, configureOtto, and proceed to update your maps.
This informational and support note applies to Otto model PM2626 units only, and only to those PM2626 units whose data logging allocation has been modified from the factory default of 80 hours. If you have not modified this value, there will be no map update problems with your device.
Map Update for Winnipeg plus New Firmware Update now Available
January 23, 2007
A map update is now available for the Winnipeg Region. This update includes speed zone changes in the Wildwood area, crosswalk modifications, and the addition of a playground alert.
PERSENTECH has also released a new firmware update that includes a performance improvement for initial satellite acquisitions. Connect your Otto to your PC and browse to www.myottomate.com. Select Configure Otto and MyOtto home, and after downloading the latest ActiveX control, click on the "Upgrade Available" link and follow the instructions.
Map Updates, New Feature & New Software AVailable
December 4,2006
Login with your Otto to access the latest map updates for your coverage area as well as a new device feature for setting a speed limit outside of the coverage area.
PERSENTECH has also released a software application that will allow you to personalize and configure your Otto from your PC without requiring website access. This software can be downloaded after you login to your myOttohome page to retrieve the new map updates and new feature.
OttoLog services are back online
August 26,2006
The OttoLog website is back online and fully functional. It is currently being hosted on a temporary server. To access the site, select OttoLog from the configure Otto menu above.
PERSENTECH is in the process of moving to a faster more reliable server that will provide our customers with better service in the future. We thank you for your patience this past week.
Device Registration & Personalization Operational but OttoLog Services Still Unavailable
August 21,2006
The device personalization and map updates are once again accessible, but there may be some interruption in these services as the hosting service support team works on their equipment. The hosting services support team is also investigating the OttoLog connection through this website and such services are still unavailable.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
Device Registration and OttoLog Services Temporarily Unavailable
August 19, 2006
Please note that the Service Provider hosting this website is performing maintenance on the equipment and all subscription and OttoLog services will be down until Monday August 21st at the earliest.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
Distracted Drivers Behind Most Accidents
CanWest News Services - February 9, 2006
- One million people will die in traffic accidents this year. About 3,000 of them will be Canadian.
- Motor vehicles are the fifth leading cause of death in North America and will condemn thousands of survivors to lives of physical and emotional misery.
- Driver error accounts for 93% of all traffic accidents.
- For thousands of years during the evolution of our species, one or two seconds of inattention didn’t make a difference…but with the advent of the internal combustion engine, and other rapidly moving vehicles, that changed. That means whatever distracts a driver – talking on the phone, drinking coffee, eating, smoking, adjusting the radio, or attending to children – is potentially dangerous because even a fully functioning person doesn’t have the brain power to react quickly enough to avoid an accident seconds away.
Article source: canada.com
Playground zones released for the Alberta market!
February 9, 2006
Map updates for Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer are available that include new playground zone alerts.
Find out what else is new with Otto in our February newsletter.
February 2006 News
Exciting developments for 2006!
January 3, 2006
Map updates for Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer will be available for download on Monday, January 9th.
Playground alerts will be added to various municipalities beginning with Calgary. Users can check back here for a map update on January 31st.
OttoLog™ data logging software is scheduled for release in March. Stay tuned for more details.
An on-line Otto User Survey will be posted shortly and we look forward to getting your feedback and observations.
Happy New Year from the staff of PERSENTECH!