GPS Information

The global positioning system, or GPS, was originally a military development born during the Cold War. Satellites were launched, with at least four above the horizon at all times, which allowed precise locations to be determined on Earth. After a Korean Air Lines plane was shot down for inadvertently straying into Soviet air space, President Reagan allowed the technology to be accessible by all. As restrictions were further eased, GPS devices became widely available in many different forms.

One of the first uses of the new technology was to incorporate GPS chips in cell phones. This was primarily to address the problem of emergency personnel who needed a precise location to respond to 911 calls. More advanced cell phones allowed them to be used for navigation purposes as well so that users could get turn by turn directions to their destinations.

Hand held GPS units are often used by surveyors, hikers, and campers. These units can be programmed to track progress from a starting point and then provide return directions. This feature can be very helpful if there is a danger of becoming disoriented or to provide guidance for others to follow.

Many automobiles have GPS capability installed. Drivers can get turn by turn directions for their trip. Restaurants and attractions along the route may also be included. Most units feature a map plus spoken directions.

In addition to the active life saving properties of GPS, there is also a passive element to them. If someone has his cell phone on, authorities can often find his position by tracking his number. Hikers who are lost in the wilderness, skiers buried by an avalanche, and boaters left adrift have all been located through their cell phones.

GPS also allows for extremely accurate time measurements. If there are at least four satellites to send signals, they can also determine altitude. In addition to aviation, such measurements are useful to scientists for many studies. For example, they are used at Yellowstone to measure the upward movement of the ground above the volcanic crater, a sign that the magma chamber is rising.

Some devices are self contained, with a power source, display, and mapping capability included. Others can be used only on a laptop or desktop computer. Still others can be used to record information which is then downloaded to a computer. Most automobile units are permanently attached, but some have a docking unit that can be used remotely.

In recent years, GPS games have become quite common. There are scavenger hunts, where all players are armed with a portable device and then must locate items based on a series of coordinates. Online sites allow members to check in by cell phone at various businesses to earn discounts or rewards, with the GPS chip in their cell phones verifying their location.

As GPS devices become more advanced and less expensive, they will no doubt continue to be integrated with more and more everyday products. Where once only outdoorsmen and technicians saw the value of them, they have now become indispensable aids to many consumers.

Tags: GPS, GPS Device, GPS Device Overview

This entry was posted on at and is filed under GPS Device. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.