Underground Journal

Two Reasons You Need GPS

GPS (or Global Positioning System) has been operational since the 1980’s. It was originally designed to assist the U.S. armed forces with navigation but it wasn’t until the early 1990’s that this technology was made available commercially to the general public. The system works because of the satellites that have been launched into orbit. These satellites are strategically positioned so as to be able to cover the entire surface of the Earth with their transmissions. The GPS units on the ground also communicate with the satellites in orbit. By analyzing the data stream in the communications, the location of the GPS device can be quickly determined to sometimes within a few feet.

One way that the GPS technology is used is to provide navigation for travelers. Either by boat, by auto or on foot, the GPS device will be able to help you plot a route to your destination with relative ease. One company at the forefront of this use of GPS is a company called Garmin. Garmin makes car GPS devices ( like the Garmin Nuvi 350 )that will fit any budget as well as satisfy even the “freakiest” of gadget freaks. With its ease of use, voice commands and the graphical interface, the car GPS by Garmin has quickly become the leading favorite by travelers the world over.

But GPS can also be used to keep your loved ones safe. Have you ever read or heard the stories of children going missing and the distraught mom or dad telling the authorities that the child only went missing for a second? Well, by using GPS for children parents can make sure that the second is the only one they are missing. By inserting small GPS tags in the child’s clothing or giving them a watch with GPS in it, parents can breathe a bit easier that they will be able to find their lost child quickly.

Think about it – we now have Car GPS and GPS for children. Not a bad technological leap for a system originally designed for the U.S. military.

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