Aspiring Spirit

GPS navigation systems use a network of geosynchronous satellites that orbit the earth to determine the location of people or objects within a few feet of their location. GPS systems were first used to help the military in target location and in navigation. More recently the cost of GPS hardware has fallen, allowing accurate civilian use; this is also due to the enhancement of signal quality by the military.

The technology of GPS has been of great benefit to companies for keeping track of the vehicles within their fleets and also providing a way for drivers to be more efficient in making deliveries and estimating time of delivery. GPS tracking systems for vehicles have even been useful for finding the best way for drivers to get to their locations.

One possible negative point about GPS devices is the issue of possible invasion of privacy. GPS is used to catalog and analyze the activity of truck drivers already, and since GPS has been used in espionage for quite some time, we also know that it is an effective method of tracking individual people.

GPS has come a long way since its inception. Its applications for the individual consumer have multiplied greatly. Now people can utilize their GPS systems for planning out their hiking routes, setting locations to camp or fish, or just finding their way around in any place they don’t know well. A new kind of activity called “geocaching” is like a hide-and-seek game, using a container and a set of location coordinates.

GPS tracking systems can now be purchased from an automotive dealer as an additional feature to a new car. They can be mounted directly into the dash of the car for easy access to the driver. These devices provide searches which include restaurant and hotel mapping. It is nearly impossible to get lost with one of these devices in the car.

GPS devices are likely to become increasingly common as the cost of GPS devices decreases. GPS technology is quite flexible, and it is not difficult to envision it completely replacing current technologies such as paper maps. Nor is it difficult to imagine it playing an important role in new technologies. Who knows, perhaps one day GPS tracking will make loss and theft a thing of the past by providing real time information about the location of all our possessions.

Satellites allow GPS units to locate and track objects and people. GPS was first used by the United States military for targeting and navigation. Accuracy of the GPS signal for the general public has improved since the military stopped degrading the signal available to civilians. Delivery companies make widespread use of GPS vehicle tracking systems for scheduling and route efficiency. In private automobiles, GPS tracking systems simplify navigation. Outdoor enthusiasts have made GPS devices common in recreational pursuits. “Geocaching” is a hobby that uses a GPS tracking device to find hidden treasures. As prices drop, the use of the GPS system will continue to render older methods of navigation obsolete.

- Brad Seaborne