Wednesday 28 October 2009

GPS Products - Revolutionizing The World

By Owen Makita

Originated by the U.S. Department of Defense, the Global Positioning System or the GPS is a tracking system that provides real time information on any location. This technology was presented to the use of the ordinary man only around the 1980s. GPS makes use of 24 to 32 medium earth satellites that can assist in recognizing the location. It comes with a receiver that picks up the signal sent from three or more satellites to plot the location using a technique called trilateration. The difference between the time at which the signal was sent from the satellite and the time at which it was received by the gadget pinpoints the position. Information related to the distance to destination, hiking and water maps and sunrise and sunset gets displayed on the GPS.

Advancements made in the technology has resulted in a number of GPS products that cater to the needs of the people on the road, water, air, hiking, and even those in active sports. Original Equipment Manufacturers who recognized the potential of the GPS has included them in many of the products, whether in transportation or recreational applications.

1 On the road

The popular use of GPS products are in road navigation. GPS helps an individual who is new to a place to steer his way through the unfamiliar intersections more easily. The traffic alerts given by a few GPS products can help you to bypass a problematic area, avoiding delays. Technological advancements have resulted in new features that can guide you through fuel-efficient routes, adding to your advantage. Today the auto insurance companies and logistic business houses make use of the GPS to keep an eye on the movement of their consignment. The automobile industry, on the other hand, has launched cars with GPS to simplify the navigation process.

2 In the air

Air navigation employs the GPS to offer them with information related to flight instrumentation, navigation, traffic, engine data, terrain and weather. The data so requested gets displayed on a large LCD panel that can be customized to satisfy the needs of the user. GPS, today, gives the opportunity to enhance the safety measures used in flying.

3 On the water

GPS is used for water navigation. It tells about the type of terrain and the presence of obstructions en-route, reducing accidents. As they can be read even under direct sunlight, it is of great convenience. Trawlers use GPS today to identify the location of fish in fresh water and seawater, with some able to cover as much as 1,500 feet down.

The present day GPS gadgets can be molded to meet the demands of the sports, from cycling to golf. The gadgets with GPS technology used in sports are usually hand-held, water-proof, and sturdy that is capable of reading the routes and even heartbeats. GPS-enabled sports watches meant for the sportsmen and the trainer with varying features are readily available in the market. Today it comes in the mobile phones, watches, and PCs. It is the ease of use, the presence of the synthesized voice, and high level of penetration that has led to its use in normal navigation and even complex jobs like the construction of English Channel.

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