lundi 25 mai 2009

GPS - How It Got On Your Dashboard

By Matt Meeano

Since Man first fashioned tools to help him hunt, he has always tried to improve the technology that assists him in living on this sometimes unforgiving planet. Over the centuries these tools have developed and become more efficient and effective and progressively have become more and more high tech. GPS, or Global Positioning System, is one of these advances in technology.

Millions of people around the world have adopted the use of GPS to the point that it is fast becoming a house hold accessory. GPS allows them to help plan their trips, keep tabs on their children and keep track of their vehicles. It helps though to understand the technology that makes this all possible.

The way GPS works is a relatively simple concept when broken down completely. Strategically placed satellites that are orbiting the Earth, relay a signal searching for any GPS receiver on the surface of the Earth. The signal is received by the GPS unit and then decoded. The unit and the satellite then communicate with each other and the satellite then transmits the coordinates to the GPS unit. This transfer of data allows anyone looking at the GPS screen to see where they are currently located.

While the original GPS system of satellites was only used by the United States military in the 1970s and 1980s, the technology has been made available to everyday people since the 1990s. The limited release in the early years meant that the price of GPS units was very high. Now that GPS has become more widespread, you can get a good unit for less than $200.

All this makes GPS technology affordable to consumers everywhere. And since it has become more affordable, GPS systems are now seemingly in every vehicle on the road. By helping you make sure you are going the right direction, GPS saves you time, money and frustration on your next trip.

Buying a car gives you an opportunity to get GPS built into the multimedia system inside the dashboard. This means that you can not only get the functonality of GPS but the car will be worth more when you go to sell it. However, if you have a vehicle without a built in GPS, you should go buy one that fits your financial situation and preferences.

The last thirty years, GPS has gone from military hardware to an item on our dashboards that we cannot live without. What a journey, huh?

About the Author:

Aucun commentaire:

Enregistrer un commentaire