Tuesday 13 October 2009

GPS Makes Navigation A Walk In The Park

By George Prince

The first men to travel across the globe used only what they knew to navigate around. They traveled across land and sea with only the sun, moon and earth to provide a sense of direction. We even used to think the earth was flat. How times have changed.

The invention of the compass changed navigation and made it possible for explorers to always know which direction they were heading in. Maps of the early earth helped us to keep track of where we were and where we wanted to be.

In modern times, we are lucky enough that we never really have to go back to the way things were. GPS is a new type of technology that stands for Global Positioning System. It allows us access to maps and locations that can be stored digitally in the form of a gadget about the size of a mobile phone.

Modern luxury vehicles come equipped with GPS systems at the front of the car, making it nearly impossible to get lost on the road. It's easy to use, as all you have to do is key in or select the place you'd like to go and an electronic map shows you the route. There are also voice prompts to guide you further.

Those who have been lucky enough to experience the joys of travelling in a vehicle with GPS will be able to testify as to how simple it makes navigation. When you have a digital map in front of you with the route already set out, you can't go wrong. With voice commands, you'd have to be an idiot to get lost.

As modern technology keeps improving, we are always being provided with ways to make our lives easier. After the desktop computer came the laptop. After the telephone came the mobile phone, and so on and so on. GPS is the digital technology that solves all our navigation needs.

It's not only when travelling that GPS can be very useful. GPS receivers can also pinpoint the location of other GPS receivers within a certain vicinity. So next time you go to a carnival with the kids, or to a public place where it could be possible to lose somebody, think about how easy it would be to find each other with GPS handheld devices.

So it would be worth getting GPS if you're somebody who loves travelling, off-roading, mountaineering or any activity where you might need to know your whereabouts at all times. As a GPS handheld, it makes you geographically mobile. As a GPS system in a car, you'll never get lost on the roads. GPS can make a lot of things easier to find in your life.

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