GPS basics
GPS stands for Global Positioning System. It uses a system of satellites that send a signal to your receiver that tells you exactly where you are on the planet. The device has built-in maps and can plot your position on the map. The technology was originally created for the military, but was eventually made available to civilians. It was invented to guide fighter jets and missiles, but now it also guides minivans.
The primary use of GPS today is for devices that give you driving directions. They use a small screen to show you where you are and what to do next, giving you “step-by-step” directions. They vary in price, but the least expensive units currently hover around the $ 200 price range. The more you spend, the more bells and whistles you’ll get.
They usually have a voice that tells you directions as you drive. Some have a variety of voices to choose from. Even celebrity voices are available. If you want Dennis Hopper or Mr. T or Gary Busey or John Cleese or Kim Cattrall to steer you towards your goal, you’re in luck. Some units have real-time traffic data pumped in so they can guide you in the event of accidents or congestion. They will tell you how far from your destination and when you can expect to get there. They often have large libraries of location information stored in them – Points of Interest or POIs. You can ask your GPS to find the nearest ATM, gas station, post office, Italian restaurant, bowling alley or Starbucks and it will tell you how to get there. They even have speed check points of interest and “security cameras” so you know where you can expect to get a speeding ticket. Some will even play music or audiobooks.
The top three brands at the moment are Garmin, TomTom, and Magellen. The list of possibilities is huge. As the units get smaller and less expensive, they will appear on more and more devices, such as running shoes and pet collars. Mobile phones are also beginning to have built-in GPS. Some use Google Maps or other software titles to help you find your destination. You can tag your child to see where they are going after school or to keep track of their offspring at Disneyland. If you are caravanning in a camp, you can keep track of the progress of each vehicle. GPS wristwatches record how far and fast you jog, as well as your pulse and calories burned.
GPS receivers are very easy to use and are becoming more common and less expensive. If you don’t have one yet, you’ll probably be using GPS in one way or another in no time.