Once upon a time, individuals found there way to a destination by paper maps or written directions. When I first started driving, I recount the several times that I became lost due to never paying attention to direction when being driven around. After much trial and error, I eventually invested in a local map and got my bearings. However, the method of paper maps is a thing of the past. Nowadays, people have access to the Global Positioning System, also know as GPS. According to Garmin (2009), GPS is a satellite based navigation system which consists of twenty four satellites. These satellites circle the earth twice a day transmitting signal information to earth. GPS receivers capture this information and use triangulation to determine the user's precise location. Once the user's location has been established, the GPS unit can assess other information, such as speed, bearing, trip distance, distance, sunrise and sunset time and more.
According to About.com (2009), GPS was originally developed in the 1970s by the U.S. Department of Defense to allow military units to know their exact location and the location of other units. Since available to the public, numerous applications have been made to everyday life. GPS is used by cars, airplanes, and even cellular phones to map and obtain directions to locations. One can see the glow of GPS units on consoles of vehicles while driving on the freeway. A sense of need to use the GPS has been established where many leave their GPS units on even when their location and destination are known. It leaves me to wonder if more time is spent traveling by the owners of these units simply because they have a GPS to use. GPS is also used for tracking the location of a unit. Hikers and skiers can share their location with others. Parents have the capability to monitor their children’s whereabouts.
The possibility of applications to GPS technology is countless. Society has become dependent on GPS, feeling secure in its benefits. Imagine a day that GPS was not available and the chaos that would follow. Indeed, a great portion of individuals would be lost.
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ReplyDeleteBridgette, great write up and analysis. I rememeber when I first moved to Columbus, my parents gave me the "Big Book of Columbus Street Maps." Though, it did help at times, I can remember driving around looking for a street and throwing that book in the back seat. I, too, have GPS as I can't even drive my way out of a paper bag at times. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou bring up an iteresting point, we are so dependent on technology, as a society. I shutter at the thought of the mass chaos that would ensue should anything threaten our technology dependency. I feel lucky that I can read a paper map and know that I would be fine, but I much prefer my GPS. :-)