Global Positioning System (GPS)

GPS is a system of satellites radio-transmitters that orbit the planet in great numbers; their purpose is to be able to pinpoint the exact location of an individual or any type of vessel that is equipped with a receiver transmitter within a very small radius. GPS navigation has had a great impact upon society in general as well and its commercial and military applications. Global Positioning is made available at no cost to anyone who has a GPS receiver unit anywhere on the planet. A GPS unit is able to give the user longitude/latitude information as well as, altitude, traveling speed, distance traveled, distance remaining and time in any type of weather conditions imaginable.

The Global Positioning System consists of three sections, 1.satellites which are orbiting the planet, 2.there are numerous control/monitoring centers here on the ground, and 3. gps receivers which are used by their owners. The satellites send down signals from orbit, which are received by GPS receivers on the ground in the air or on the water, the GPS receiver then converts this information into a location longitude, latitude and altitude along with time.

Consumers may purchase such technology for varying different prices, which greatly depend on the application in which the unit is to be used as well as the many different types of functions that are available to the market. For instance one may purchase a marine gps unit for their boat that has a mapping capability along with sonar (depth/fish finder), the cost of such a unit can vary greatly by manufacturer as well as region and whether or not it is a color unit or a monochrome unit, color being the more expensive. Other factors that play into cost of units are their application alone; aviation ...

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...uch easier to locate. GPS has had a far reaching effect on how we move from place to place whether the passenger knows it or not. There are too many effects that gps has had for me to keep this short, but gps has made its mark however, gps is not a replacement for good old fashioned navigational skills it is just a convenience.

Works Cited

1. National Park Service, http://www.nps.gov/gis/gps/history.html

2. Global Positioning System, Serving the World, http://www.gps.gov/

3. Brain, Marshall, and Tom Harris. "How GPS Receivers Work." 25 September 2006. HowStuffWorks.com. 01 June 2010.

4. Christopher Michael Hormann AWF2 (NAC): U.S. Navy GPS Trained User, 1995-2010, HS-1, VP-30, VQ-1, VAW-117, VP-64, VR-52.

5. GPS History - How it all started, http://www.maps-gps-info.com/gps-history.html