GPS Navigation Systems : If you are one of those folks who would prefer to drive round a town for ages rather than stop and ask for guidance, then a GPS (Global Positioning System) device may be the ideal gadget for you.
A G.P.S. device is a realtime navigation system that uses orbiting satellites to determine its exact position on the earth. Put differently, it tracks your location or gives your current direction whether you are on foot or in a vehicle. With most car navigation devices there are many more useful benefits; for instance you can find out local points of interest such as gas stations or cinemas and shops.
The GPS sat navigation system was created for and first used by the U.S.A.’s DoD. Because it was so successful other countries include Europe and Russia enthusiastically adopted it.
Of course today GPS Navigation is far more widely used than by just the military establishment and with far more imagination that those military people who thought it would be a good idea to keep track of their army and more accurately send targeted missiles !
Explotation of GPS has led to a plethora of new applications such as in car navigation, hiking and geocaching where handheld receivers are used in a bit of fun to find hidden items around the country. This is what you can do with it:
GPS Navigation Systems Applications:
- Car Navigation
- Fishing
- Tracking
- Camping
- Geocaching
- Aviation
GPS systems for cars are probably the first applications you can think of but there are other uses for GPS. Handheld gps systems that make hiking in unfamiliar territory an easier task (you can even get wristwatch sized devices). Fishermen also use GPS to accurately avoid shallows and log locations of fishing grounds.
Other useful GPS Navigation Systems applications are for fleet tracking which allows companies to keep an eye on the location of their goods as they are shipped around the country. Tracking devices are also useful for keeping an eye on where your children are at any moment (for instance special GPS devices can be packed into a jacket or backpack).
The most common use for GPS systems is for easy in car navigation where you set your destination (no need to set your start point as the device communicates with satellites to determine your exact location). The device then either shows your route on screen or even talks to you telling you when an upcoming turn is to be made. If you make a mistake by taking the wrong route the system will calculate a new route and tell you how to get to your original destination.
Other useful features in GPS for auto are:
- Lane assist : Displays the signs you will see and arrows show which lane to take.
- Points of interest : (POIs) such as hotels, restaurants, ATMs etc
- Plug in travel guides : For details of local attractions.
- Photo Navigation : Download photos of the area for enhanced navitation.
There are many, many more feaures to be found on different devices.