http://alexandermark.com/gps-vehicle-tracking-system-a-useful-roadmap.php
By Anastas Mikoyan
The GPS system, short for Global Positioning System, is the latest of modern gadgets that help us to stay on the cutting edge of technology. What would we do without our cellphones, PDAs and Blackberrys? Yes, today’s society requires ownership of a slew of devices we hope will elevate us to new levels of convenience. And now, there’s a new handy gadget that sits in the palm of our hand. It may be small but it harnesses a huge amount of power and delivers it streaming right into our hands.
Having been initiated by the DOD – the United States Department of Defense – the GPS system was at first intended for use by the military when the first satellite was launched in the late seventies. Today, it is becoming increasingly popular with civilian users. By the mid-nineties 23 new satellites had been launched into orbit and the modern GPS system was in place. GPS technology now uses the positions of 24 satellites around the earth to calculate the exact location of any point on the planet’s surface in terms of latitude and longitude.
There is a variety of implementations of the GPS system – from computer software for mapping purposes to the navigational systems that come as standard in new automobiles, to handheld units used by outdoor enthusiasts and hikers, or for geocaching purposes. Indeed, the modern GPS system includes a network of devices used for tracking, navigation and mapping that have replaced the old fashioned road mapspaper roadmaps and compasses of yesterday.
The GPS receiver is one device that takes good advantage of this new technology by doing a series of latitudinal and longitudinal calculations that can precisely pinpoint the position of the user. This can be of huge benefit in a number of situations including the use by outdoor enthusiasts who frequently camp and hike. On these handheld GPS units a small screen shows the exact location of the user on a larger map that also includes surrounding points of reference.
The GPS implementation that seems to be most prevalent today is the navigation unit found in modern cars and other vehicles. These GPS tracking devices – if supplied with a specific address – can guide the driver to their destination and provide full details regarding landmarks, turns and distance covering all sections of the journey. Some GPS units for cars are portable and can be transferred from one vehicle to another, while others come permanently mounted as part of the standard features in new cars. More and more people are coming to expect GPS units as standard in new vehicles.
It is certainly true that today’s GPS system has the ability to provide consumers with a service that is tailored according to their specific requirements and needs and the frequency with which they intend to use their chosen GPS tracking system.
Anastas Mikoyan is a regular contributor to GPS For Cars