by: Fabain Toulouse
Total views: 41
Word Count: 389

Tweet
Global positioning systems, commonly known as a GPS tracking system, were the brainchild of the U.S. military. They initially consisted of a series of satellites that would triangular the location, speed and distance of inbound and outbound intercontinental ballistic missiles. Yes, GPS systems were our nuclear tracking devices. If you're a fan of movies like DR. STRANGELOVE or WAR GAMES, then you're familiar with the convention of blinking missile on a screen being tracked to their target. That's GPS.

Though it had been in use since the '60s, it wasn't until'83 that the system was made available to the private sector. Now, GPS is as ubiquitous as cellphones and email. People are smitten with using the system to navigate, find directions, and even find their friends. Various companies have made the technology available by means of our automobiles, cell phones, even our watches. Additionally, meteorologists use the GPS system to predict, and make it possible to alert people to evacuate certain areas well in advance of approaching storm systems.

In'39, a viable global positioning system was already in use. Of course it did not utilize satellites, rather it used a series of radio relays to pinpoint ships at sea. By'43, a German scientist, Karl Hans Janke, patented the idea of using two satellites positioned at certain points could send electromagnetic signals, using screen vectors, and determine the direction of an object. Each satellite was proposed to send messages at the speed of light to receivers, which would then convert the messages into latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates.

It should be noted that there are some obstacles GPS cannot surmount. Natural phenomenon, like sunspots, meteor showers, and earth-based storms can adversely affect reception. Often, the interference has a more unremarkable culprit. Car defrosters can interrupt the GPS signaling as well as the grade of tint on some windows. Of course, the industry is always troubleshooting and perfecting their signaling systems to circumvent these problems.

Among the first GPS providers in the U.S. were Verizon, Nextel, and Sprint. Soon, services like OnStar and TomTom were folded into the automobile market. The speed with which these GPS advances are developed, and the speed with which companies are incorporating these advances into everyday life, paints a very bright picture for GPS.

About the Author

Getting access to a sophisticated GPS tracking system is as easy as turning your cellphone on. Find directions, find places to eat, and don't get lost again.

Bookmark this article:

---

Rating: Not yet rated

--Choose-- 0 1 2 3 4 5