| What It Is and How It Works - For the uninitiated, | | | | and tracks or trails, but they won't need |
| GPS stands for Global Positioning System. It's a | | | | extensive information about the road systems. |
| method of finding a receiver anywhere on earth | | | | On the other hand, sailors will need specific data |
| or in orbit, and it's probably one of the most | | | | about the sea bed, navigable channels, and other |
| important inventions of the 20th century. GPS can | | | | related information that will allow them to navigate |
| be used in so many varied ways that new | | | | safely. |
| technologies are constantly being developed and | | | | And what about fishermen? They also use marine |
| improved in order to take advantage of it. Now | | | | GPS to keep track of the movements of fish in |
| why is GPS so important and useful? First, we | | | | real time and to predict where they'll be the next |
| have to understand how it works. | | | | day. In fact, cooperative fishing has become much |
| In order to work, a satellite network orbiting the | | | | easier with GPS, allowing boats to relay locations |
| earth is used. These satellites each broadcast a | | | | to each other while looking for the best fishing |
| specific signal, which is received by inexpensive | | | | spots. There are also GPS devices called "fish |
| aerials and passed on to GPS devices where it is | | | | finders", which combines GPS and sonar functions |
| then decoded and used by dedicated software. | | | | to track and store detailed fishing and maritime |
| The information garnered from these signals | | | | information. |
| allows the GPS software to identify the satellite, | | | | Get Started with GPS - Consumers can avail of |
| its specific location, and even calculate the exact | | | | several GPS devices that are specifically designed |
| time it took for the signal to travel from the | | | | for a variety of uses and functions. In-car |
| satellite to the receiver. Using different signals | | | | systems have advanced features like voice |
| from different satellites, the GPS software can | | | | guidance, dynamic route calculations, and even |
| now analyze the position of the receiver, in terms | | | | upgrading your maps from a CD-ROM. Rugged |
| of latitude and longitude. | | | | handheld GPS devices, like those from Garmin and |
| Mapping It Out - Even getting the information | | | | Magellan, have a map inside and are usually used |
| about the receiver's location will be useless | | | | for outdoor activities. They do not have detailed |
| without something to compare it with. This is | | | | road information and the user has to find his own |
| where the mapping comes in handy; thru this, | | | | way from point A to point B without any route |
| GPS can analyze our location and maps out | | | | calculations. |
| possible routes. Actually, the mapping data is what | | | | Recently, PDAs and even a few sophisticated |
| makes a GPS device expensive. This should be | | | | mobile phones have incorporated GPS technology |
| updated regularly and frequently in order to be | | | | into their own systems. A GPS receiver can be |
| accurate. | | | | easily attached to these devices, which makes |
| Several kinds of maps are created for different | | | | them possibly the cheapest and easiest GPS |
| users. Road users need maps containing accurate | | | | receivers to use in the market today. Bluetooth |
| data about the road systems in their particular | | | | technology has also started to make use of GPS, |
| region, but they won't need data about the lay of | | | | using a single PDA device wirelessly connected to |
| the land. Hikers, however, might require a more | | | | several receivers. |
| detailed map about the local terrain, water spots, | | | | |