| GPS, or Global Positioning System has been | | | | alone, or navigation aid. |
| operational since December 1993, but its history | | | | The lower level devices would be a hand-held GPS |
| lies much further back to the 1940s when ground | | | | navigation tool, such that might include preloaded |
| based navigation systems such as Decca | | | | maps of the country of purchase, be waterproof |
| Navigator began. This, while it planted the seed of | | | | and have a backlit LCD screen. Or for similar |
| inspiration would not take another step forward | | | | pricing a basic GPS device with colour screen, |
| until the 1957 launch of the first Sputnik by the | | | | voice guidance to tell you when to take what |
| Soviet union showed that satellites were a | | | | turns and onto what streets, the power to add |
| possibility. | | | | new maps, and may have a choice of languages |
| In the beginning the system was only intended for | | | | and choice of the voice that the GPS uses. |
| military use, but that changed in 1983 when a | | | | At around $200 you add in features such as a |
| Soviet interceptor plane shot down a civilian | | | | touch screen to your GPS device for inputting |
| aircraft in restricted Soviet space killing all on | | | | addresses and accessing menus as well as blue |
| board, after the craft had mistakenly wandered | | | | tooth capability. Another step up and you see |
| off course. This was something that GPS could | | | | features such as AAA tour books added in and |
| have prevented, and so President Reagan soon | | | | automatic redirect; and important feature for a |
| announced that GPS would be available for all | | | | GPS navigator because you can never be sure |
| once it was complete. | | | | when you will miss a turn and need to get back |
| GPS is a satellite controlled navigation system that | | | | on track via an alternative route. |
| is used by the military and general public alike. For | | | | At the top end, GPS devices include such things |
| the general public it is a useful tool, a step | | | | as voice recognition, allowing you to speak your |
| forward from the one dimensional and none | | | | start and end points, and any points of interest in |
| interactive maps that some people find difficult to | | | | best. They might also include non-GPS features |
| read and follow. There are many different brands | | | | like DVD players, iPod docks and even give you |
| of GPS receivers, and they each offer different | | | | traffic updates. |
| features, some of which may not even be | | | | Though many people do not realise it, GPS |
| related to GPS. | | | | receivers have been present for some time in |
| Prices for GPS devices start at around $100 for a | | | | many cell phones, and allow the phone to be |
| basic device that is monochrome and hand held, | | | | traced precisely, when the police request such |
| and increase to more than $2000 for a larger, | | | | information. In this way GPS has been used to |
| colour device with a greater number of features. | | | | help find missing people, and attempts have been |
| At it's most basic however, GPS is not a stand | | | | made to use it to help the victims of kidnapping. |