GPS History: Now and Then
GPS tracking has become quite an essential part of today’s society. Whether it’s being used to navigate across the country, Monitor valuables, or simply to keep tabs on our kids, it’s undeniable that we rely on this service far more than we’re aware of. But when did this GPS technology come to be? How did it happen? According to NASA, GPS has its origins in the Sputnik era when scientists were able to track the satellite with shifts in its radio signal known as the “Doppler Effect.”
“Since then, global positioning systems have had a major impact on the way society lives.” Says AJ Agrawal at Business.com. “The technology is relevant in every industry in the world in some capacity. Social media platforms have integrated GPS software to allow for geotagging and location posting. Essentially, GPS technology is making the happenings of the world detectable, capable of being tracked and more preventable.”
Global positioning system applications are generally split into 5 major categories:
- Location – determining a position
- Navigation – getting from one location to another
- Tracking – monitoring object or personal movement
- Mapping – creating maps of the world
- Timing – bringing precise timing to the world
Some of the applications that GPS systems are currently being used for around the world include mining, aviation, surveying, agriculture, marine, recreation, and military. These days doctors, scientists, farmers, soldiers, pilots, hikers, delivery drivers, sailors, fishermen, dispatchers, athletes, and people from many other walks of life are using GPS systems in ways that make their work more productive, safer, and easier.
What Are GPS Systems Used For?
The applications of global positioning system (GPS) technologies are only limited by our imagination. GPS systems are extremely versatile and can be found in almost any industry sector. They can be used to map forests, help farmers harvest their fields and navigate airplanes on the ground or in the air. GPS systems are used in military applications and by emergency crews to locate people in need of assistance. GPS technologies are often working in many areas that we do not normally consider.
Who Uses GPS?
Some of the applications that GPS systems are currently being used for around the world include mining, aviation, surveying, agriculture, marine, recreation, and military. These days doctors, scientists, farmers, soldiers, pilots, hikers, delivery drivers, sailors, fishermen, dispatchers, athletes, and people from many other walks of life are using GPS systems in ways that make their work more productive, safer, and easier.