Monday, October 26, 2009

Types of GPS Products


By Owen Makita

The Global Positioning System or the GPS is a tracking system that was developed by the U.S. Department of Defense made into the reach of the civilians during the 1980s. The technological advancements in the field have resulted in the employment of 24 to 32 medium Earth orbit satellites to map the real-time location. The receiver embedded in the GPS locks up the signals from three or more satellites to plot the location using a technique called trilateration. The time at which the signal was sent from the satellite is compared to the time at which it is acknowledged to identify the position. GPS can be made to provide data about the distance to the destination, hiking and water maps, sunrise and sunset timings and much more on a real-time basis.

The advantages enjoyed by the gadget have resulted in its adoption in a wider range of applications. Whether you are on the road or air or water, whether you are an active hiker or sportsmen, GPS can be of assistance to you. Today Original equipment Manufacturers have deployed the GPS into many of their products, from transportation to recreational applications.

1 On the road

The popular use of GPS products are in road navigation. GPS helps an individual who is new to a place to steer his way through the unfamiliar intersections more easily. The traffic alerts given by a few GPS products can help you to bypass a problematic area, avoiding delays. Technological advancements have resulted in new features that can guide you through fuel-efficient routes, adding to your advantage. Today the auto insurance companies and logistic business houses make use of the GPS to keep an eye on the movement of their consignment. The automobile industry, on the other hand, has launched cars with GPS to simplify the navigation process.

2 In the air

GPS used in air navigation enhances the quality of safety measures. It maintains information related to the flight instrumentation, navigation, traffic, engine data, terrain and weather, presented on the large LCD displays that are capable of being customized to cater to the requirements of the user.

3 On the water

GPS has also found a place in water navigation. The ability to read the information even under bright daylight increases the usability. The details of the terrain and the presence of obstacle en-route permits safer navigation. As it provides information regarding the location of fish in fresh water and seawater up to depths as much as 1,500 feet, it is widely used by fishing trawlers.

The present day GPS gadgets can be molded to meet the demands of the sports, from cycling to golf. The gadgets with GPS technology used in sports are usually hand-held, water-proof, and sturdy that is capable of reading the routes and even heartbeats. GPS-enabled sports watches meant for the sportsmen and the trainer with varying features are readily available in the market. Today it comes in the mobile phones, watches, and PCs. It is the ease of use, the presence of the synthesized voice, and high level of penetration that has led to its use in normal navigation and even complex jobs like the construction of English Channel.

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