Innovations in electronics have made life easier for countless people across the globe. Everything from computers to portable music players have made electronics an essential part of life for many of us. The GPS falls into this category with ease. It takes all the guess work out of finding difficult to reach destinations and obliterates the need for standard directions. So just how is it that we’ve reached a place where countless Americans and citizens worldwide are armed with their own navigation units?
The GPS, or Global Positioning System, is perhaps the greatest navigation tool since the invention of the compass. Our personal GPS devices use satellite from space to provide us with a three dimensional system to locate our coordinate. The three dimensions are latitude, altitude, and longitude. First invented in 1973, the leader in GPS technology was Charlie Trimble. Over the next twenty years, many advancements were made to ensure accurate, real time positioning through the use of satellites both in space and on earth. Since 1995, GPS units have been available for personal use and have made driving easier for us all.
The main purpose of these units is to get a driver from point A to point B. Today, these units are constantly being improved to improve efficiency, look, and even pricing as competition for sale of the units continues to increase. The newest features include the ability to detect slow moving traffic on routes and to re-direct drivers toward an alternate route. Also, makes of the units, such as TomTom ONE, Garmin, and Magellen, easier to use than ever before. Other GPS features include text to speech or even lane guidance to avoid accidents.
One thing is for sure; driving has never been easier than it is now with the availability of personal GPS units.