GPS tracking systems use satellites that are in a geosynchronous orbit around the earth to determine exact locations of objects or individuals to within several feet of resolution. GPS was originally used for assisting in locating military targets and also for navigation purposes. Recently, as the price of GPS technology has come down, civilian use has increased and accuracy has increase as well since the military no longer degrades the signal.
There’s nothing like GPS tracking systems for keeping tabs on a company’s motorized assets. Not only do such systems help optimize drivers’ delivery performance, it also makes estimating delivery times far more accurate. These global positioning systems also make it possible to map out the best routes to maximize driver efficiency.
A potential down-side to increasing use of these devices is the invasion of privacy some see these devices as presenting. Already, commercial drivers have their daily trips catalogued and analyzed. Similarly GPS tracking device technology has already been shown to be effective at allowing the tracking of individuals as these devices have been implemented in espionage for years.
GPS has become a consumer tool as well; several new tools allow laymen to use GPS systems to plan hikes, find locations for fishing or camping, and find their way around unfamiliar places. Commercial GPS devices have given rise to “geocaching,” a pastime where participants search for hidden items using their latitude and longitude coordinates.
GPS tracking systems have also allowed the development of a new automotive add-on, the in dash GPS receiver allowing consumers to request a location and have the device display or speak directions to the driver, making the paper map obsolete. These devices are already increasing in complexity and adding new features including hotel and restaurant information.
As the cost of GPS tracking systems decreases, it is predictable that their use will only increase. These systems are quite adaptable, and are sure to take the place of old-fashioned maps and guidebooks. We may one day even use such a system to keep track of our belongings, so that we need no longer worry that they will be lost or stolen.
A network of orbiting geosynchronous satellites enable gps tracking systems to pinpoint the location of a range of objects and people, with accuracy to within a few feet. Recently, the cost of GPS systems has decreased significantly. Usage of GPS technology, particularly gps vehicle tracking systems, is likely to become more prevalent as the price of the devices continues to decrease. The ubiquity of the gps tracking device in today’s world may render older technologies such as paper maps, obsolete. GPS systems may also serve as a springboard for future technological developments, such as property theft deterrence, by being able to track at all times all of one’s possessions.
- Brad Seaborne