The Global Positioning System or GPS has been available since 1985. GPS has two main functions: navigation and tracking. It was created by the United States Department of Defense and uses compters and 24 satellites. The satellites send radio signals to electronic GPS receivers and these satellites capture the exact longitude, latitude and altitude of the receiver It works night or day, and in every kind of weather condition. GPS devices work anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day.

Once you buy a GPS device, you only need an unobstructed view of the sky to use it. Another nice advantage is that it is not necessary to subscribe to a service.

Take your GPS device with you when you go hiking, camping, mountain climbing, biking, snowmobiling, skiing, hunting, boating, fishing, hot air balloon riding, and flying so that you can find your way on land, at sea, or in the sky. As GPS devices get smaller and less expensive, more and more applications are being created and increasing numbers of consumers are purchasing them. You can have a GPS device in your hand, in your pocket, on your wrist, on your bicycle, on your RV, and in your car.

Two of the improved features of the newest GPS auto devices are the ability to avoid traffic jams and to find out information about businesses and places of interest in the area. The higher-priced auto models can show the driver alternate routes for any traffic obstruction. A GPS with mapping software is a very useful device in your car. These type of GPS units can give you street-level directions, which can keep you from getting lost in a large city. It can also select the best route from point A to point B, plus help you make choices about where to stop along the way.

And now you can even keep a watchful eye on Fido, as two companies have launched dog collar models that send you a warning if your dog leaves a designated area. These devices also give the dog's location, so you can retrieve your pet quickly. Companies with fleets of trucks are beginning to use GPS to track the locations of all their trucks.

GPS wrist devices can be a piece of very useful safety equipment to hikers and mountain climbers, as their location can be shown to a central command center. Should anything happen to the hikers and climbers, the search and rescue teams would know their precise location. GPS wrist devices are life-saving technology. Any hiker or mountain climber should invest in one before their next adventure.

Taking a walk around the neighborhood in an unfamiliar city? Then a hand-held GPS device will really be useful. Carry it in your hand, your pocket, or your purse and refer to it as you leisurely stroll around. You won't become lost because your hand-held GPS device will guide you back to your starting point. And you can stroll without stress, following any path you choose, becasue you know you will get back to your starting point without incident. You will be able to explore at will, see things you would never have found otherwise.

Accuracy has been steadily increasing for GPS technology. Differential GPS is the main reason for this. Further improvements are expected. GPS signals are sent to every location on Earth, land or sea. There is no location too remote to receive a signal from one of the GPS satellites.

Look for GPS technology to improve in accuracy, and to be available on more types of devices. Mobile phones with GPS ability combine two popular consumer products into one device. Look for more of these combinations on the horizon.

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