Waterproof GPS

The Global Positioning System (GPS) has become the de facto navigation system for the entire world. While it wasn’t always available to the public, it has quickly evolved as the favorite means of navigation by nearly everyone. Today, you can find a GPS system in almost every new car model, on cell phones, and several other devices. Where did the GPS system come from and how does it work?

Developed by the United States military, the GPS system was used to trace the flight and routes of intercontinental ballistic missiles. In 1983, after a Korean passenger flight was shot down by Russia jet fighters for inadvertently violating Russian airspace,Ronald Reagan made it available to the private sector. He was convinced, perhaps rightly so, that it could be used to prevent future catastrophes. It has since evolved into more than a military positioning device.

The theory behind global positioning is simple, but its implementation is rather complex. The U.S. government has approximately 30 satellites in orbit at any given moment. These satellites send out a constant stream of microwave signals back down towards the earth. A GPS tracking system on the ground receives the signal from the satellite. It then calculates the exact position, direction, and speed of itself based on these signals. Each time the receiver gets a signal from the satellite, the new calculations are made immediately then relayed as coordinates.

Today, a great number of cars are equipped with GPS tracking systems. They tend to be reasonably priced and easy to install. They can all provide turn-by-turn directions to any contiguous location. Most are even voice enabled, telling you to “turn at the next right” so you can keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. One of the newest devices to get GPS capabilities is the iPhone. Having detailed maps in your cell phone opens up a world of possibilities for everyone.

To say global positioning technology is useful is about as insightful as saying a hammer is useful. Indeed, GPS is extraordinarily useful. If you’re lost, you will certainly be grateful for it. GPS devices are affordable conveniences that are now poised to become as ubiquitous as hammers. Navigate your way home, no matter where life takes you.

Drivers, parents, and companies that need GPS tracking systems as a matter of course are encouraged to find the right model for the right occasion.

From the depths of his imagination, Arthur C. Clarke gave us the notion to utilize space, whether it was for the sake of increased communications or to help us find where we are. From mobile communications to GPS tracking systems, Clarke has changed the way we live, think, and dream. A visionary, Clarke was lauded during his long life. He was appointed the chairman of the British Interplanetary Society and, in 1961, he was awarded the UNESCO-Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science.

Essentially, he was a futurist — and a writer. One of his most famous conjectures involved the proposal of a global satellite communication system. Though the idea of satellite communication is de rigor now, it was considered revolutionary in 1945. Formally presenting his idea to the Franklin Institute, Clarke would go on to win the coveted Stuart Ballantine Gold Medal in 1963.

The influence Clarke has wielded in the science fiction community was tremendous. During a time when the mere idea of a computer was far-fetched, Clarke’s satellite proposal was considered untenable. His proposal, has he explained it, was based on the five years (from 1941 to 1946) he spent in service to the Royal Air Force. He claimed the idea of using satellites to gauge distance and position was influenced by the pinging phenomenon unique to radar systems.

A GPS device is continually relaying and receiving signals from a multitude of satellites orbiting the planet. These signals allow anyone with a GPS device to pinpoint their location anywhere in the world. The satellite communication system he proposed has had a profound affect on our day-to-day lives, especially when it comes to mobile telecommunications and GPS tracking systems.

When people mention Arthur C. Clarke, there is a good chance the first image his name conjures is the red eye-camera of the HAL 9000 computer. While 2001: A SPACE ODYESSY made an impression on an entire generation of science fiction and film fans, its author had a deeper impact on everyday life than most fans realize. Arthur C. Clarke made some impressive contributions to the field of science as well as to the field of science fiction.