Practical Uses for GPS Technology
Since the US Department of Defense established the worldwide
Global Positioning System (GPS) network, it has been put to a
very wide variety of uses by governments, corporations,
organizations, and individuals alike.
It has been put to good use for many years in its original, and
most obvious, purpose of coordinating military operations. In
fact, if it weren't for GPS, many modern military operations and
practices would simply not be possible. It is also frequently
used in search-and-rescue missions as well as disaster relief
efforts.
In addition to this, GPS technology has proven to be
instrumental in numerous scientific research expeditions,
especially in very remote regions such as mountain ranges and
the north and south poles.
The other side of GPS functionality, which is sometimes
forgotten, is the many uses it can be put to by individual
consumers. GPS
handhelds and other GPS devices are available
for sale through many ordinary retail channels, and can be very
useful for a variety recreational purposes. For example, having
a GPS device handy when camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, or
boating can be an excellent way to ensure that you don't get
lost, even if you somehow manage to wander off course.
Another common consumer use of GPS technology is for safety
security purposes. Using a GPS
tracking system can be an excellent way to combat crimes
such as theft and kidnapping.