GPS or Global Positioning Systems is a term that most
commonly conjures up images of vehicle navigation systems,
space-age satellite technology, and interactive maps for
outdoors-types and sportsmen. But the reality is that there
are far more applications of Global Positioning Systems
beyond GPS vehicle tracking or map navigation that everyday
people like us can benefit from. All it takes is a bit of
creativity, and some trial and error. Here are a few of the
many possibilities that can benefit you right now in your
busy and hectic life.
1. Know where your children are using services from
companies like uLocate Communications.
2. Keep track of elderly members of your family, so that
they don’t wander off alone.
3. Plan a road trip around interesting points of
interests, landmarks, campsites, diners, etc, and hear fewer
"Are we there yets?"- and of course get the most
out of that expensive gas.
4. Get emergency road side assistance at a touch of a
button from your vehicle, so you can get help exactly where
and when you need it.
5. Keep a visual journal and bookmark collection of your
favorite hot spots, sceneries, and points of interests, that
may not be listed in any travel guide (You can create your
own mini travel guides and memories).
6. Find lost pets easily using collars with built-in GPS,
better than running around in your pajamas hollering like a
maniac.
7. Feel safer with cellular phone 911 calls, so emergency
personnel can pinpoint your location once you make an
emergency call. Please double check your carrier service to
see that it has GPS features and get a primer on how it
works if possible.
8. Get to your interview, or any important time sensitive
destination or engagement, faster by finding shortcuts and
correct directions.
9. Find a good Italian restaurant near your movie theatre
on the fly.
10. Track your luggage, laptops, and anything of
importance while traveling.
11. Track and find family, friends in a crowded concert,
graduation, or any social gathering.
12. When going on a vacation, feel free to separate from
group for a while to venture on your own based on your own
interests and find them later on with your GPS enabled
device- even in an unfamiliar place.
Our ability to use GPS so far is limited by the
relatively poor connection to the satellite feeds when we
are indoors in buildings, homes, or behind anything that
could obstruct the GPS connection. However with the
investment and development in a new satellite network called
Galileo which should be completed in the near future, these
problems should be eliminated drastically. Despite these
problems, GPS still offers a world of benefits as mentioned
earlier, and with any technology, it will only get better.
In addition to more practical usage applications, GPS
will make a great educational and fun gift for your loved
one’s and friends as well. Consider just two of the many
creative and educational uses of GPS:
1. Stay physically active and fit by playing RayGun! A
locational based cell phone game based on GPS technology.
2. Become more cultured, make global friends, and learn
about the world playing GeoCache, a global GPS based
treasure hunt.
With many affordable feature-rich models to satisfy
anyone’s preferences and budgets, now is as good a time as
any to learn more about GPS technologies, which are surely
to become more assimilated into the mainstream within the
decade. One day we will take these things for granted just
like we do now for the internet and cell phones. The key is
to dive in, without paralyzing yourself with the
overwhelming array of choices in the GPS market, and
enjoying some truly amazing technology.
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About The Author
Simon Wyryzowski is a GPS enthusiast and regular
contributor to GPSZoom.com.
For even more practical, creative, and common uses
including GPS tracking services for people, please
visit http://www.gpszoom.com/.
Copyright 2005 GPSZoom. This article may be
reprinted as long as it's contents are not modified
and the author's credits and live link are left
intact.
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This article was posted on October 06, 2005
