The worldwide Global Positioning System (GPS) network was designed by the US
Department of Defense, as a way to track one’s exact location anywhere in the
world.
The GPS network consists of 24 navigation satellites, which orbit the planet
at a height of approximately 12,000 miles. These satellites each orbit the earth
twice every 24 hours, and they are set up in such a way that they can send
signals to any location on the planet, whether it be land or sea, and no matter
how remote.
The 24 GPS satellites are continuously beaming positioning data, which can be
picked up by GPS Devices on the ground, and used to calculate exact latitude and
longitude coordinates. Depending on the device that is used, this data can be
accurate to within a few meters.
Some GPS devices also provide advanced features such as dynamic mapping and
detailed driving directions.
Despite the common misconception that GPS-enabled devices are prohibitively
expensive, and only useful in scientific and military operations, many of these
useful gadgets are primarily designed with the consumer in mind. For example,
GPS handhelds can be carried around on one’s pocket, and are very useful for a
number of functions. Certain companies, including Nextel GPS, have even begun
integrating GPS technology with common consumer products such as mobile
phones.
