A GPS (Global Positioning System) calculates the position of the device in relationship to a number of orbiting satellites in order to provide orientation to the user. A GPS unit has a number of uses. Each particular type of GPS unit is designed and equipped according to its intended use. In some instances, the uses for different types of GPS units overlap.
Handheld GPS
Handheld GPS units may be incorporated into another device, such as a cell phone or personal digital assistant (PDA). They may also be stand alone units. Handheld GPS units are frequently used by travelers or hobbyists to map their destinations or other interesting locations via the Internet.
Auto Mounted GPS
Many people are familiar with GPS units because they have seen auto mounted models. Auto mounted GPS units are used to assist drivers to navigate in unfamiliar surroundings. Some units provide detailed directions, down to the "turn by turn" level. Other auto mounted GPS units assist first responders in locating the scene of an accident or emergency involving a car equipped with one.
GPS for Sporting Uses
GPS units are also used for sporting purposes by golfers, sailors, hikers, people who fish for sport and sometimes for orienteering. GPS units for sport are frequently very small, sometimes as small as a watch and may include navigational tools such as maps and a compass. They are also sometimes waterproof.
Commercial and Government GPS Units
GPS was originally developed by the United States government as a tool for both military and civil use in strategic mapping. Presently, GPS is important in tracking impending weather conditions with widespread impact, such as a tsunami similar to the one which occurred in 2004. The Department of Defense also relies on GPS as a tool in its arsenal of protecting national security.
Tracking GPS Units
An increasingly common use for GPS units is for tracking--both overt and stealth tracking, which can be a legal gray area. Overt tracking includes fleet tracking by commercial enterprises to keep a record of where their vehicles are located at a specific time. Stealth tracking is done by parents keeping tabs on the whereabouts of their teenagers via GPS equipped cell phones. Stealth tracking is also used in theft recovery devices which track the movements of stolen property, making it more likely that it will be returned to its rightful owner.
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