It is amazing how we have progressed from
using a magnetic compass to using global positioning satellites to navigate. A
GPS or a global positioning device uses 27
Earth-orbiting satellites (24 in operation and three extras in case one fails)
to determine our exact location on the earth using a technique called Trilateration .
GPS was invented by the U.S
Department of Defense. It has several applications in our day to day lives ranging
from a navigation tool to a tracking device on car. I cannot imagine being in an unfamiliar place
without GPS. I love hiking and GPS helps me track my path. In fact, I do not
think I would dare to go on some trails without it. I also love driving and
exploring new cities. GPS provides real time voice guided directions which
allow anyone to keep their eyes on the road while driving. It can also pull up
places of interest nearby like a gas station or a restaurant. There are times I
need the GPS device to locate my car in a crowded parking spot.
The U.S government spent
more than $12 billion on developing GPS technology. It is intriguing how some migratory animals
and birds travel across the globe without GPS. We have spent billions of dollars
to develop a technology that many animals have evolved. This begs the question, “Are we becoming more
dependent on technology in our daily lives or is it opening up new doors in our
lives?”
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