GPS and What You Should Know About Location Information
One of the most advanced technologies that made it into the mainstream is GPS. Short for Global Positioning System, the technology freely provides reliable position and time information 24 hours a day, in all kinds of weather. All that it takes for the technology to work is a GPS receiver and a view of at least four satellites that provides a GPS signal. Mainstreaming of the technology meant that GPS and the services it provides is finding its way into common consumer electronic items such as mobile phones and personal computers. A mobile phone equipped with a GPS opens a whole new world of location based services. Just think of being able to know what restaurants lie along the road being travelled. It means being able to tell people where you are exactly in times of emergencies. The 911 emergency phone system of the United States relies on GPS so that responding units such as paramedics or policemen receiving calls for assistance made on mobile phones are able to provide fast and very reliable services such as CPR, crime prevention or both. Instead of describing to the operator where the call is made, this important detail is taken care of by the GPS embedded in the phone. Modern navigation devices for the car provide voice enabled turn by turn guidance in most cities of the United States. GPS is a technology that makes our lives easier and safer and in most cases is very much welcome tool of everyday use.
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