Title: GPS For Everyday People: 12 Practical Uses
Author: Simon Wyryzowski
Article:
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
.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
