One of the most utilitarian systems to be invented at the height of the enmity between NATO and the former Soviet Bloc nations is, undoubtedly, the GPS. Nevertheless, for the last three decades, global positioning system (GPS) has been made use of in all sorts of non-military applications.

Of course, a GPS is a feature of many portable devices like sat navs.

Traffic-flow in most modern cities would grind to a halt without sat navs. In fact, most automobiles either offer an integrated system included as standard or available as an inexpensive option.

Satellite navigation is not just for cars: aircraft and sea transportation rely on it as well. A massive constellation of solar powered satellites means that regardless of whether you are travelling on land, at sea or even in the air, with a simple device you can get a very reliable reading of your position. Road users can make use of in-vehicle, portable Gps systems to follow the optimal route, discover subsidiary roads to avoid traffic problems and with upgraded software loaded allow traffic reports and gas station locations.

In fact, a Windows Mobile pda has made life better (and safer) for an enormous variety of users. Woodsmen and anybody else spending time in the great outdoors should make use of GPS receivers to double check they are travelling in the right direction. Of course, fun applications using GPS are popping up everywhere, geocaching is the just one of these and has over one hundred countries. The game is an advanced treasure hunt, websites like GPSgames.com publish co-ordinates encouraging players to find a cache, often hidden at a particularly stunning spot.

On the other hand, GPS is a deadly serious matter. The police make use of the technology day after day not only to pinpoint the scene of an accident, but to get there by the most efficient means. When something goes amiss at sea or in dangerous conditions navigation systems can make a huge difference to the result of a search and rescue operation.

Many scientific disciplines have applications for gps software receivers, in scientific experiments, and in tracking geological activity such as earth tremors, quakes and volcanic activity. They can use developing GPS technology to help them in studying climate change and other natural systems. The truth is, GPS is now technology which no-one can afford to be without.

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