By Michelle Bery
Today's modern society means ownership of a bevy of gadgets guaranteed to elevate us to new levels of convenience. What would we do with our cell phones, PDA's, and Blackberry's? And now, there's another handy gadget that sits in our palm; it may be small but it harnesses an enormous amount of power and brings it streaming right to our hands. The Global Positioning System - or GPS system - is the newest of modern gadgets that promises to keep us on the cutting edge of technology.
The GPS system uses the positioning of 24 satellites that circle the earth to pinpoint any location in the world. Having been developed by the United States Department of Defense, the GPS system was initially intended for military use when the first operational satellite was launched in 1978. However, by the mid-90s, 23 more satellites had been added to the rotation and the modern GPS system was born. Todays civilian consumers have taken the system and elevated it to ever-growing popularity.
The GPS system of today includes a network of devices used for mapping, navigation, and tracking that has replaced the compass and paper road maps of yesteryear. Users operate their GPS system in a variety of ways - from the computer mapping device to the navigational system available in newer cars.
One part of the GPS system is the GPS receiver - a hand-held device that receives its information from government satellites. Using this information, the GPS receiver does a series of latitudinal and longitudinal calculations that can precisely pinpoint the users location. A small screen will literally mark the location of the user amidst a larger map that shows surrounding points of reference. This can be enormously beneficial in a number of situations including the use by outside enthusiasts who frequently camp and hike.
The GPS system that seems to be most in use today is the navigational unit found in modern vehicles. While some units are portable and can be transferred from one vehicle to another, there are others that are permanently mounted in newer cars as part of their standard features. This GPS system - when given a specific address - can navigate the driver to their destination including turns, landmarks, and distances of all portions of the trip.
Most importantly, the GPS system of today is one that provides you with the most convenience that is specific to your needs and frequency of use.
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For easy to understand, in depth information about GPS visit our ezGuide 2 GPS.
A GPS receiver can display your position on Earth, your altitude, speed, direction of travel, and the time of day. All you need is an inexpensive receiver, and an unobstructed view of the sky.
Get a great new gps kids unit and know where they are at all times!
How to Update Your Mio Digiwalker GPS
* Mio offers a Map Update DVD for its C310x model. You can order the disc at mapupdate.mio-tech.com for $69.95 (plus $9.95 for shipping).
* When you receive the update DVD, turn on the device and connect it to your computer via USB. Insert the DVD.
* On the main menu, select Update Firmware. If a message appears stating that the firmware on the Mio is the latest version, you can
* immediately skip to Step 5. If not, it should take approximately 40 seconds to update the firmware.
* When the firmware finishes updating, click OK when the Update Complete message appears. Disconnect the USB cable.
* Re-initialize the Mio by sliding the power switch off, and then turning it back on. Complete the language and time settings.
* Connect the Mio to your notebook via USB and click Update Maps.
* The map selection screen will appear. Click Load Map.
* The Map Updating Activation window will appear. Click the link to access the Web site to get the Activation Code.
* Return to the Map Updating Activation window and enter the DVD�s serial number (found on the back of the DVD�s packaging), as well as the Activation Code. Click Transmit to Device.
Get a great new Magellan GPS maps
Write Here, Write Now: And you thought you were overloaded with information now, just wait. Hewlett Packard is working on a technology to let folks print messages in mid-air based on their location incorporating GPS technology. I find this stuff fascinating, even if no one seems to have thought of a good use for it yet. The first sentence of the article is right, though: "The kids are going to love this." in New Scientist via RCPL's Liblog]
When the ALA summer conference was in San Francisco in 1997, the SF Museum of Modern Art had a fascinating exhibit called Icons: Magnets of Meaning. I spent hours browsing through it, but one of the pieces that has always stuck in my mind was called @: Marking the Electrosphere . It talked about the meaning of that one little symbol. How it can define, place, and root you in the world, but at the same time let you be found anywhere. Integrated, widespread use of GPS is going to take this to a whole new level.
Global Positioning Systems offer everything from hole overviews to Internet access "Shortgrass Technologies' Internet-based sports information system and financial ticker enables golfers to check college football scores on a Saturday afternoon or the price of stocks any weekday. Global positioning systems can track golf cars no matter where they are on the course, thus discovering bottlenecks and slower play. Golfers can order beverages and food en route to the turn, so golf clubs can offer more than a quick hot dog - a higher priced chicken sandwich, for instance...."
I always thought that GPS would go mainstream in automobiles first, and in a way I suppose it has, but maybe golfers will lead the real charge. I could have used a portable, library-centered GPS system myself to navigate the Chicago Public Library's Harold Washington Library when I was there last fall!
garmin auto gps
Tags: hand held gps
Labels: mio gps
