Digital Information Environment
55 The Global Positioning System (GPS)
Gregory Barnes
introduction
Imagine if GPS had never been created or was only used for military use as originally intended. Life without GPS would change the structure of our lives, hurt businesses, and at this point, most likely destroy the global economy. The creation of the global positioning system (GPS) has revolutionized economies worldwide, changed the way we complete daily tasks and altered the way we conduct business, which ultimately has increased the value of the economy.
History of the GPS
During the Cold War, on October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik. Sputnik was the first satellite sent into space successfully and is well known for the fear it brought to Americans. Once Sputnik was launched the U.S. government realized just how far behind they were in technological advances. This initiated a sense of urgency within the U.S., which resulted in funding experimentation on new technology and on technological advances. Sputnik is where the origins of the GPS started. Not only did Sputnik give the U.S. the motivation it needed, but Sputnik also gave U.S. scientists something to build off of. After studying and researching Sputnik U.S. scientists noticed the doppler effect that came from the satellite. The doppler effect went on to help develop the GPS. At first Sputnik was thought of to be a huge defeat for the U.S., but it turned out to be the push in the back the U.S. needed.
How GPS works?
GPS is a radio navigation system which allows all travelers by land, sea and air to pinpoint their location and velocity twenty-four hours a day. This stands true and applies for all weather conditions. Via the doppler effect, the key principle in the Global Positioning System, we are able to track locations. Changes in frequency signals from the GPS help to pinpoint locations. Satellites can be tracked from the ground by measuring the frequency of the radio signals they emitted, and conversely, the locations of receivers on the ground can be tracked by their distance from satellites (Sullivan, 2012).
How does GPS relate to Science and Technology?
GPS is in almost every type of technology we use today because of the ability it has make our lives easier. Whether we are in need of directions, tracking employees or shipping items to customers we have GPS in the palm of our hands, thanks to technology. GPS benefits our society and because of the opportunity it creates for businesses. Technology has modernized the global economy and given it a brighter future. Society has reacted to the modernization of the economy and in response businesses are more profitable. We as a society are reliant upon technology and the things it does for us to make our lives easier. For example, cell phones are a device used every day that has GPS built into it, which allows google maps or services to be used to navigate. Many of the apps on cell phones have GPS built into them and some you can o