Global Positioning Systems Demystified - Final Words
(Page 5 of 5 )
Final Words
We've come to the end of this article. By now you should be enlightened on the topic of GPS. You should now be able to talk confidently about the "inner workings" of the GPS, ask for specific features without regrets, and know for sure which features to look for to satisfy your needs. Research and read a few reviews if you need to.
Furthermore, I'd like to point out some of the possible alternatives. These have great potential and who knows, they might even replace the current de facto standard GPS. First is the Galileo System that is in the European Union's hands. It was mainly initiated because of the "absolute control" that the U.S. has over the GPS. The EU teamed up with Asian partners to lead this Galileo system into the future and it looks promising. Apparently, around 2010 this system should be successfully set up and ready to run for the two continents (Europe and Asia).
The second alternative could be the GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System) that is used right now by Russia. Unfortunately, they have only 12 functional satellites at this moment. They are supported by India and are planning to replace the non-operational ones.
The last alternative is developed by China and it is called Beidou. This project is in an experimental stage, but theoretically it includes 35 satellites. Earlier this year, 2007, there were 2 more satellites launched. Therefore, China takes this project quite seriously. Its design approach differs from GPS, Galileo and GLONASS.
That's it! I certainly am not Michel de Nostredame (Latinized: Nostradamus), but one thing is crystal clear: in the near future our privacy could be violated (if it's not already). The latest quantum leaps and new technology breakthroughs literally changed our life. It's mind blowing if you think about it for a moment.
How was it centuries ago? How is it now? Big Brother is out there and watching us! We should learn to like it sooner or later because in the near future things will change dramatically. Anyway, if you want to reach us and spark a provocative discussion about the future of navigation aid systems come and join us over at DevHardware Forums.
| DISCLAIMER: The content provided in this article is not warranted or guaranteed by Developer Shed, Inc. The content provided is intended for entertainment and/or educational purposes in order to introduce to the reader key ideas, concepts, and/or product reviews. As such it is incumbent upon the reader to employ real-world tactics for security and implementation of best practices. We are not liable for any negative consequences that may result from implementing any information covered in our articles or tutorials. If this is a hardware review, it is not recommended to open and/or modify your hardware. |
| Recommended by Dev Hardware |
|---|
|
/ 20 
