| For a technology that was first invented for military | | | | tracking. |
| purposes in the 1960s, the global positioning system | | | | With GPS chips becoming smaller, GPS devices in the |
| (GPS) technology has slowly assimilated into the | | | | form of collars have been used by pet owners to |
| mass consumer market in the form of personal | | | | track down their beloved pets should they get lost. |
| navigational products that we are growing reliant on | | | | Some parents are also creatively using these GPS |
| in our everyday lives getting around on the roads. | | | | collars on their children for fear of losing them in |
| However, with personal GPS devices becoming more | | | | crowded places. The GPS technology has advanced |
| affordable and portable over the last few years, | | | | so much even on the consumer front that you can |
| there are many more uses of such GPS navigators | | | | use a GPS device to effectively track down your |
| than finding your way around the road. | | | | children to a vicinity of a couple of metres. |
| 1. Development of new forms of recreational | | | | 3. Using GPS devices as your personal trainer. |
| activities using GPS technology. | | | | Need to measure the distance you are covering |
| Hikers, trekkers and anglers were probably among | | | | during your runs? Strap a GPS device on your wrist |
| the first groups of recreational hobbyists that have | | | | to monitor your running speed and distance. You can |
| taken advantage of the technology. But, the | | | | even use the GPS to plan your route in advance and |
| accessibility of the technology itself is also giving rise | | | | know exactly where and when to turn. Some GPS |
| to new forms of recreational activities. One good | | | | devices even come with in-built MP3 player and FM |
| example is geocaching. It is an individualized, high-tech | | | | radio functions which are certainly great for long runs. |
| game of treasure-hunting played by people using GPS | | | | The applications of GPS technology are bounded only |
| devices. Geocaching hobbyists plant containers called | | | | by creativity. On a personal level, a GPS navigator |
| caches in all sorts of conceivable places and upload | | | | device is certainly capable of doing much more than |
| their position co-ordinates onlines for adventure | | | | simply finding our directions from Point A to Point B. |
| seekers to find. With some creativity, GPS | | | | Popular GPS manufacturers such as Garmin, Magellan |
| technology can be effectively utilized to change the | | | | and TomTom are also continually coming up with |
| way games are played or give rise to new forms of | | | | multi-function GPS devices equipped with new, |
| social or communal interaction. | | | | integrated features. If you do not own one, it is time |
| 2. Never lose your precious beloved with GPS | | | | to change that today. |