At the time of GPS invention, only the military had the right to use it. But if we talk about today, the technology of GPS is available for everyone to use.
Because of its multiple benefits, the technology of GPS is well incorporated into our routines. Almost every car has the facility to use GPS to navigate traffic when they need it.
It is even present on our mobile devices.
Many people use GPS technology on their smartphones to get more accurate and customized web search results. People even use them on golf courses to track distances, one of the most popular models being the Garmin Approach G80. Yes, GPS technology can help us in multiple tasks in our daily lives.
Further, GPS has become something with whom almost all of us are comfortable. Almost all of us know how to appropriately use it.
The value of GPS is not only present for the individual consumer or civilian but for nations as a whole.
In this modern age of technology, GPS is used in multiple tasks. It is used for:
- The Security of Nations
- To fulfill civil, commercial, and scientific navigation needs
- The space-based radio navigation system that is owned by the United States
But there are just a few who know where it was invented. Are you one of them?
The Place Where GPS Comes From
GPS was invented in the United States in the year of 1973.
The idea of GPS was originated to overcome the drawbacks and limitations of the previous navigation systems. See, these engineers wanted to overcome integrating ideas from different predecessors that included many Classified engineering design studies from the year 1959 to 1969.
As with many technologies, the system of GPS was first invented and used by the engineers and officers of the U.S Department of Defense. In the beginning, the system of GPS only used 24 satellites.
And if we talk about the GPS origins, it was back it did also have something to with the Sputnik era and specific radio signals.
The particular radio signal is called the “Doppler Effect” and because of this, the US navy conducted satellite navigation experiments.
The Navy wanted to track the US submarines that were carrying nuclear weapons. It was in the mid-1960s with 6 satellites orbiting the poles when the Navy was able to track the location of submarines within a few minutes.
People Who Invented The GPS
The amazing and incredible technology of GPS was made possible by a combination of scientific and engineering advances. The following people were acknowledged to be associated with the invention of GPS technology:
- Roger Easton – A leader in the Navy
- Ivan Getting ( President of “The Aerospace Corporation”)
- Bradford Parkinson (Forefront Officer)
- Dr. Gladys West (Mathematician Scientist)
Bottom Line
Today, we can’t even imagine our lives without GPS technologies as it has become an indispensable part of our modern life. Many of us are so dependent on the GPS.
Since its invention, it has slowly but steadily crept into our cars, ships, cameras, smartphones, airplanes, agricultural machinery. It is even present in our laptops, and construction equipment in some form or fashion.
GPS has now also become a part of sports. For instance, Garmin Approach G80 which is a GPS device used in golf to track golf ball.
It came out of security concerns and now we enjoy its various benefits in many aspects of our lives.