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Garmin GPS
The Garmin Global Positioning System (GPS) is a phenomenal tool that has developed in the 20th century, and continues to improve and make renovations. The Garmin GPS is a tool that is used for many different daily activities, such as riding across town, to airplane navigational systems, to now the human body. This paper will review the invention of the Garmin GPS, and how it has developed from a simple tool to guide drivers to their destination, to how it can help with the human body.
The first Garmin GPS was first invented in the 1980s. During the 1980s the two founders of the Garmin GPS were Min Kao and Gary Burrell (Garmin, Ltd). The first invitation of the use of the Garmin GPS was given to the United States (U.S) military. The U.S military tested the Garmin GPS, and it was used for missile guidance, positioning of troops, and guidance for artillery (Tougaw, 2002).
The U.S. government has transitioned it from not only using it in the military sector, but suggested that it should be used for commercial purposes as well. By May 2, 2000, the GPS was available to the public (Tougaw, 2002). The GPS is a valuable tool in travel. One can input destination addresses correctly, and it will show less errors to travel to the destination. The Garmin GPS added new features, such as a voice direction pad where the driver could listen to the device and use it hands free instead of reading directions to the destination.
There is a lot of different ways that the Garmin GPS has impacted society. Some of those ways are the convenience of making trips faster and less confusing for those who drive in a car, truck, or any mobile transportation. The Garmin GPS has impacted todays’ society by navigating the drivers’ destination from point A to point B more efficiently. In doing this, it can give drivers different options of getting to the destination site, such as using the highway or using side streets, and even by avoiding high traffic and construction areas. Furthermore, using a Garmin GPS is easier as the driver can focus on listening to directions, then looking up the directions on a paper map or even printing out papers for the computer. This will prevent accidents to drivers who are attempting to read directions.
Also, the GPS is portable and could basically bring it almost anywhere one would want to take it. In addition, the Garmin GPS has memory device in which it can save addresses and other necessary information. This will help the person not lose valuable information on a piece of paper. Another tool that the device has is how it is controlled by the owner’s voice. This is very handy because at any time when a person gets lost, the voice control recalculates the trip in order to get to the correct destination. Plus if one does not know which way is north, south, east, or west there is a compass on the GPS where it could tell the person the direction.
Not only can the average person use a Garmin GPS but businesses could use this device too. They could use this device in many different ways. For Example, businesses can use these devices by tracking their vehicles in case of theft or missing person. Furthermore, if a dealer notices that a person has not paid their car note, the dealer can locate the car, and thus take it away. Other transportation services can use this as well. For example, airlines can use the Garmin GPS. It helps pilots by having them look at their latitude, and their longitude, which can help prevent accidents.
In addition, it can also effect human beings as well. A study conducted by Cooper, et al. (2010) wanted to understand the effect of how the time outdoors effected physical activity. Cooper, et al. (2010) used the GPS system to measure how long the children stayed outdoors. The results showed the amount of activity outdoors measured by the GPS system showed increased physical activity outside by children. Cooper, et al., (2010) suggested that knowing the amount of time outside using the GPS gives opportunity to explore ways to increase physical activity to children who play outside.
In conclusion, the Garmin GPS is a valuable tool for this new age in technology. It has many positives to make a person’s life easier, and streamline it better. It helps with organization, travel, and can improve businesses. It is already being looked at in health care, and am looking forward to this tool to help with possible cures in disease states in the future.
Works Cited
Cooper, Ashley, et al. "Patterns of GPS Measured Time Outdoors After School and Objective Physical Activity in English Children: The PEACH Project." International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 7.1 (2010): 31. Print.
Tougaw, Doug. "Finding Your Way with the Garmin GPS V." Computing in Science and Engineering 4.3 (2002): 10-3. Print.
"What is GPS?"Web. Copyright © 1996-2014 Garmin Ltd. November 20, 2014 <http://www8.garmin.com/aboutGPS/>.