GPS: Short story about Global Positioning System

           In this world, we as humans are able to get access to everything. Curiosity of scientists and capability of engineers supported by high standard of technology improvement have changed the world tremendously in these decades. One of the most spectacular inventions that is a breakthrough for humans is a device that is used to track location and time called Global Positioning System (GPS).

Figure 1.1 The First GPS receiver invented by U.S Navy
for military purpose (Winjit)

          GPS was actually designed for military purpose during the cold war in 1960s. After the Soviet launched their spacecraft Sputnik in 1957, the U.S tried to invent something that could compete the Soviet. Helped by The Navy, U.S government eventually launched transit--The first satellite system-- in 1960. Satellite system is totally important for GPS to functionally work because this $10 billion program works by receiving signals from satellites orbiting the earth at some certain fixed points that will beam down signals to anyone (Sullivan).

Figure 1.2 (How Assisted-GPS work: At least three satellites
should send signals containing exact time and location to GPS
location server that will be retrieved by phones by using the help
from GSM/cell network and Internet (Litchfield).

        Although GPS was privately used by the government, now it becomes more public and is widely used by people around the world. In transportation, GPS comes in handy for drivers, pilots, and even ship helmsman to know which direction they should go to. Startlingly, by improving the quality of their products to explore the world market, some phones companies try to provide this tracking instrument within the gadgets that is known as Assited-Global Positioning System(A-GPS). Both GPS and AGPS have the same way to work. However, A-GPS  works by receiving data from nearby cell tower and it needs the assistance of wireless network (Sullivan).

Sources
   Litchfield, Steve. "Assisted GPS and the future of smartphones." N.p., n.d. Web. 25 June 2007. <http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/features/item/The_future_of_GPS-equipped_smartphones.php>.
           Sullivan, Mark. "A brief history of GPS." PC World. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Aug. 2012. <http://www.pcworld.com/article/2000276/a-brief-history-of-gps.html>.
   Winjit, Team. "Vintage Technology Throwback Thursday : SatNav." . N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2014. <http://canvas.winjit.com/index.php/tag/throwback-thursday/>.