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totoaus
Aug 30, 2008 12:02 AM
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Recreational GPS? Now that's an oxymoron, and a danger!
GPS is a convenient tool to help figure out where you are, and even today have an error of +- 15m (at best, it can be degraded to around +- 100m due to US military needs). Yes, GPS can be more accurate if you have differential GPS or WAAS, but almost none of Australia outside major sea ports does. DGPS requires an additional, expensive receiver that doesn't fit into mobile phones, or pocket GPSes, WAAS I think only applies on a limited scale in North America, and bits of Europe.
It is an over-dependence on technology to use them so widely. In fact, everyone of those famous stories of crashes(e.g. the GPS told him to turn so I did, resulting in a derailed train, this was an IT expert who should know better) is caused by people being overly dependent on technology. I'll tell you one thing though, the marketing proponents of GPS phones talk about how they'll help us find a restaurant (or other goal), are creating and solving a non-existant problem. If I am 15-100 m. from a destination I need, I'll find it and don't need anyone's help, especially in major cities.
The most famous non-military users of GPS is the maritime industry. Even in the 21st century (so professional mariners still tell me), after using gyrocompasses, Transit (pre GPS sat nav), LORAN, radio direction finding and many other technology tools over the years, still relies not on GPS or another electronic gizmo, but on stars, sextants and books.
I even remember a story about a recreational yachtie trapped in the Highlands up a PNG river. They had 5 GPS units on board, but refused to leave while one was faulty. At the time, they had spent 5 months waiting for parts.
Look a balanced post: one that addresses over reliance on technology, and ridiculous scepticism.
How do I know all this:
1. My Undegradute study in Maritime Electronics.
2. During my MBA study, I did REALLY well in Marketing.
3. I love all applied technology bar medical (not LANS, helpdesk and MS Office; but supercomputers, massive databases, embedded systems and other real uses of computers: as tools to do jobs.)
Comment made about the PC Authority article:
Recreational GPS?
GPS is about far more than in-car navigation. Join us as we get running and cycling with seven of the latest recreational satnav marvels
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