Over the weekend, I invested in a GPS device. I always thought they were just an unnecessary luxury, but my wife and I are going on a cross-country road trip and I thought a GPS device would be handy to have. First of all, let me tell you what a blessing it has been in just a few days. But while playing with it, I started wondering about the history of this technology and how it reached the hands of the general public. Here is a brief history of GPS technology and how it came to be so available like it is today.
• GPS stands for Global Positioning System. It was created by Ivan Getting exclusively for the United States Department of Defense.
• The cost to create the GPS technology was upwards of $12 billion.
• The original GPS included 18 satellites and ground stations.
• This technology has been used to locate ships and submarines on the ocean as well as to measure the height of Mount Everest.
These are just a few facts your new truck dealers thought you may find interesting about the history of GPS technology. Visit your Philadelphia area GMC dealer and find a new model that has a built-in GPS. After a few days with it, you will wonder how you ever lived without it!
