The Global Positioning System (GPS) works through a constant communication between the GPS device on the surface and multiple satellites in orbit. The way it works is that the GPS device sends out signals and the satellite sends out signals back to it. The data is then analyzed and by determining how quickly the signal is returned by any particular satellite, the GPS device can establish where it is on the surface of the Earth fairly quickly.
This enables joggers to figure out how far or fast they have run, drivers to establish the correct routes to their destinations and even enables companies to keep track of their shipments and vehicles.
One of the nicest things about our world today is the video we can see to help us visually teach our students. Here is a nice video that explains the basics a bit better than we can.
Another thing it does is to help companies determine if their employees are goofing off. Some companies (like construction companies for example) require employees to have company provided cell phones. These phones are obviously for communication but they also provide a benefit to the employer. And the benefit is, that if the employee goes “off site” for a long period of time, the employer will see that and will know that the employee was missing from the work site. The employer can then follow up to see if the absence was company-related or not.
Tags: GPS, how gps works