GPS navigation systems use a network of geosynchronous satellites that orbit the earth to determine the location of people or objects within a few feet of their location. GPS systems were first used to help the military in target location and in navigation. More recently the cost of GPS hardware has fallen, allowing accurate civilian use; this is also due to the enhancement of signal quality by the military.

There's nothing like GPS tracking systems for keeping tabs on a company's motorized assets. Not only do such systems help optimize drivers' delivery performance, it also makes estimating delivery times far more accurate. These global positioning systems also make it possible to map out the best routes to maximize driver efficiency.

There are those, however, who warn of a possible negative effect of using a GPS system, viewing it as constituting an erosion of privacy. Some taxi, truck, and limo drivers are already having their trips scrutinized in this way. On the positive side, GPS technology has proven effectiveness as a means of tracking would-be terrorists, and has been used for some time by federal agents.

GPS has become a consumer tool as well; several new tools allow laymen to use GPS systems to plan hikes, find locations for fishing or camping, and find their way around unfamiliar places. Commercial GPS devices have given rise to "geocaching," a pastime where participants search for hidden items using their latitude and longitude coordinates.

The miniaturization of Global Positioning Services has created a new component for auto owners, the GPS receiver. The driver can now find their exact location, get turn-by-turn directions, and have it delivered by voice. The days of folding or flipping maps are gone. New innovations include the ability to locate the nearest rest stop, dining establishment, bed and breakfast, or fueling station.

The use of GPS for various purposes will likely increase as the cost of devices continues to decrease. GPS technology is very flexible and can serve as a replacement for current technologies such as paper maps, and may play a role in future advances. Perhaps in the future GPS tracking will allow us to know the location of all of our possessions at all time, making theft and loss a thing of the past.