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| Yes | 51% | 350 votes | Total: 680 votes | |
| No | 49% | 330 votes |
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Add to FavoritesWhen people say "no" to this question, they may be limiting their views to the current technology and the applications they are familiar with. Sure, maps are cool. They are permanent data you only lose access to if you lose the maps themselves, but thats it. How often do you use a GPS to locate yourself on a physical map? Do you really carry around a watch, and a sextant and find your latitude and longitude manually? If you have this archaic skill, I commend you. It's a great hobby but for navigation it is just not practical.
Now, for true accuracy second by second you pull out a GPS. True, you could have forgotten to charge the batteries, or the device is broken. Hey, it maybe you don't have a map installed for it. These are problems that could potentially end your trip, or lead to an unpleasant time navigating by hand. These are also current problems and should not color your opinion on future developments. The question is "Will GPS EVER replace" not, could it replace it right now.
Imagine a device that is made with a fold-able screen. It communicates wirelessly with our ever expanding cellular data networks. It passively charges when exposed to the sun, but the battery is rated for a week of continuous use, or a year in storage. You pull it out and it pulls your location off the GPS grid, and grabs local maps from the aether and paints them onto the screen you're holding in your hand. You want to hike a trail, or eat at a nice local restaurant. The device shows your options right on the map you're holding You choose your destination and it paints the easiest path given your current mode of locomotion.
Sound ridiculous? Fold able, roll able screens exist that draw very little power and are direct sunlight readable. Electronics exist that draw so little power you could leave them on for a week before they shut off. Batteries exist that are compact, yet hold a tremendous charge, and don't let it go easily. Our continuously expanding data networks blanket the country in information. Google Earth already does all the information work, try it out today. Hey, it even works with most phones and your built in location finding service! All these things exist, just not in one device. Pulling them all together would be an almost simple feat for any of the electronic giants.
A device that feels like paper, yet is dynamic in its content is inevitable, so please, don't judge the technology in it's infancy.
Learn more about this author, Drake P..
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No
Global Positioning System (GPS) is a navigation instrument with a narrow function of giving directions, and guiding to find places based on latitudes and longitudes. Anyone who knows maps and geography, and have some experience of using a GPS would argue that, though the GPS is a handy and advanced electronic instrument for trip planning, and travel guiding, it would never be able to replace the multiple functions and broader utility of conventional maps. Instead, GPSs are being used to enhance, and update information in conventional paper maps.
A Conventional map is a two dimensional representation of the earth, drawn to a scale, with symbols, a direction, and a key, representing man-made as well as natural features of the environment. It has a much broader utility than a GPS, and has existed in the world a very long time. The oldest known maps are preserved on Babylonian clay tablets from about 2300 B.C. The types of maps are numerous, and their utility depends on the purpose for which they are drawn.
Uses of conventional maps are threefold. Map reading a basic utility, is the translation of map features into a mental image of the environment through identification of symbols. This is true for GPS as well. In GPS one can read visual features on screen such as roads, water bodies, gas stations and so on. However, due to the small size of the screen, and its low resolution, a limited number of features are presented on GPS screen compared to conventional paper maps. The road system and the directions are the priority features on a GPS map.
Map analysis is the second use of conventional maps. By analyzing, the features of the maps are described in terms of spatial structures and relationships. The act of map analysis converts complex patterns of symbols to usable forms, such as hilly areas, lowlands, densely populated, rural, urban, rocky, high slopes, and so on. In GPS what you see on the screen constantly changes when move with it, and hence there is only little opportunity to analyze the features in relation to other places.
Map interpretation is the third aspect of conventional map use. The knowledge one gains from map reading and analysis is put to use at this stage of map study. The conventional map is said to be a springboard for imagination. It allows you to discover patterns, and relationships of various phenomena of the environment, and inspire to search for answers. For example, if one wishes to know why a certain area has more road links than in any other place, the road map in question can be overlaid with a map of economic activities, and settlement distribution, and check whether a close relationship exist. The GPS does not provide opportunity for this kind of map based discoveries.
GPS is a satellite signal receiver, technically advanced than a conventional map, but has a narrow function. It receives signals from 24 satellites orbit the earth, 12000 miles away in the sky. These satellites were placed by the U.S. Department of Defense, and organized into six orbital rings in a way that always at least four or more satellites could be seen from the earth. These satellites orbit the earth twice a day. GPS receives signals from three satellites at a time and find location, using a technique called triangulation. It uses signals from a fourth satellite to determine the altitude of that location. GPSs are mounted on cars, ships, and aircrafts, or hand held by individuals, and now also available in cell phones. Garmin Nuvi 880, Navigon 7200T,Magellan Maestro 4370,Mio C520 Navigation Receiver, Tom Tom One 125 are top rated car GPSs in the market today.
One can enter the destination address into a GPS and ask it to guide you for your trip. It tells when and where to exit, in which lane to stay, the distance to the destination and the origin, and travel time spent and remaining, until the end of your trip. You can plan your trip with the shortest distance or the fastest time options or to use most of the freeways or the local roads. The map option visualizes the local roads, highways with their names, and intersections, and other features while moving. You can find points of interest under various categories such as restaurants, bank ATMs, places for entertainments, and many other places, their addresses, phone numbers and directions, no doubt a very helpful guidance to a traveler. Unlike paper maps GPS maps gives real time data. In conventional maps chances are that you read out-dated information, but with GPS map coordinates one can also modify information on paper maps.
The guidance capability of GPS, however, depends on the signal strength from satellites. These signals work like light rays, and become weaker in cities with high-rise buildings, in narrow streets, and under trees with thick foliage. In such places, real-time navigation become difficult, and traveler could get lost, and have to use the help of conventional street maps, or the others help to find destinations. Further, GPS is an electronic instrument, and have the hazel of replacing batteries, or circuit problems, where conventional maps do not require anything, but only a place to fold and hide.
The military organizations in almost all countries hold huge pile of conventional maps, for military training, and military navigation purposes. Map and land navigation training is a compulsory element still in U.S. military. The military is also the largest user of GPS in this nation, and it has become complementary tool with conventional maps in navigation, and in military activities.
In addition, GPSs are not a tool available to everybody, as to their high cost, in many developing countries, and travelers still use conventional maps to find directions and places. With conventional maps traveler is involved thoroughly in his trip, finding directions, and it also provide fun and learning unlike a GPS that isolated from human being.
The GPS is an advanced electronic instrument that is complementary with conventional maps. It has, however, a narrow function. Conventional maps help to reveal new relationships of natural and human phenomenon on the earth surface. They do not suffer from software issues, or satellite signal problems. They have fixed features; a traveler is actively involved in planning, and executing the trip. The conventional map and GPS are complementary tools, and GPS will never have to replace conventional maps.
Learn more about this author, Don Patrick Amarasinghe.
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