Whenever you're using a GPS device, it can be tempting to take a look at it and say, "That thing's communicating with satellites? Nah...it must work some other way." In fact, there might be potential GPS customers out there who simply avoid GPS because of this belief. But believe it or not, every GPS device really does use the Global Positioning System, which functions because of the orbiting satellites keeping tabs on us all throughout the day.
The system is based out of the United States, where some two dozen satellites frequently circle the globe, using microwave signals in order to interpret the location of individual GPS units back on Earth. In other words, even though the GPS system in your phone may not look all that fancy, it really is official space age technology.
So what exactly is the role of that thing in your hand - or in your car? The GPS device uses satellites by receiving their signal and using that to pinpoint an exact location. With pre-loaded maps to help interpret the information, the GPS device can then "spit" the information back at you by displaying where you are in terms of cities, roads, and landscape. What you're reading in a GPS device is simply the end result of those calculations.
If GPS devices are already plugged into a system of satellites, where is there to go from here? Expect to see growing complexity as well as higher-quality maps. You can already see traffic information in conjunction with the maps in your GPS - often, this will cost you extra. Take a look at computer maps like the ones available at Google and Yahoo! and you'll have an idea of the degree of customization and information that can be included with each of these maps.
Privacy will be another major concern in the future of GPS - as it becomes easier to check out different parts of the world, this can potentially mean that peoples' privacy will be easier to violate.
If you still want to learn a little bit more about the Global Positioning System, check out the Garmin summary that further explains how it all works. There, you'll see that individual GPS units are simply receivers to signals that are already in the air. The only question remaining is: are you going to start receiving and using these signals, or are you simply going to wait?