When we think about GPS, we probably think about a dot moving along a map, but the truth is that navigation is only one of the applications of GPS devices. There are a lot of ways we can make good use of our understanding of our position in relation to the Earth, including some trivial ways. If you want to understand what to expect in the future, it will help to understand the future of a technology like GPS so that you can be ahead of the curve.
Let's think about the world of GPS and try to imagine the different ways GPS technology might impact the way we live a few years or more down the line.
Recreation.
Oftentimes you can predict the future by looking at what is a smaller trend in the present and seeing its applications to a greater range of events. This is the case for the world of GPS as recreation. We already know that some people enjoy using GPS watches to track the amount of distance they've traveled on foot or on bike; we also know that people like to use GPS in conjunction with outdoor activities like hiking. But have you ever expected to use satellite technology to tell you where you are in relation to the pin in a golf hole? If not, you might be surprised to hear about the golfing GPS possibilities, in which players can track how far they are from the pin in order to best line up the right club for the shot they're about to take. Okay, so we cheated on this one: the technology is already available, but it isn't as widespread as it could be. When people start playing "GPS tag," you'll know this fad has run its course.
Tracking and anti-theft.
Hopefully, GPS will be used more for the forces of good rather than bad, but we can only do our best to prepare against the bad. We know that many cars have GPS systems located in them, and for this reason, it can be easy to track down a car that's been stolen and pinpoint its exact location in relation to a map. In other words, it's like having radar that knows exactly where your car is. You might have fantasized about this when you saw James Bond employ similar technology in 1964's Goldfinger, but you'll find that it's not only plausible, it's happening right now. Every time you use your GPS device to help you navigate, you're employing the same basic theory that would allow you to detect where your car goes. A smart thief would just ditch the GPS device, but a clever car owner would anticipate that and perhaps plant another GPS device where the thief couldn't get to it.
Everyday information.
Nervous mothers who need a way to check on their children might find that a GPS-enabled device they hang around their child's neck - safely, of course - could provide some much-needed assurance while allowing the child to have some freedom on the playground. Of course, this kind of technology would require a good bit of tweaking before it was really able to prevent disasters, but there is future potential in all areas of security when it comes to the world of GPS. Other information, like checking on your pizza delivery guy, might seem odd today, but many might have said the same thing about using iPhone Apps to check how far the pizza has been baked. In other words, you never know what to expect with how fast technology is moving these days. If you expect the unexpected, you probably won't be surprised!