In the late 1980s Ronald Reagan announced that GPS would now be available to the general public. In 1987 the Department of Defense began a system in which people would be monitoring and serving civilans using these devices. That task was taken on by the Department of Transportation and later the US Coast Guard was involved as well in serving these civil users. Then in the early 90s the Federal Aviation Administration annouced that it would be providing free GPS services to the international community for an extended period of time.
As GPS came in to the commercial sector though some restrictions came upon them. A policy called selective ability was created so that the most accurate GPS signals would be available for government/military usage. The signals broadcasted to the military would be accurate up to about 60 feet. While the singals being broadcast to civilians would be accurate up to a 100 feet. Then in 1996 the Clinton Administration contended that a greater quality of GPS signals would be made available to the public. And the system of providing civilian with lesser quality signals would end. The US also continued their insurance of providing the international community with GPS free of charge.
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What does it matter!
ReplyDeleteOver the weekend I was traveling and used on my GPS to get me around.
I also combine my GPS with networking when in the city I can see where my friends are and hook up with them. I also track my kids actions and get SMS when they enter or leave cretin locations... These are bigger changes in the way GPS have effected society.. What is your story?
All this is true but I was looking at the steps it took for the GPS to even affect the general public.
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