GPS

GPS may refer to any of the following:

1. Short for Global Positioning System, GPS is a network of satellites that helps users determine a location on Earth. The thought of GPS was conceived after the launch of Sputnik in 1957. In 1964, the TRANSIT system became operational on U.S. Polaris submarines and allowed for accurate positioning updates. Later this became available for commercial use in 1967. The picture shows an example of the Garmin nuvi 350, a GPS used to find locations while driving.

On September 1, 1983, Soviet jets shot down a civilian Korean Airlines Flight 007 flying from New York to Seoul and kill all 269 passengers and crew. As a result of this mistake, President Ronald Regan orders the U.S. military to make GPS available for civilian use.

Today, with the right equipment or software, anyone can establish a connection to these satellites and find their location within 50 to 100-feet. GPS is built into smartphones, and infotainment systems found in modern vehicles.

2. Short for General Problem Solver, GPS is an AI (artificial intelligence) program created in 1957 by Herbert Simon, John Cliff Shaw, and Allen Newell. The GPS program was written in IPL (Information Processing Language) to be a universal problem solver using reasoning (i.e., algorithm) to solve any problem presented.

Absolute location, Artificial intelligence terms, Computer acronyms, Geocaching, Geo-fencing, GIS, Hardware terms, LBS, Navigation, Relative location, Satellite, Tracking