blog




  • Essay / The Evolution of GPS - 718

    The Evolution of GPSIn this article, I will compare the development of GPS (Global Positioning System) using an incremental model and a social construction model. I believe that in this case, the incremental model better describes the development of GPS since it allows innovation and evolution compared to the linear model, since it is more precise in everyday life. In order to compare the evolution of GPS, I have to go back to the early years when ships sailed around the world using poor tools. However, I will elaborate in more detail on three crucial eras of navigation. The three eras of navigation that I will talk about are: the navigation of explorers, the evolution of printed maps and today's GPS. First, early explorers used nasty tools to navigate the world. In addition to this, they also discovered unknown places through these navigation tools and used tools that were precise enough to take them to new places. Referring to Olivia Isil, in her article "Navigation and Related Instruments in 16th-Century England", she states that: "Starting from a known or supposed position, the navigator measured, as best he could, the course and the speed of the ship, the speeds of ocean currents and the leeward (leeward) drift of the ship, as well as the time spent on each courseā€ (Isil p. 1). Therefore, by having this information we can deduce that important tools such as the compass, the stars and their own written maps; for example, these were used to the maximum to bring results to the explorers. Even though they were primitive tools, they helped develop something better to become more precise than ever before. Additionally, people saw the need to bring something that would have included most of the world so they could navigate...... middle of paper ...... maps help find the current location, calculates the route where you are heading, and has the speaking function (indicates what you should do next). In conclusion, the incremental model has led to the improvement of the means of orientation. Therefore, today all previous versions were good but not better than GPS. The features that GPS possesses have led to the replacement of previous versions. However, this incremental model will bring something better for the future since it will evolve more and more. All these events happened because of social constructionism, as the demand of the people pushed the evolution of navigation tools further. Therefore, we must see the disadvantages of this model and start building something better for today's population and which we will inherit for the future to our children..