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The last time I looked at toposheets was in my surveying class, circa 1989. And when Global Positioning System (GPS) was just a buzz. Technology matured over time, and I lost track.

Fast forward to the new millennium. In 2002, Fred Langa¹ mentioned in his newsletter about how he successfully used a GPS system to traverse across Europe. That was when the lights really lit up.

Traveling with the GPS was empowering, which is how technology should be.

This does sound like I’m living under a big rock², but honestly, I hadn’t seen a device in action until recently. On our city orientation tour a couple of months ago, we asked our guide to show us our doctor’s clinic, by handing her a Google Maps print-out.

What she said surprised us: “I am not familiar with the place, but just give me the address and we’ll get there.” She took out a tiny tomtom, hooked-it up to her wind-shield, typed out the door number and area code on the device, and voila, the device started telling us how to go! The print-out went back folded in my pocket. Within a few minutes, we were right in front of the clinic. The device picks up the scent of the road again, even if you deliberate or really miss turns.

GPS fan(atic)s would agree with me when I rave about how well these PDA-sized devices work. They have been ready for the consumer for a while. [Al]most perfect navigation systems. Galileo would have been proud. It is no surprise that EU deservedly calls their system Galileo positioning system (yet to become operational), in the honor of the father of modern astronomy, physics and science.

GPS is no longer a luxury, especially when compasses inside our brains often forget the North. And because knowing exactly where you are, gives you that extra confidence and that you’re never really lost.

We are excited that we’ll soon have one in our new transport.

1. I am a regular reader of Langalist since 2000. [←]
2. It is unusual for someone to be using GPS from where I come from, with the exception of climbers, rally drivers, trekkers and land surveyors. [←]

gps, tomtom

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