"Running head: THE IMPACT OF GPS TECHNOLOGY 1The Impact of GPS Technology on People’s LivesNameInstitutional Affiliation THE IMPACT OF GPS TECHNOLOGY2The Impact of GPS Technology on People’s LivesGlobal positioning and tracking (GPS) technology is an innovation that uses electronicmonitoring to identify and locate devices worldwide. Application of this tracking expertise hasextended from scientific and technical use to being adopted for everyday personal usage. GPSenabled devices can be positioned and tracked worldwide, which means that frequently usedelectronics can be mapped to the convenience of their owners. It is possible to place tracker chipsin smartphones, navigation and guidance systems, pets, and even human beings to mapmovement and location. GPS has changed people’s lives by modernizing vehicle navigationsystems, locating devices, pets and children, and transforming exploration using maps. Navigation systems mounted in automobiles depend on global positioning systems andthe internet to guide drivers to their destinations. With integrated GPS trackers installed in asmartphone or a vehicle-mounted tablet, the driver can identify a preferred location and plot themost convenient route from the current location (Do & Gatica-Perez, 2014). Since these mappingdevices update the position while the journey progresses, the user can approximate the time ofarrival and even change routes depending on traffic or weather. While some gadgets may distracta driver who repetitively checks their location, they may be modified to give spoken instructions.Therefore, through the application of positioning and navigation tracking systems, the drivingexperience has been revolutionized. Traditional uses of maps have changed with the innovation of GPS in mobile devices thatintegrates tracking and real-time mapping functionalities. Maps in smartphones and tablets allowusers to explore new regions while following directions on their gadgets (Do & Gatica-Perez,2014). As such, smart appliances with this technology improve the experience of exploration.Korpilo, Virtanen, and Lehvävirta (2017) illustrate that innovation in smartphone GPS tracking THE IMPACT OF GPS TECHNOLOGY3has made it possible for recreational users to gather data on their movements. Consequently, thisinvention has enhanced the experience of tourists during safaris, making it more enjoyable thanusing conventional paper maps. Tracking and locating of possessions, pets, and persons to secure them has become easierwith the fusion of GPS tracking to the internet. Such positioning requires that trackablemicrochips be implanted into an object designed to transmit a repeated signal to the satellites.According to DeMichele (2014), such monitoring is possible on a large scale, and can be used tolimit movement to a geofence. Hence, wearable GPS devices can be used in the confinement ofpets, observing the movement of wildlife in parks, or even restricting the movement of prisonersor patients with dementia. The use of GPS technology in tracking, positioning, and mapping has made life easier indifferent aspects. For instance, it has enhanced the tracking of lost tourists, children, patients, andprisoners. Similarly, lost gadgets have also been easily traced using this know-how. Nonetheless,like any other invention, the main shortcoming of this technology is the unethical spying onsmart phone users. However, GPS has improved everyday life by changing the way peopleinteract with each other and the environment. THE IMPACT OF GPS TECHNOLOGY4ReferencesDeMichele, M. (2014). Electronic monitoring: It is a tool, not a silver bullet. Criminology &Public Policy, 13(3), 393-400.Do, T. M. T., & Gatica-Perez, D. (2014). Where and what: Using smartphones to predict nextlocations and applications in daily life. Pervasive and Mobile Computing, 12, 79-91.Korpilo, S., Virtanen, T., & Lehvävirta, S. (2017). Smartphone GPS tracking—Inexpensive andefficient data collection on recreational movement. Landscape and Urban Planning, 157,608-617. "