In class this week, we discussed contextuality and how it affects decision support systems. One of these decision support systems discussed that I know many of us use in our daily lives are geographic information systems. This decision support system utilizes geographic databases to create and present maps and other relevant information to the user. To obtain this information, we often use Global Position Systems or GPS devices.
Many people us GPS devices to navigate around, getting directions on how to get somewhere or to find the closest Target, but while listening to a Stuff You Should Know podcast a few weeks ago, I learned about a different more, entertaining way to use your GPS device that I thought I’d share with all of you; it’s called geocaching. Geocaching is like the 21st century’s version of treasure hunting, where you use your GPS device to locate the “geocache.” Participants of geocaching will hide a waterproof container with a logbook and usually something of low value inside. Once they have created this geocache, they will record the coordinates and then post them online for others to look up and then, with the aid of their GPS devices, find. There are many different variations of geocaching, like traditional geocaching where you simply take an item from the geocache and replace it with something of your own, or the multi-cache, where you locate multiple caches, each one giving you a coordinate for the next, or mystery caches where you have to solve puzzles to find them.
Technology is truly amazing. I remember going on treasure hunts (in the small community I am from) with my parents when I was younger. We had questions and clues to help direct us where to look, which was all done by a map, pencil, and paper. It was more of a race against other people, rather than just finding the "treasure." I never imagined that when I got older I would be able to do this kind of thing through a GPS system. It definately would help if you do not know the area! It will also be so much easier to pinpoint exactly where the treasure is. This sounds like a lot of fun, and hopefully I will be able to go on treasure hunts again someday, this time using technology to help me.
ReplyDeleteThis is really fun stuff. I wish I had GPS in my, car. If I don't know where I'm at, I easily get lost. I don't know my north from south. I like how GPS can show you or where something is exactly at. I believe my ipod touch can pinpoint yourself within 50 feet. That's pretty precise. I think one of the most useful things to do with GPS is tracking animals. We can track sea turtles and see where they go and how far they travel. We can have tractors steer themselves with GPS. There's no end to what this technology can do.
ReplyDeleteI find GPS works better at small towns than big cities.Last time I went to Boston, it directed to a wrong place, where I was not going to visit.
ReplyDeleteGPS is very useful in our lives, even though sometimes it misleads the wrong direction. I think GPS help the drivers who lack sense heading. Many years ago, when I saw the drivers watch map in the car and entangled which way they could go, I'm afraid that if someday I own a car and face the same situation, what can I do? However, now I find that the worry is not necessary.
ReplyDeleteSometimes we lose sight of the travel getting there. We are in such a hurry to get directly to our "spot", that we miss the journey of getting there. I like to experience some of the "off the beaten path". Don't get me wrong, GPS is a wonderful tool when you need it.
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