Friday, January 7, 2011

GPS Implications

GPS has infiltrated our lifestyle in many ways. The Garmin website reveals its latest products which extend the parameters into apps for your cell phone, the GTU10 webtracking service, the GPSMAP 700 series...

Foursquare is a location based social networking website which connects friends.

Now scientists are using GPS to track the migrations of animals including the endangered leather back sea turtle. 25 females were tracked from one of their main breeding colonies off Gabon in Central Africa. One route covers over 7,500 kilometers and extends to the coast of South America.

One scientist said, "All of the routes we've identified take the leatherbacks through areas of high risk from fisheries, so there's a very real danger to the Atlantic population. Knowing the routes has also helped us identify at least 11 nations who should be involved in conservation efforts."

The new GPS technology encourages one to think about its implications for society, science, and our lifestyle.

Via Treehugger