on a recent business trip when he hit an emergency roadblock that shut down usual routes. While others waited and fumed, however, Mr. Hunter sailed through a labyrinth of unfamiliar back streets.
             His secret weapon: a global-positioning-system (GPS) receiver in his car and mapping software on a notebook computer. 'Everybody else was fighting to get around this police blockade, but we were miles ahead by using back streets.' "
             In cars, all you need is a laptop computer, GPS software and a GPS locator or built in navigation system in the car. Then you can get a digital map on your computer of where you are, and you can also get turn-by-turn instructions of where to go, and the distance to and the direction of your next turn, plus the name of the street. You can find out how far and where to go to the nearest McDonald's or Tim Horton's. Also, gas stations, tourist attractions, banks and ATMs, can be located, plus you can be given an estimated time of arrival, taking into account your speed. In Japan, cars are now starting to come out with the technology to give you directions to where you want to go based on up-to-date traffic reports.
             On wilderness outings such as canoeing, backpacking, mountain biking, and hiking it can be vary hard to get back on course after getting lost, but with a simple pocket sized GPS device, you can find out where you are, and if absolutely necessary, call for help. It is possible to buy National Park series software for the United States, so that you can get a map of the park you are in and where you are in it. This will allow you to find your way around the park as well as your way to restrooms and other buildings and roads.
             Global Positioning isn't just for finding out where you are. GPS has some pratical uses in farming, construction and in many more areas. When a farmer is out in the field, they find out how much pesticides or fertiziler to put on ...