Technology is a wonderful thing and has enabled us as a race to achieve things we could have only ever dreamed of, and using manmade and developed technologies we have managed to reach the deepest parts of the oceans and climb far into outer space in order to satisfy our curiosity and develop methods that improve our lives. In fact it is the development of complex satellites and space craft that enable us to utilise what has become one of the most popular and relied upon technological inventions, the GPS tracking system.

GPS tracking systems or vehicle tracking systems as they are otherwise known are now used by thousands of companies and private individuals for a variety of different reasons. Fleet managers, for example, use GPS systems to help them run their vehicle fleets more efficiently and to help them remain compliant with Government laws and legislation, such as the Corporate Manslaughter Act and the Working Time Directive.

For private individuals vehicle tracking devices can help guide them on long journeys and improve the security of their vehicle. GPS tracking systems have also been utilised to track other objects, for instance, in some conservation projects rare species are fitted with a tracking device and then monitored allowing conservationists to learn more and to help that species survive in this volatile world. But what exactly is GPS, how was it developed, and more significantly what role does GPS play in modern day life?

First and foremost, GPS stands for Global Positioning System and refers to a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network …

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