20.10.2020: First Blog Post

Welcome to my first post

In this first post, I thought i'd take the opportunity to explain more about the technology itself. GPS technology has been around for over 40 years, but only began its mainstream public use in 2000, when the US government stopped intentionally scrambling satellite signals therefore allowing accuracy to increase from around 100 meters to under 10 meters.

Since then GPS technology has become more reliable and more accurate and is now built into a lot of the technology we use today. This development of the technology has enabled accessibility to increase, with GPS devices now available for under £10.

GPS Technology

In terms of the technology itself, GPS is a network of satellites orbiting the Earth broadcasting radio signals which can provide geolocation and time information to any GPS receiver. In recent years, as technology advances, the hardware required to receive such signals have become cheaper, more accessible and increasingly more accurate, on average the location of a GPS Tracking Unit can be pinpointed to within 4.9m with further plans to boost accuracy planned.

The image below illustrates how GPS technology works. A group of 4 of the 24 GPS satellites positioned in orbit transmit precise signals which enable GPS receivers to calculate accurate location, speed, and time information. Such information can then be passed on via a cellular network and the internet to a mobile device which displays such information to the user. Within dementia care, the user interface is held by the care partner, however a secondary mobile device can also be carried by the individual themselves.

References: gps.gov (2017)