GPS: The $100 Billion System That Transformed Aviation, Travel, and Exploration

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Tech Journey Time Capsule:
From the nostalgic dial-up buzz to today's quick digital clicks, this section reflects on the monumental moments and stories shaping our tech-dominated world. Remember when social media was just media? The series takes a nostalgic look back while connecting the dots to our present-day digital reality.

The GPS Revolution:
Think back to a time when handwritten directions were the norm and getting lost was part of the journey. Now, a $100 billion satellite system ensures we rarely stray off course. This section highlights the immeasurable impact of GPS on modern society, how it's transformed everything from aviation to social media, and shines a light on unsung heroes like Gladys West.

From Space Exploration to Personal Navigation:
The global positioning system, or GPS, didn't just pop into existence. This segment delves into the history, starting with the Vanguard satellite launch in 1958 and continuing through groundbreaking innovations driven by pioneers like Dr. Ivan Getting and Roger L Easton. Get the lowdown on how the U.S. Navy's celestial ambitions became the silent, guiding force we rely on today.

GPS: Beyond Just Location:
More than just a map in your pocket, GPS impacts numerous industries, from agriculture to construction. This segment emphasizes the omnipresence of GPS in modern society and its pivotal role in reshaping various sectors. It also touches on how foundational models, like the one created by Dr. Gladys West, play a crucial role in its accuracy.

The Socio-Economic Ripple Effect:
GPS isn't just about technology; it's big business. This section breaks down its economic impact, revealing how it contributes a whopping $100 billion annually to the American economy. Additionally, with its integration into over 70% of smartphones by 2010, discover how GPS reshaped daily life, social interactions, and modern conveniences.

The Future of GPS and Its Broadening Horizons:
GPS has come a long way, but where is it headed? From safeguarding lost devices to its pivotal role during events like COVID, this segment delves into its future potential. As we speculate about upcoming innovations and the balance of security with accessibility, one thing's clear: the journey of GPS and its possibilities is far from over.

Sign Off with a Thought:
End your tech journey with a nod to the endless possibilities ahead. With all the advanced tools at our disposal, the path of discovery remains infinite. Whether it's in the real world or the digital realm, the question persists: Where will you navigate next? Safe travels!

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Things Have Changed

Episode Transcript

(00:02):
Welcome to bite-sized techChronicles from things have
changed podcast.
I'm your host Jed Tabernero hereto guide you through their
markable tales of technology.
That have sculpted our digitallandscapes.
From the nostalgic buzz ofdial-up to the instantaneous
clicks of today.
We've journeyed so far.

(00:23):
In this series will unravel thehidden stories and monumental
moments that have transformedbytes into a vast interconnected
universe.
Remember when social media wasjust media.
We'll explore the pivotalshifts, the innovations and the
unsung heroes that haveredefined communication and

(00:45):
brought the world closer.
One pixel at a time.
So plugin and get ready for abite by bite exploration of our
tech infused history together.
Let's discover how the tapestryof technology continues to
evolve shape and connect ourworld.

(01:06):
After all.
Things have changed.
If you grew up in the nineties,you probably experienced the
adventure of navigating withhandwritten directions.
Or wrestling with the giantfallout map.
Imagine driving to a friend'snew house.
Squinting at street signs andpraying you took the right turn

(01:30):
at the confusing roundabout.
Those were the days of real lifeexploration challenges.
Meetings in 20.
I'm fine, I'll follow the GPS.
Turn left here.
Oh, can't be.
Proceed along the route.
Are you certain?
Turn right.
Picture this before GPS.
Getting lost was just part ofthe journey.

(01:52):
Now thanks to a sky high balletof 24 satellites worth a massive
$100 billion.
Navigating city chaos.
And while it's rains has neverbeen easier.
Whether it's navigating jetairliners, providing directions

(02:12):
to a new restaurant, orgeotagging your social media
pictures, few imagine the impactGPS would have on modern
society, including 88 year oldGladys West.
I never would have thought thatI could sit in a car and, you
know, it says, turn left, turnright.
It's like having a personalguide everywhere we go.

(02:35):
Imagine filling a footballstadium twice with gold.
That's the value of this system.
Dive in to discover how thiscosmic dance of 12,550 miles
above.
Keeps us on the right trackevery day.

(02:56):
In our current position, youwould see 11, 000 miles away.
Right now, there's probably 11satellites.
And what a good receiver doesnow...
It listens to all of them, andit gets a stronger solution.
But the basic requirement topinpoint a single location, only
four.
And then you not only knowlatitude, longitude, altitude,

(03:19):
but also time.
Think Google maps.
Uh, Marvel valued at a whopping$56 billion.
It's not just a tool.
It's a daily companion for overa billion users.
It's the cornerstone of techTitans, like Uber and Lyft.
Redefining transportation.

(03:40):
It even fuels.
Fitness enthusiasts through appslike Strava.
Transforming ordinary journeysinto extraordinary adventures.
From augmented reality wonderslike Pokemon go to precision
agriculture.
The ripple effect of GPS islimitless.
Creating a symphony ofinterconnected experiences and

(04:02):
groundbreaking innovations.
The point is it's everywhere.
It becomes something you rely onso much.
You go to a strange town, dialup GPS, take you somewhere and
you say, Well, how did I gethere?
I don't know.
I followed the little arrow.
Over 5 billion GPS devices arein use worldwide.

(04:24):
A Testament to our symbioticrelationship with this unseen
navigator.
That's more than half theEarth's population connected,
located and guided through theunseen realms of the
stratosphere.
And consider this.
GPS Grace's over 70% of allsmartphones.

(04:44):
How does this shift andaccessibility shape our
experiences and redefineconvenience in an age where the
world is quite literally at ourfingertips.
What we are doing is calculatingexactly where the center of this
satellite is relative to wherewe are.
And so as that satellite goesaround in orbit, we have stored

(05:06):
in it where it's going to be.
So as part of the message thatcomes down, it keeps saying, I
am here, time is this.
I am here, time is this.
We lock up on that signal, lockup on three others, and we find
out where we are.
The omnipresence of GPS extendsbeyond the digital screen.

(05:27):
It's woven into the fabric ofour societies and industries
with over 50% of farms and 30%of construction projects
utilizing this technology.
But what about its history?
Where did the global positioningsystem or GPS start?
Project Vanguard scores abullseye on its third firing at

(05:48):
Cape Canaveral.
A grapefruit sized satellite isset into the nose cone of a
three stage rocket, and thelaunching routine begins.
With the launch of the Vanguardsatellite in 1958, the United
States strengthened itscommitment to science
exploration and paved the wayfor future space technology.

(06:08):
It all starts in 1964.
The us Navy driven by theambition of Dr.
Ivan, a getting.
Who champion the idea of asatellite based navigation
system.
Began charting courses in thecelestial sphere.
Laying the foundations of whatwould become our silent guide

(06:29):
through land, sea and air.
Meanwhile, Roger L Easton.
Already experimenting with theNavy navigation satellite
system.
Contributed breakthrough,timekeeping technology and
methods essential for theaccurate positioning we
associate with GBS today.
His work was a Testament tohuman ingenuity.

(06:51):
And laid the foundationalblueprints for what GPS would
become.
From the Naval ResearchLaboratory in Washington, D.
C., Roger Easton led a team ofscientists and engineers to
develop an orbital trackingsystem for the Vanguard
satellite using radio waves.
The Vanguard project was ascientific satellite project for

(07:14):
the International GeophysicalYear.
We had a method of tracking itcalled mini track.
And then later, idea came to me,wouldn't this be a good
navigation system?
He spent 37 years in Washington,D.
C.
as a physicist at the U.
S.
Naval Research Laboratory anddeveloped a system that put
highly accurate clocks inmultiple satellites and could be

(07:37):
used to determine the preciselocation of someone on the
ground.
He called it Timation for TimeNavigation.
Easton's vision led to the U.
S.
first satellite tracking networkand became what we know today as
the Global Position System, orGPS.
Today, GPS is a constellation ofEarth orbiting satellites
providing precise navigation andtiming data to military and
civilian users worldwide.

(07:58):
As the years progressed, itbecame evident that this
navigation system was not just afleeting dream.
With Colonel Bradford Parkinsonleading a team of innovators.
The first operational GPSsatellite was launched in 1978.
GPS is a ubiquitous worldwideutility.
That allows you to know whereyou are and what time it is with

(08:22):
great accuracy anywhere.
Parkinson often termed thefather of GPS.
Played a pretty pivotal role.
Bridging the gap between theoryand practical application.
Ensuring the celestial gens ofsatellites could guide a
seamlessly.

(08:44):
And amidst these innovators,there was Gladys west.
Dr.
Gladys west.
And mathematician whoseinvaluable contributions are
lesser known, but equallyimpactful.
Gladys, one of the fewAfrican-American women in her
field at the time was pivotal inthe development of the satellite

(09:04):
geo Dessi models.
That would eventually become acore component of GPS.
By processing data fromsatellites, she created an
accurate mathematical model ofearth.
Uh, G OID reflecting its shape.
This model was instrumental inour accurate understanding of

(09:26):
Earth's dimensions.
Making precise GPS calculationspossible.
It's a Testament to howindividuals often behind the
scenes paved the way for thetechnological marvels we enjoy
today.
She studied mathematics, earningher degree in 1952.
She went back earning a master'sin 1955 after teaching and

(09:50):
segregated Virginia publicschools.
In 1956, a call from the NavalService Warfare Center, as it's
known today in Dahlgren,Virginia The pivotal moment in
1983.
Uh, tragedy turned into promiseGPS.
Initially a military assetbecomes a universal compass.

(10:11):
Hello, Americans.
I'm coming before you tonightabout the Korean Airline
Massacre, the attack by theSoviet Union against 269
innocent men, women, andchildren aboard an unarmed
Korean passenger plane.
We are cooperating with othercountries to find better means
to ensure the safety of civilaviation We have joined with

(10:31):
other countries to press theInternational Civil Aviation
Organization to investigate thiscrime at an urgent special
session of the Council.
At the same time, we'relistening most carefully to
private groups, both Americanand international, airline
pilots, passenger associations,and others.
who have a special interest incivil air safety.

(10:51):
How did this decision shift ourinteraction with the world?
And space.
Now, the Federal AviationAdministration says it will
begin building a new high techsatellite based air traffic
control system, awarding a 1billion contract today.
to begin work on the project,which will work using GPS or

(11:13):
global positioning satellites,cutting down on delays and
enabling the FAA to handle twoto three times the amount of air
traffic now using the not sofriendly skies.
By 1995, even the skies were nolonger uncharted.
The FAA adopts GPS.
And the accuracy of thistechnology is refined.

(11:35):
What transformations that thisbring to aviation?
And how did it redefine ourapproach to travel and
exploration?
GPS didn't become fullyoperational until 1995.
Now, it's an integral part of somany industries, from farming to
landing planes, even keepingtrack of great white sharks.

(11:58):
And the value of such a covetedtechnology?
One hundred billion dollars ayear to the American economy
alone.
Fast forward to 2010.
The GPS signal finds a home inour pockets.
With over 70% of smartphonesequipped with GPS.
How did this integration reshapeour daily lives?

(12:20):
Social interactions and ourunderstanding of convenience.
We estimate there are over abillion GPS receivers in use
today.
And the reason is simple.
It's that virtually every one ofthese devices comes with one.
Do you know how much it costs?

(12:42):
About a dollar and a half.
That cheap.
It's amazing.
Over 5 billion devicesinteracting with a celestial
network.
How does this compare to globalpopulation?
And what does it signify aboutour Alliance of this unseen
guide?
Beyond navigation, GPS touchesscience, agriculture, and

(13:06):
construction.
How will this technologycontinues to evolve?
And what unchartered territorieswill it reveal in our
interconnected world?
It's fascinating to think abouthow GPS once a mere navigation
tool has woven itself into thevery fabric of our daily lives.

(13:26):
Today.
It's not just about finding ourway through city streets.
GPS technology powers featureslike find my iPhone.
Ensuring that loss devices areswiftly located and families
feel an added layer of securityfor their loved ones.
It's the backbone for deliveryservices.

(13:47):
Bringing meals to our doors,which was critical during COVID.
Ride sharing apps that haverevolutionized transport.
I can't imagine not having Uber.
And health applications thatmonitor our jogs and hikes.
From safety to convenience, tofitness.

(14:09):
The reach of GPS is expansive.
It's the silent guardian.
And the guide for a generationthat can't fathom life without
the interconnected wonders.
But while we appreciate itspresent marvels.
What about its future potential?
As we wrap up ponder this.

(14:30):
What emerging technologies willGPS power next.
How LAR dependence evolve.
Will it become even morepersonal, perhaps guiding, not
just our physical journey.
But our digital ones as well.
What measures will we take toensure the balance of security
with accessibility?

(14:52):
Try to dive deep on thesethoughts.
Until next time, keepquestioning.
And stay curious.
Because even with all ouradvanced tools, The journey of
discovery is still trulyendless.
Where will you navigate next?
Safe travels.