[giantg2]

But has it helped with living conditions like food and shelter? Sure it's made life easier, even for stuff like tractor positioning for field planting. But I don't see it having a real impact on those sorts of issues. I guess it has made many munitions more accurate and reduced collateral damage.

[kevin_thibedeau]

Getting vital supplies to remote areas is no small thing.

[giantg2]

And how does GPS make that possible when things like maps have worked in the past? It just makes it easier.

[nine_k]

Not just easier, but faster.

Have you tried moving through a desert or a steppe in the dead of night, far from human infrastructure? It's damn dark, the land is literally darker than the star-strewn sky. Headlights give you only so much light, for the next 100-150m of the road maximum. Unless it's a really nice, well-maintained road, with reflector posts, etc (and usually it's not), it's really easy to lose your way if you drive a tad too fast. You either crawl, or choose to camp and wait until the morning light.

With a GPS map, you can proceed much more confidently. And a few hours may play a serious role in disaster relief.

[giantg2]

I'd say cars or helicopters are what makes it faster. Even in land vehicles you can use time/speed/direction navigation.

[kevin_thibedeau]

A GPS can guide you to a pinpoint in a featureless landscape where there is nothing to follow on a map.

[giantg2]

So too can the stars, or proper time/speed/direction navigation.

I'm not saying GPS isn't useful. I'm saying it hasn't had a life changing impact for the masses that allows for a larger population (eg it's not providing more food, shelter, etc).

[kevin_thibedeau]

You need to medevac a hiker in a remote valley now and your plan is to wait until nightfall and have someone try to navigate by sextant?