"It has become one of the staples of modern, hi-tech life: using satellite navigation tools built into your car or mobile phone to find your way from A to B. But experts have warned that the system may be close to breakdown. US government officials are concerned that the quality of the Global Positioning System (GPS <http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gps>) could begin to deteriorate as early as next year, resulting in regular blackouts and failures - or even dishing out inaccurate directions to millions of people worldwide. The warning centres on the network of GPS satellites that constantly orbit the planet and beam signals back to the ground that help pinpoint your position on the Earth's surface. The satellites are overseen by the US Air Force, which has maintained the GPS network since the early 1990s. According to a study by the US government accountability office (GAO), mismanagement and a lack of investment means that some of the crucial GPS satellites could begin to fail as early as next year." More here.... http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On May 19, 2009, at 5:06 PM, Jackie Myers wrote: > "It has become one of the staples of modern, hi-tech life: using > satellite navigation tools built into your car or mobile phone to find > your way from A to B. But experts have warned that the system may be > close to breakdown. > > All the old farts are going to be set and the kiddies wont know what to do with a paper chart or map. Just stay off airliners. Jim the curmudgeon *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Tue, May 19, 2009 at 2:58 PM, James Farrelly <JFarrelly5_at_comcast.net>wrote: > > > All the old farts are going to be set and the kiddies wont know what to do > with a paper chart or map. Just stay off airliners. > I quit flying on airliners when the cute blonde in the front right seat wanted to know "what's a Luscombe" when I mentioned that I'm a pilot. Her boss, in the left seat, just shook his head. I do trust any who are glider pilots too but I'm thinking there might not be many of those. One recent famous one but no one seems to have figured out that it might have been instrumental in his ability to fly a glider with a couple of hundred passengers but I'm still wondering if the FAA is going to ding him for not having a floatplane endorsement. As far as GPS goes, I have a sextant around here somewhere. But since they still have Loran C on line I'd be willing to bet that this is just a US Navy misinformation campaign; I heard that the Navy wants their own satellite navigation system because, apparently, they think that having something that covers places like Wyoming and Nebraska are just plain wasteful. As my son said when I was demonstrating how we once slide rules to do our math, "Gee... why didn't you just use a calculator?" Craig Jungers Cranky in Moses Lake, WA www.nwkayaking.net *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Jackie quoted >"It has become one of the staples of modern, hi-tech life: using >satellite navigation tools built into your car or mobile phone to find >your way from A to B. But experts have warned that the system may be >close to breakdown. G'day, Thanks for that heads up Jackie, Often wondered about the dangers of over reliance on technology - it would be tragic to see this and other infrastructures fall into disrepair. To what extent is the world economy contributing to this problem? Or is it simply that the larger systems become the more prone thay are to error and failure. Thank heaven's I've got my trusty kamal! All the best, PeterO *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
PeterO wrote: To what extent is the world economy contributing to [the potential loss of GPS]? Or is it simply that the larger systems become the more prone thay are to error and failure. First, consider the source. The GAO reports objectively (it says here in the fine print)to our Congress on matters like this, but they also can help steer funding when it's needed. And it is needed by the USAF to keep things going. But this isn't because of the economy directly. It's an old problem with old birds -- satellites -- and stuff wears out. When a few fall off line without replacements, the accuracy of the system would decay -- but they're starting new launches later this year, and the GAO pronouncement could just be a gentle prod to our lawmakers to get their thumbs out and get to full funding of the system. The government's acquisition system is a bit cumbersome, but there's way too much national defense tied up in GPS for it to be likely to fall off the edge of the world anytime soon. Jack Martin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
rebyl_kayak wrote: >Often wondered about the dangers of over reliance on technology - it would be >tragic to see this and other infrastructures fall into disrepair. To what >extent is the world economy contributing to this problem? > Seems it has been brewing. It's called "government run." And just when I was beginning to get familiar with it. Due to "traffic events" and freeway closures in Los Angeles, it's become almost a necessity in order to navigate from one side of the city to the other in a single day. Jackie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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