Writing Your own GPS application for Windows Mobile using .NET C# OR Visual C++ - Part 1 Introduction
Hello Folks!!!! As promised here I am with writing your own GPS Application … Part1. So let us see what the heck GPS is? I remember old saying “You should think that opposite person is layman or dumb while explaining something otherwise your lecture may not reach 100% audience”. I love this concept and try to apply whenever I am explaining to others (At times experience people may be bored with simple concepts but nevertheless I wanted to target dumbest person.
Introduction:
Our ancestors had to go to pretty extreme measures to keep from getting lost. They erected monumental landmarks, laboriously drafted detailed maps and learned to read the stars in the night sky. They are simply awesome and GREAT!!!!
Imagine driving to an important meeting with girl friend and realizing that you're lost. (Ohhh god, please give me enough strength to face her and take the heat from her J ). Your first impulse would probably be to call her and ask for directions (If she is really familiar with the map and places in the vicinity). But if you're not sure where you are, getting directions can be tricky. You may end of landing in wrong place and probably going to miss a sweet and romantic evening/day with her. So you may not want to land into this kind of situation. OK … read on.
Things are really not that difficult with today’s advanced technology. For less than $100, you can get a pocket-sized gadget that will tell you exactly where you are on Earth at any moment. As long as you have a GPS receiver and a clear view of the sky, you'll never be lost again.
GPS is acronym for Global Positioning System. Initially it may sounds like Rocket Science but in reality the technology behind GPS Client devices is not that difficult. As we'll see, the Global Positioning System is vast, expensive and involves a lot of technical ingenuity, but the fundamental concepts at work are quite simple and intuitive.
When people talk about "a GPS," they usually mean a GPS receiver / GPS Devices. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is actually a constellation of 27 Earth-orbiting satellites (24 in operation and three extras in case one fails). The
Each of these 3,000- to 4,000-pound solar-powered satellites circles the globe at about 12,000 miles (19,300 km), making two complete rotations every day. The orbits are arranged so that at any time, anywhere on Earth, there are at least four satellites "visible" in the sky. It is simply amazing … right? I am amazed with this technology J.
In simple terminology think that GPS Receiver as “Cell Phone” and Satellites as “Cell Phone Towers”. Please remember that this is only for example purpose readers should never try to co-relative GPS technology with Cell Phone technology.
GPS receiver's job is to locate four or more of these satellites, figure out the distance to each, and use this information to deduce its own location. This operation is based on a simple mathematical principle called trilateration. Trilateration in three-dimensional space can be a little tricky, so we'll start with an explanation of simple two-dimensional trilateration.
Artist's concept of the GPS satellite constellation
....... To be continued in next part
Comments