Wondering what that expensive piece of technological equipment is good for besides "turn left here?" How about a lot. There are several variations of GPS (global positioning system) today. Most familiar is the mountable GPS for marine and land navigational use. Don’t get stuck up these two uses as being the primary use for GPS, they once were, but now with the introduction of new non-mountable GPS they have taken a back seat to the new recreational uses.

That’s right, GPS’s new primary use as a whole has shifted. Collectively all the recreational and non-navigational uses have boosted GPS sales to over twice what they once were. Innovations in GPS technology has allowed for newer, smaller, portable handheld GPS, including a GPS chip that can be used and put just about anywhere.

They new GPS chip allows for such things as "GPS collars" which have been a hot commodity for pet owners who are concerned about their pets where-a-bouts. The collars are relatively inexpensive for the services they offer. Along with the GPS collar the new innovative GPS chip have give allowed several parents to be at ease when it comes to their children’s where-a-bouts. Small children can give parents the biggest scare of their life if they were to wonder off, with the new GPS technology there is no need to worry. The chip can pin point a child to within 3 meters!

As far as recreational use, the newer, more portable, handheld GPS have offered hobbyists a variety of new activities to partake in. One of the fastest growing hobbies/sports in the world is geocaching. Geocaching is basically a world wide treasure hunt. Using a handheld GPS one can go online and get clues and waypoints to a hidden treasure in the area. It really has taken the GPS community by storm.

The second popular recreational use for GPS is working out. Yeah, that’s right working out! With new wrist mounted GPS units you can track where you are, how far you have gone, how far you have to go, and much, much more. These new wrist mounted GPS units have taken working out to a whole new technological level.