What is GPS :

• GPS stands for Global Positioning System. A GPS device is either an independent portable device or is inbuilt in a mobile phone, digicam or a car to help you navigate in an unknown city or locality.
• A GPS device uses satellites to pinpoint its exact location on the Earth within an area of about 50 sq. ft.
• Many high-end mobile phones like Nokia N95 8GB, Asus P750, Sony Ericsson P1, etc. come with inbuilt GPS receiver. Similiarly, top versions of some expensive cars and even some digital-cameras have pre-installed GPS devices.
• GPS was developed by United States’ Defence Department solely for military purposes. But after realizing its numerous civilian applications, it made it available for everyone in larger societal interest.
• Other countries are also developing its alternatives e.g. COMPASS by China, Galileo by European Union, GLONASS by Russia. So future proof GPS devices need to be compatible with more than one system for greater accuracies!

Why GPS is a buzz-word these days :

• GPS technology has recently

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Fast Facts :

• A standard Computer (including monitor) contributes over half a ton of Carbon-di-oxide into our atmosphere every year.
• This means Carbon emissions by a small office with about 15 PCs is equivalent to that of a mid-sized car!
• Carbon credits are currently being traded @ 15 Euros per ton of CO2 in the international market.
• An average PC consumes 600 units of electricity annually. Out of these, over 400 units are wasted by running the PC at full power even when its not in use!
• A decade back PCs used to work on a 100W SMPS but now they come loaded with 400W to 450W SMPS implying that they now consume over 4 times power to support ever increasing transistor chips on CPUs.
• In large Organisations, almost 60% of PCs are never shut down irrespective of working hours, holidays or the requirement …merely because employees don’t care for trivial issues.

[ Last week during my stay at IYH-New Delhi

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