Historically, military technology finds its way into the civilian marketplace over time. Many gadgets used today were once unavailable for purchase, and GPS devices arrived in the consumer market in the same way. Military operations aside, owning a device that uses GPS can be useful. GPS works by providing a set of coordinates that indicate a person or device’s location in relation to its elevation, longitude and latitude on the planet. According to the Congressional Research Service, law enforcement used GPS to catch a convicted rapist who had served 17 years in prison. The man was a suspect in 11 attacks on women in Virginia over a six-month period, and authorities attached a GPS device to his van. “By tracking his movements with the device, police were able to intercept him in Falls Church, VA, where he was dragging a woman to a remote area, according to the report.” The ability to stop criminals in their tracks, before further crime is committed, makes GPS technology valuable to law enforcement officers. Writer Bio
