GPS for Everyone: You are Here It is the rare technological book that can fulfill the needs of both the tech-novice and the tech-savvy, but Pratap Misra has produced exactly that. In GPS for Everyone: You Are Here, he has collated his 25 years of study in the field of navigation satellites and distilled it into an introductory work on Global Positioning Systems that can be easily understood by anyone with a rudimentary understanding of high school mathematics.
GPS devices and/or apps have become a daily part of our lives, but if asked how they work, most of us would be left scratching our heads. Misra took the challenge to explain the details, and has produced a work that outlines the history of the ubiquitous device, the technology behind it, and the practical applications (for example, it makes possible the electronic bracelets that track the locations of parolees, sex offenders, stalkers and others). The reader learns what GPS can and can’t do, costs associated with it, and other essential information, such as the basic principles of operation, how signals are processed, and many of the civil and military operations. Misra even provides a convenient “At a Glance” chapter that simplifies all of the information into clean, easy-to-read bullets.
Misra’s charming writing style turns what could have been a dense slog into a plain-English read, using matter-of-fact examples. In addition, he has packed the book with numerous slick photos, charts and illustrations. This is a well-designed, well-written book presented by an obvious expert in the field who keeps his audience in mind at all times.
Those who want to lift the hood on the technology they use daily will enjoy this book, and technology buffs in general will appreciate it. An engaging read, it meets the needs of those spanning the technology-knowledge spectrum.
BlueInk Heads-Up: The educational tone of this book makes it particularly suitable for classroom use. School libraries (ninth grade and above) may wish to stock a copy for reference material.
Also available as an ebook.
