posted on Feb, 12 2010 @ 04:56 PM
Think of your son as a potential up and coming James Bond. If he has a strong working knowledge of technology then he will be able to use the devices
at his disposal to survive in this world. If he has no idea of the potential miss-uses that come in hand with them then he can be taken advantage
of.
I look at GPS from both a paranoid (read very paranoid) and technical point of view. I am fortunate because I design electronic systems and have a
strong understanding of GPS and other tracking technology.
It is a popular misconception that in order for a GPS receiver to work that the satellites have to know its position. This is not true, and in fact a
regular GPS receiver does not have electronics which are capable of transmitting to a satellite. As others here have stated, only a GPS that is
combined with a communication device such as a cell phone can transmit its position to another party. This is how OnStar works (with a cell phone
module) to locate a vehicle.
GPS is an important and prolific technology in or society and it, like any important life skill is worth learning about. I think that if anything
this course will teach him not to follow a misguided GPS into a lake with his car and how to use one to confirm his position on a map, maybe even
guide a STARS helicopter into an accident scene using latitude and longitude coordinates.
I also agree with other members here that suggest that whenever you get that paternal/maternal instinct feeling you should contact the school and ask
about the scope of the program.
Edit for a ridiculous number of typos. Sigh...
[edit on 12-2-2010 by dainoyfb]