Navigation tool a hot holiday gift

SAN DIEGO: Global positioning systems (GPS) have been the hot Christmas gift item in the United States for car owners.

"They're real common," said John Peele, an executive for Trimble Navigation of Sunnyvale, California.

"Not only do car owners have them but hikers have them, they're as common as the TV."

First developed by the U.S. military, GPS were introduced to the general population almost a decade ago.

But easier-to-use systems and lower costs have spurred sales in the past few years.

They can be found in boats, taxi cabs and even golf carts at some ritzy resorts.

"They're going to have them in just about everything," Peele said.

They range in price from about $100 for a simple receiver to $50,000 or more for a complex one.

The system works by communicating with an umbrella of satellites orbiting the Earth.

The receiver unit picks a satellite signal, and when three satellites link up with GPS, the user can record precise latitude and longitude.

Outdoor enthusiasts say a GPS doesn't replace a map and compass, but it can give a pinpoint location, get you where you want to be, and back.

The system is particularly useful when landmarks are scarce or confusingly similar -- for people who know how to use them.