10 years ago today

The first experimental GPS satellite was launched in 1978, with the real thing (the Block II series) starting to go up in 1989. But the Global Positioning System was of limited use to anyone but the military in the early days, due to Selective Availability (SA), which degraded the signal, resulting in inaccuracies of up to 100 meters. An executive order signed by President Bill Clinton ten years ago today ended SA.

While Garmin and Magellan were already going concerns, the end of SA certainly changed the industry landscape for them. And it didn’t take long for others to figure out innovative uses for the technology. On May 3, 2010 2000, the de facto first geocache (known then as the “Great American GPS Stash Hunt”) was placed near Beaver Creek, in the Portland, Oregon area by Dave Ulmer.

We’ve come a long way in 10 years. And if you think GPS is pervasive today, just imagine what it will be like in 2020.