Your GPS runs on clocks.

To learn more, listen to Short Wave's episode on space clocks.

[@benjaminerickson26]

In never knew it was clocks, always thought it was distance from satellites!

[@devrim4928]

I mean it still is based on distance from the satellites too

[@outerskyb]

I have listened to the shortwave almost 3 years but this is my first time seeing her face

[@terrythatcher624]

So interesting!!😊. Thank you!🌸

[@castorpimp]

"4 different signals" "triangulate"

[@elizabetholsson3549]

Hold on lemme quadrangulate real quick

[@LongNickOfDaLaw]

Pyramid triangulate duh lol

[@__-ln7sb]

GPS does not use triangulation. It uses a method known at trilateration. 4 satellites are needed. One for each spatial dimension and an additional one to correct for the (relative) inaccuracy of the clock in the GPS receiver.

[@AndreaCuchetto]

How much influence does Elon Musk have on our tech now?

[@LongNickOfDaLaw]

Yea see unless you have the newest iPhone or a fancy sat phone then your phone uses cell towers and has nothing to do with satellites.. it’s also 3 points to Triangulate your location

[@__-ln7sb]

Both Apple and Android phones have supported (and featured) GPS location since 2008. The use of cell towers or wifi hotspots for location is a fairly recent development which helps in large cities where a line-of-sight to GPS satellites may be obscured. Triangulation uses two fixed points with a known distance between them to determine the distance to a third point (though not its absolute location) by measuring the angles between the 3 points. GPS does not use triangulation. It uses a method known at trilateration. 4 satellites are needed. One for each spatial dimension and an additional one to correct for the (relative) inaccuracy of the clock in the GPS receiver.