> GPS is a consumer item and receivers are mass produced.

    Bzzzt!  Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Error!!!

    'Consumer item'? Care to explain in light of the
    fact that GPS was a born out a military development
    project AND many levels of GPS service/accuracy are
    available depending on the equipment chosen?

Sure.  Manufacturers of GPS receivers count on making and selling millions
or tens of millions of units.  Units are sold at consumer electronics
outlets at prices intended to make one consider throwing away the two-year
old version and buying a new one because it's smaller, cuter, and has more
"consumer" features.  Units are incorporated into other consumer items, like
cars and recreational vehicles.  They're assembled overseas.  More dollars
are spent on advertising than on mil-spec support documents.  It's a
consumer item.

OK.  Maybe I should have said "a GPS receiver is a consumer item" rather
than implying "the GPS system is consumer-targetted technology."  Does that
make you happier?  Origin of technology really doesn't matter much, though,
or next we'll have to talk about how the Internet is a Military
nuclear-strike survivable CCC network...

BillW

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