Dithering
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
The intentional degrading of a satellite’s signal to discourage unauthorized use, which deterred citizens from tapping into the Department of Defense’s Global Positioning System, or GPS, for ten years. In May 2000, President Clinton turned off dithering on navigation satellites in the U.S., ushering in the era of GPS tools, from devices that can lead you through wilderness to the perfect campsite to fitness apps like Strava that allow people to compare their run and ride times with other users.
From Outside Magazine, August 2015
Lead Photo: Nelly Volkovich