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Episode details

World Service,01 Feb 2020,10 mins

Available for over a year

The digital world only works if it is connected. In the early 1970s, Professor Bradford Parkinson was working with the United States Air Force as an engineer leading the team that developed the Global Positioning System, or GPS, which uses satellites to pinpoint users wherever they are. Sixteen-year-old Malak from Israel finds out from Professor Parkinson how it all came about, and why he still uses maps to sail by. Producer: Tamsin Barber. World Wise Web is a co-production between BBC World Service and BBC Rewind. Music composed by Nick Thorburn

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