Gone are the days when people buy a watch only for accurate time keeping. Today, with the advent of modern technology, watch companies sell out their products through the features that it can offer. The latest trend in wrist watch is the Altimeter watch. What is it and why is it most sought for?

This feature measures your current altitude in 2 ways, depending on the type of watch you are currently using. It can be through a GPS enabled system or through its barometric function. Though Global Position System is better than the other, it also comes with a bigger price.

The GPS function also determines your location by utilizing the military satellites.  These satellites travel at the same speed as the Earth and thus remain in a stationary position with reference to this planet. It then compares the time it takes to receive the signal from other satellites to be able to know your current location.

Aside form this, the watch is also equipped with other features such as time keeping, weather forecasting, compass and the sometimes, heart monitoring. This can also give other pertinent information such as your speed, your estimated arrival time, or even program it in way points to help keep on track with your programmed location. Furthermore, you can back track using the same route to help you get back to where you have started.

Those who use barometers to measure altitude needs to have his watch calibrated. This is done by entering a known height above sea level along with the current temperature and barometric pressure. These information are available online or from the local TV stations website in weather section. Once calibrated, they would compare the current air pressure                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 with that entered during the calibration process.

The altimeter function is commonly used by sky divers. Some model would sound an alarm whenever exposed in a predetermined height above sea level.

Indeed technology has gone so far just to meet man’s need for information.  And with the surface of the altimeter watch, a lot of us enjoy the convenience it has to offer.