If you haven’t kept up with what’s new in outdoors electronics, get ready for what might be a shocking tour through a world of innovations.

Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment has already found a place in the outdoors. These systems are similar to the more sophisticated ones used by our military to strike specific targets with incredible precision by determining locations from information beamed down from satellites.

However, the things coming off the drawing boards are really exciting, destined to become “must-haves.”

Anglers use GPS to mark underwater brushpiles and similar places; hikers use them to retrace their tracks or to reach predetermined destinations without having to use landmarks; and many other outdoors adventurers use them as emergency tools.

Many GPS manufacturers, however, are taking the basic units to new levels, adding features that allow maps of lakes, cities, oceans and rural areas to be downloaded into their units, broadening the spectrum of uses. Some GPS builders have gone even further, creating sonar depth finders with the same GPS capabilities.

The map information can be downloaded into a GPS or personal computer from a CD, such as one provided by Fishing Hot Spots, a map company. Besides lake contours, the maps indicate such things as stumps, rock piles, water depths, and marina locations.

“Today’s technology is incredible,” said Mike Michalak of Fishing Hot Spots. “We rely heavily upon fishermen, fishing guides, marina operators and others in the field to help provide us with accurate information so we can produce detailed maps of all major lakes in 44 states.”

Even as map features are being expanded, so are other features for GPS users, including two-way radio communications. This capability could also be useful to people separated from the rest of their group, such as at a baseball or football game, an excursion to Disneyland, park or motor speedway.

Both Garmin and Aurizon hope to introduce their GPS two-way radio features by early summer.

“So far, there has been nothing like them anywhere,” said Cliff Vaughan of Outdoor Technologies, which handles the Aurizon units. “They are really going to be hot when they hit the market.”