We increasingly rely on GPS to get from A to B. But what happens if we're led catastrophically astray -- and are we losing our sense of direction?
Plain Truth said
06:20 PM Dec 22, 2019
I can believe it,everyone is being dumbed down,they can't think for themselves,they have to be led.
Tony Bev said
10:46 PM Dec 22, 2019
I believe that you are correct, dorian
I will not trust a GPS, to guide me long distance
I have had, Tom Tom, Navman, and Garmin the ordinary run of the mill ones, as I have no need to go off-road
As I like to travel on different roads, (just to see what is there), some of my travelling is on roads, I have never been on before
I look at my Camp 10 book, and pick a town not too far away, then another town along the road, so I am being guided in short hops
I had found in the past, with all three GPS's I have mentioned, if I put in a town more than about 1,000 kilometres away, it tries to take me too far off the route
Cupie said
11:30 PM Dec 22, 2019
I'm a bit like TonyBev in that I plan my route by paper map but use the GPS to let me know how far is yet to go without needing to do mileage calculations.
On my last trip South through Sydney I had the Garman GPS & Google maps telling me which way to go ... both different. I ignored them both & used my preplanned map route, road signs & common sense/sense of direction & got through no problems, despite the GPS 'assistance'.
I have had the GPS take me through a brand new suburban development, past streets full of tradies utes et. al., until I just switched over to sense of direction and got back on track.
I would never consider using GPS as a sole source of direction.
They are pretty handy finding your way around towns or cities .. in the main that is.
Tony LEE said
05:21 AM Dec 23, 2019
The gps is our sx4ofl C le guide because overseas it would not be practical to buy paper maps to cover half the world and also if you use the right nav app it will stter you clear of roads needing a sticker and save you hundreds of dollars if you get it wrong.
And it knows where laundromats, fuel, camping spots eg wikicamps, ioverlander, and supermarkets are.
As for Australia, how does one maintain familiarity with a city that you last visited 10 years ago.
Without a navigator, we would have given up travelling years ago. Get on an autobahn with several lanes travelling at 130kmph++ including one lane that is trucks travelling bumper to bumper, that stream into a double cloverleaf and a paper map doesn't work too well
Mike Harding said
07:30 AM Dec 23, 2019
Tony LEE wrote:
1 - The gps is our sx4ofl C le guide because overseas it would not be practical to buy paper maps to cover half the world
2 - if you use the right nav app it will stter you clear of roads needing a sticker and save you hundreds of dollars if you get it wrong.
3 - Without a navigator, we would have given up travelling years ago.
4 - Get on an autobahn with several lanes travelling at 130kmph++
1 - So how did I manage to drive around more than half the world before GPS was available?
2 - I have a number of GPSs and Igo mapping software with the "Truck" package, they all tell me it's fine to tow my caravan along the Snowy River Road/Barry Way in Vic/NSW. I have driven that road in my 4WD and one would need to be both suicidal and homicidal to tow a caravan along that road.
3 - Try using a GPS to travel around small towns in the Third World and see if it knows which streets are regularly used for markets.
4 - It is not compulsory to do 130kph+ on autobahns, that's what the inside lanes are for. Just plan your journey beforehand and make a few notes on a piece of paper (remember that?) regarding turn-offs.
GPS units can be very helpful, I have been using them since they came into the public arena but, like all tools, their limitations should be understood and their advice treated with caution not blindly followed.
Whenarewethere said
08:12 AM Dec 23, 2019
We use paper maps mostly. A bit of common sense helps!
The best thing about a nav system is annoying the lady in it. I just love it when I drive past her turn and turn into a Maccas instead. Oh the joy of her telling me to "do a Uturn at the first possible opportunity".
On a serious note. We have owned vehicles here in Australia and in the USA. We have found those in the USA are far more user friendly. Why? Maybe Australians are smarter. Or maybe we are being sold inferior products!!!
Possum3 said
01:22 PM Dec 23, 2019
bgt wrote:
We have found those in the USA are far more user friendly. Why?
USA (Northern Hemisphere) utilise different and more prolific satellite system/s - Their maps are much more detailed owing to more infrastructure. Additionally they are the home of Google.
bgt said
01:36 PM Dec 23, 2019
I understand that the likes of the USA have better services. But consumers also expect more and get more in the USA. I'm not sure that Australia needs to go down that road. Pun intended.
Tony LEE said
02:53 AM Dec 24, 2019
Mike Harding said
" So how did I manage to drive around more than half the world before GPS was available?
2 - I have a number of GPSs and Igo mapping software with the "Truck" package, they all tell me it's fine to tow my caravan along the Snowy River Road/Barry Way in Vic/NSW. I have driven that road in my 4WD and one would need to be both suicidal and homicidal to tow a caravan along that road.
3 - Try using a GPS to travel around small towns in the Third World and see if it knows which streets are regularly used for markets.
4 - It is not compulsory to do 130kph+ on autobahns, that's what the inside lanes are for. Just plan your journey beforehand and make a few notes on a piece of paper (remember that?) regarding turn-offs."
1 It is a bit hard to use something that hasn't been invented yet so how is that relevant. Needs must.
2. With so many gps units you are obviously sold on their benefits - or do you still carry all your paper maps just in case (maps that also don't tell you where you can take a caravan or not.
3 and paper maps do? Few times we have blundered into street markets, either the locals good naturedly guide us back out or lift up their awnings to let us past. All good fun. It is amazing what details Open Street Maps does have on tiny towns in the middle of nowhere - down to markets and police stations and banks, all impossible to depict on paper maps assuming you can even get paper maps nowadays, which is not a given.
4 no need to plan your journey beforehand but yes, some anal people make use of modern technology such as Google earth (ie same deal as car navigators) to go over their entire route the night before they do the drive. Even to the extent of checking access to fuel stations to make sure they can get in with their big motorhomes. Life is far too short for that.
And #5 car navigators save thousands of acrimonious divorces every year, especially when the human navigator still, after 50 years, says go right and points left.
And #6 the human navigator can enjoy the journey without having head buried in a map.
PS I stopped sending smoke signals just as soon as technology made something better available.
Death by GPS: are satnavs changing our brains?
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jun/25/gps-horror-stories-driving-satnav-greg-milner
I can believe it,everyone is being dumbed down,they can't think for themselves,they have to be led.
I will not trust a GPS, to guide me long distance
I have had, Tom Tom, Navman, and Garmin the ordinary run of the mill ones, as I have no need to go off-road
As I like to travel on different roads, (just to see what is there), some of my travelling is on roads, I have never been on before
I look at my Camp 10 book, and pick a town not too far away, then another town along the road, so I am being guided in short hops
I had found in the past, with all three GPS's I have mentioned, if I put in a town more than about 1,000 kilometres away, it tries to take me too far off the route
I'm a bit like TonyBev in that I plan my route by paper map but use the GPS to let me know how far is yet to go without needing to do mileage calculations.
On my last trip South through Sydney I had the Garman GPS & Google maps telling me which way to go ... both different. I ignored them both & used my preplanned map route, road signs & common sense/sense of direction & got through no problems, despite the GPS 'assistance'.
I have had the GPS take me through a brand new suburban development, past streets full of tradies utes et. al., until I just switched over to sense of direction and got back on track.
I would never consider using GPS as a sole source of direction.
They are pretty handy finding your way around towns or cities .. in the main that is.
1 - So how did I manage to drive around more than half the world before GPS was available?
2 - I have a number of GPSs and Igo mapping software with the "Truck" package, they all tell me it's fine to tow my caravan along the Snowy River Road/Barry Way in Vic/NSW. I have driven that road in my 4WD and one would need to be both suicidal and homicidal to tow a caravan along that road.
3 - Try using a GPS to travel around small towns in the Third World and see if it knows which streets are regularly used for markets.
4 - It is not compulsory to do 130kph+ on autobahns, that's what the inside lanes are for. Just plan your journey beforehand and make a few notes on a piece of paper (remember that?) regarding turn-offs.
GPS units can be very helpful, I have been using them since they came into the public arena but, like all tools, their limitations should be understood and their advice treated with caution not blindly followed.
We use paper maps mostly. A bit of common sense helps!
USA (Northern Hemisphere) utilise different and more prolific satellite system/s - Their maps are much more detailed owing to more infrastructure. Additionally they are the home of Google.