GPS System Could Begin To Fail Within a Year

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Government is charged with keeping things cheap. The US public do not want to pay taxes.

that must explain the $600 toilet seats and hammers.

But they are really nice toilet seats and hammers.

[It's me 1]

wow

[Nasturtium 500]

Great. I'm lost without my GPS.

learn to read a map.

Actually, you'd be surprised at how many people, adults, men, will literally throw a tantrum at me if I try to give them directions as simple as "make a right out of the parking lot, go left at the first light-- Walton blvd, then left at the very next light, Airport RD. Will be on the right. It's about 2 miles." They will literally melt down if I try to do that and insist they need the GPS directions. If that happens, I will give them the starting address I know their GPS won't find.

I am sure Steven would ask nicely though (because he is nice) and not melt down on me with the shouting and the foot-stomping and then one time a guy started to whine and cry a bit.

[Kar98 0]

Actually, you'd be surprised at how many people, adults, men, will literally throw a tantrum at me if I try to give them directions as simple as "make a right out of the parking lot, go left at the first light-- Walton blvd, then left at the very next light, Airport RD. Will be on the right. It's about 2 miles."

Because we're used to directions of that kind. "Go drive down about 5 minutes, until you come to where the rubber boot factory used to be, but it's burned down now and no sign remains of it, hang a left, if you see where the horse is poking its head through the fence, you've gone too far. You need to watch out for the balloon, then go right on to the dirt road, cross Old Man Johnson's pasture and then it's just another 2 miles." Tired of it. Just gimme the freaking address, I'll find it myself.

[Nasturtium 500]

Actually, you'd be surprised at how many people, adults, men, will literally throw a tantrum at me if I try to give them directions as simple as "make a right out of the parking lot, go left at the first light-- Walton blvd, then left at the very next light, Airport RD. Will be on the right. It's about 2 miles."

Because we're used to directions of that kind. "Go drive down about 5 minutes, until you come to where the rubber boot factory used to be, but it's burned down now and no sign remains of it, hang a left, if you see where the horse is poking its head through the fence, you've gone too far. You need to watch out for the balloon, then go right on to the dirt road, cross Old Man Johnson's pasture and then it's just another 2 miles." Tired of it. Just gimme the freaking address, I'll find it myself.

Thanks for the confidence, but I have never given directions like that in my life, and the above contained none of that. If someone cannot recognize a set of written directions with street names and mileage for each leg in conjunction with a major, existing landmark such as a traffic light, a coordinating drawn or printed map, and starting and ending addresses, then I fail to see how GPS is any better other than they cannot read a map. The fact that most things here are not even into the map databases because they are just too new must somehow be irrelevant to their idea of reality, I guess. If you mean it's too hard to figure out how to make a right out of a parking lot with a single entrance and exit, then there is nothing I can do about that.

[William33 110]

I don't need military precision with GPS, rather a general idea of an unfamiliar area. However, I am sure it will get the requisite funding.....Like most GOV programs....

[Ban Hammer 13,337]

Actually, you'd be surprised at how many people, adults, men, will literally throw a tantrum at me if I try to give them directions as simple as "make a right out of the parking lot, go left at the first light-- Walton blvd, then left at the very next light, Airport RD. Will be on the right. It's about 2 miles."

Because we're used to directions of that kind. "Go drive down about 5 minutes, until you come to where the rubber boot factory used to be, but it's burned down now and no sign remains of it, hang a left, if you see where the horse is poking its head through the fence, you've gone too far. You need to watch out for the balloon, then go right on to the dirt road, cross Old Man Johnson's pasture and then it's just another 2 miles." Tired of it. Just gimme the freaking address, I'll find it myself.

i always enjoyed the german directions.........straight ahead and left/right. that left/right could be 100 meters or 100 kilometers.......

I don't need military precision with GPS, rather a general idea of an unfamiliar area. However, I am sure it will get the requisite funding.....Like most GOV programs....

marks you off my call for fire list.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I don't need military precision with GPS, rather a general idea of an unfamiliar area. However, I am sure it will get the requisite funding.....Like most GOV programs....

marks you off my call for fire list.

Everybody knows a butter bar can't read a map anyways, so what does it matter?

[Ban Hammer 13,337]

I don't need military precision with GPS, rather a general idea of an unfamiliar area. However, I am sure it will get the requisite funding.....Like most GOV programs....

marks you off my call for fire list.

Everybody knows a butter bar can't read a map anyways, so what does it matter?

it sure makes a difference when they are leading the convoy

[Niels Bohr 72]

I just tell them I speak no English since I hate giving directions.

[NickD 202]

Anyone have recommendations for a good auto GPS? We have a Dell Axim 5 with GPS, if the program doesn't crash, drove me nuts as it would report every intersection we crossed to tell us to go straight. Another problem is mounting the thing so you can see it, miserable either driving into the sun or having the sun behind you. Same is true of all these back lighted aftermarket car stereos. Then a zillion buttons to press just trying to change the station. Map updates is another concern, daughter did buy a vehicle with GPS installed, dealer wants a second home mortgage just to upgrade the software.

I am from the old school, look at a map and memorize it, the GPS is in my brain. See they added MP3 and hands off celluar phone usage, also hate cords hanging all over the place, and nothing worse than using a cigar lighter power connection, that can be changed. Also many so called accidents have ocurred by playing with buttons and not watching where you are going. Not good for a tree either, when you drive into one.

[almaty 19]

I just tell them I speak no English since I hate giving directions.

you crafty chop

[Kar98 0]

Thanks for the confidence, but I have never given directions like that in my life, and the above contained none of that. If someone cannot recognize a set of written directions with street names and mileage for each leg in conjunction with a major, existing landmark such as a traffic light, a coordinating drawn or printed map, and starting and ending addresses, then I fail to see how GPS is any better other than they cannot read a map. The fact that most things here are not even into the map databases because they are just too new must somehow be irrelevant to their idea of reality, I guess. If you mean it's too hard to figure out how to make a right out of a parking lot with a single entrance and exit, then there is nothing I can do about that.

This wasn't about you in particular and your ability to give directions. It's about the many times I (and apparently many others) have been given crappy directions or sometimes even simply wrong ones. I can read a map or scribbled directions just fine, thank you very much.

"a set of written directions with street names and mileage for each leg in conjunction with a major, existing landmark such as a traffic light, a coordinating drawn or printed map, and starting and ending addresses,"

Gee, guess what a sat nav gives you? Exactly that. With the added bonuses of instant re-calculating if you happen to miss a turn or an exit is blocked, a map display that moves and indicates your current position in real time, and no need of trying to read a paper map or directions while driving. Also, using the same program on the phone and on the TomTom One I've got, I know the level of accuracy I can expect from it. It sometimes does lead you astray, but much much less often than directions from people I do not know.

Also, the TomTom One is equipped to receive live traffic data and route me around major congestions and construction zones.

Edited May 21, 2009 by Kar98

[almaty 19]

lol..you sound like an old grumpy azz chopf##k

[Nasturtium 500]

Thanks for the confidence, but I have never given directions like that in my life, and the above contained none of that. If someone cannot recognize a set of written directions with street names and mileage for each leg in conjunction with a major, existing landmark such as a traffic light, a coordinating drawn or printed map, and starting and ending addresses, then I fail to see how GPS is any better other than they cannot read a map. The fact that most things here are not even into the map databases because they are just too new must somehow be irrelevant to their idea of reality, I guess. If you mean it's too hard to figure out how to make a right out of a parking lot with a single entrance and exit, then there is nothing I can do about that.

This wasn't about you in particular and your ability to give directions. It's about the many times I (and apparently many others) have been given crappy directions or sometimes even simply wrong ones. I can read a map or scribbled directions just fine, thank you very much.

"a set of written directions with street names and mileage for each leg in conjunction with a major, existing landmark such as a traffic light, a coordinating drawn or printed map, and starting and ending addresses,"

Gee, guess what a sat nav gives you? Exactly that. With the added bonuses of instant re-calculating if you happen to miss a turn or an exit is blocked, a map display that moves and indicates your current position in real time, and no need of trying to read a paper map or directions while driving. Also, using the same program on the phone and on the TomTom One I've got, I know the level of accuracy I can expect from it. It sometimes does lead you astray, but much much less often than directions from people I do not know.

Also, the TomTom One is equipped to receive live traffic data and route me around major congestions and construction zones.

LOL dude, as if I didn't know that? So basically you agree with me... but would you scream that you don't need directions after I inform you the area isn't very well covered in GPS here? and then spend like 2 hours trying to find something 2 blocks over and come back later in defeat because no way, your GPS will tell you everything?

I like you. You are spunky. If I had know people would get soooo protective over their total dependance on GPS directions, I would have worked harder (or mostly it would be nagging the Xh) on that project to layer in the city where I work now for the city so that would be all in the database for the makers of your directions.

Or not.