Take care out there it seems

http://www.motherjones.com/media/2016/09/gps-brain-function-memory-navigation-maps-apps

I thought this was going to be another rant about the mythical dangers of radio waves.

 

But actually I think it's probably quite true. Relying on a navigation machine does make you stupid.

I thought this was going to be another rant about the mythical dangers of radio waves.

 

But actually I think it's probably quite true. Relying on a navigation machine does make you stupid.

Recent events in a certain powerful country have just confirmed it.

Drove 10 different cars living over there in the last 2 years...none had gps.

 

 

 

 

.

Edited 23 November, 20169 yr by camelspyyder

Drove 10 different cars living over there in the last 2 years...none had gps.

 

 

 

 

.

It's the Internet and their smartphone

Interesting article; thanks Ryeman.

I'm used to the sun progressing from east (right) to west (left) because I'm in the Southern Hemisphere, so when I go to the UK I have to constantly remind myself that every direction is 180* out based on the progression of the sun..........I must be the hunter/gatherer type.

I just can't figure out how someone can follow their satnav into the sea, up a country track etc. etc. At what point does the driver think 'something's not right', and think for themselves? I guess for some people that point is when their feet get wet...

As only a recent user of in-car GPS, I can't see any significant advantage in using 'em, other than confirm one's position if you do get lost -previously I had used a Garmin walkers GPS to confirm position, but only  when visiting places on the continent for the first time whilst on hols. 

 

Personally, I think that, on balance, they, like mobile phones, with the current implementations, are a hazard to driving by virtue of distraction from the road ahead.

 

They are only of use when you visit an area for the first time on an unplanned basis, and, let's face it, unless the journey is made in response to an emergency situation and carried out in a ruddy blush, you will be planning a journey and/or already have an outline spatial map in your head may be referenced in conjunction with the "Sun compass".

 

In fact, I would echo the blindingly obvious point made in the article, to the effect that dependency on GPS leads to degradation of people's own "mental maps/narrative thread", so that if the GPS does give up the ghost on a infrequently executed route, I've found that its more difficult to pick-up the thread and resume the journey, as, very often, the GPS has taken you down an unfamilar route, the mental map for which is sketchy/jaded/non-existent.

 

N

 

 

Well, I've been literally "led astray" by a prat-nav. Driving an unfamiliar route (in the dark so couldn't easily use a printout from a route planner or a road atlas) it omitted to tell us to turn off the main road we were on.

I get lost inside enclosed shopping malls if I can't see the sun.

Instead I have to note the brand shop that leads to the correct exit.

My usually infrequent visits to the ever sprawling Melbourne using the quarterly updated, line of sight, satnav with traffic function and an accurate eta is now mandatory but during daylight I still want the suns confirmation

Let's not talk about the other navigator or out of date maps.

Our recent 2000+ mile trip to the UK was all preplotted and flawless.

Note: if wanting to know on which side of the busy road a business is located, I've given up asking in terms of north or south etc, instead I refer to the local shopping centre side or other side.

Might be in trouble now

If lost in an unfamiliar city, and wishing to get to its centre, head toward the tallest buildings.