Although reference this comparison of high-tech and low-tech with road-trips, I was inspired to compare maps and a GPS on a recent experience that was not a road-trip. I was a simple drive to a graduation party for a friend, but the location was in a distant area about 30 minutes outside of my usual commuting area. Since it was outside my area I instantly entered the address into my GPS and was on my way, (with a car full of friends that are as driving direction-challenged as I am). It seems quite obvious that my inspiration for this comparison did not come from a completely trouble-free and direct trip to the party. I knew there was probably a problem when the GPS asked me if I was "willing to travel unpaved roads?" What!?! How can this house be located on "unpaved roads" I thought, and knew we were going to have some trouble. I instantly thought it might have been easier to use the low-tech version for directions, a map. At one time, a map was a staple in any traveling trip to a new or foreign location. It was usually something that could be found in any driver's glove compartment. The draw back was that usually a certain version or edition of a map was printed, there was a newer version in the making including additional expressways, ramps, or even exits. It seemed that no matter what you could never have a completely updated map. Also as portrayed in any camping to traveling movie, the creators/manufacturers wanted to play a cruel trick on the map buyers. It seems that they configured a way to fold the maps perfectly small and compact when they packaged them, yet made it impossible for a regular person to replicate the folding procedure. It seems that it was well known issue for any map user to re-fold the map to its original fold.
Then I must mention that in between the paper map pamphlets and the GPS, there was a craze for "map-questing" directions off of the internet before you traveled to these foreign destinations. This was a step-by-step driving direction provided on the internet that could be easily printed out. There was an obvious problem with this, and that was that if you mistyped the directions you were left driving without any way of finding the correct route. Yet, the constant printing of addresses became burdensome and wasteful, and s0 the GPS was born.
The GPS is a mini device with a touchscreen that connects to some mysterious, magical floating map database that is accessible from wherever you are (almost anywhere.).
Once it locates you you can enter you destination address and it will direct you to the destination. I have managed to find myself in locations that even the best GPS cannot locate, and it is definitely horrible to read "GPS positioning not found", but usually if you keep driving and find a main road, the GPS will reload and locate your position on the map. The GPS even has an option that it will provide the directions like "turn right in 50 yards" so that you don't have to fumble through papers while driving, if you lack a co-pilot. The GPS also refreshes your path if you miss a turn, make a wrong turn or even choose to take an expressway instead of a street path. If for some reason happen to enter the wrong address a GPS can be reset and you may re-enter the address mid drive.
The most appealing aspect of the GPS in my opinion is the fact that the GPS provides "POI" or Point of Interest locations. For example, if your are in the middle of your drive and have already devoured all the chips and mini-sandwhiches your mom, significant otehr or even you packed for the road and hunger strikes you can select a POI. A POI can be searched by the name of any food restaurant or fast food you wish to eat. The GPS will locate the closest location of that restaurant that doesnt deviate from your path.
The only downfall of the GPS is for example, what happened to me on my last excursion. It simply misdirected me. I entered the correct address, and followed all directions the GPS provided even though it said I had to travel an unpaved road, (which never arrived), and we ended up in the wrong community of houses. There is no way to correct a GPS's glitch. It is just something that comes with territory of high tech devises. But I must give it credit because it did get us to the correct area, we were only about 5 minutes from the actual destination.
It seems that as a quickly advancing technical society we have out-grown the paper maps and printable directions. The extra benefits of the GPS cannot even come close to bringing it to low level of paper maps. In this comparison, it is obvious that the better and safer choice is the GPS without a doubt!
No comments:
Post a Comment