Popular Science magazine recently conducted a test of in-car
navigational systems. They tested the systems of six luxury-car
makers, along with a portable alternative. It’s not too surprising
that they found huge differences in the systems.
Popular Science magazine recently conducted a test of in-car navigational systems. They tested the systems of six luxury-car makers, along with a portable alternative. It’s not too surprising that they found huge differences in the systems.
Now, I’m not currently in the market for a new car and I certainly couldn’t afford any of the vehicles that come with these built-in navigational systems, but that doesn’t mean I’m not interested. I’m a person who still gets lost in Hollister after living here for over two decades. My own personal navigational system is sorely lacking.
Simply put, I can get lost almost anywhere. Take me to a shopping mall and I leave a trail of bread crumbs, hoping that this time I’ll be able to find my way out without security escorting me to my car after closing hours. And unless I’ve driven a particular route several hundred times, I’ll inevitably make a wrong turn.
Worse, since I know that directions aren’t my strong point, I tend to get mental blocks about certain routes. For example, my sister has lived in Aptos for years. Yet every time I visit her I break out in a sweat. My first goal is to remember the exit I take. Next, I fret about which way to turn at the first stoplight. Since I’ve turned the wrong way (don’t ask me if it’s right or left) so many times, I block out the correct way. If one of my kids is with me they inevitably hear my panicked question, “Do I turn right or left? Quick!”
When my kids were little we rarely went from point A to point B. Inevitably I managed to fit in points G, Q, U and Z on even the simplest trip. If the sun is out and not directly overhead, I usually know the general direction to go. The ocean is west and inland is east. Once I have those two points in my mind, I can figure out north and south. But road signs help a lot too.
So what would I, a directionally challenged person do with a built-in navigational system? What lots of drivers do, use it. I think it’s a great idea, especially for people whose job takes them on the road. The need to constantly find new addresses is stressful for the average driver. Having a navigational system in the car would be a dream.
But according to the Popular Science study, some systems are easier than others. One of the problems is updating routes. Maps don’t stay the same. Streets are built, some are closed, two-way roads are changed to one-way. Without a system of updating, drivers could find themselves lost and frustrated very quickly.
Then there’s the method of map finding. A voice-activated screen would be the best bet, especially if you’re driving while attempting to get directions. Touch-screens are the most popular, but some systems come with knobs, buttons or even a joystick. The calculation time varied from 5 to 17 seconds.
Now I can imagine myself with a built-in navigational system. In my dreams I would no longer get lost going from home to the nearest pizza parlor. But then reality sneaks in. How much stress can these systems take? What if a driver is so directionally challenged that they turn right when the system says left, go north instead or south, end up in Los Angeles instead of San Francisco?
That’s when I have visions of my car taking over. Frustrated with my attempts at getting my point A to B without getting lost, in spite of having a built-in navigational system, my vehicle will simply rebel. The wheel will be yanked from my hands by an unseen force and the car will turn right or left at the correct roads, ignoring my attempts to steer it one way or the other. I’ll still be given the power to accelerate or brake, but the directions will no longer be in my hands.
So if I can ever afford a vehicle that comes with a navigational system, I’ll have some research to do. For if the car ever does decide to take over, I don’t want to take a chance on it getting us lost.
