Comments on: Sat Nav Lust

By: Tom Allen

Tom Allen — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 06:59:15 +0000

I had a think about the dynamic updating of in-car navigation information a while back actually, and I really think it will happen when digital radio takes off. All the stations have to do is take their traffic reports, turn them into geo-located “costs” for the planning algorithm, and have some means of removing them again later (say after an estimate of how long the delay is likely to last). Then attach that stream of information to the broadcast and whenver you listen to that radio station, your SatNav can pick up the info and adjust itself accordingly.

Hell, by the time I finish my PhD it’ll probably be tenable – I should start a company and just do it!

By: Alan Green

Alan Green — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 00:48:38 +0000

I’ve used the Hertz NeverLost system around the SF South Bay area and been happy enough that I never wanted to look at a map. Perhaps the data is better down there. As soon as we can organise a NeverLost driveoff between Dallas and South Bay, we’ll know.

BTW, ‘+’ means “look at more stuff” and ‘-’ means “look at less stuff”.

By: Alastair

Alastair — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 00:59:22 +0000

Chris: The Route66 software on the 6110N uses Navteq maps. And apparently they do have a feedback loop. Although it’s unclear to me how these map updates get incorporated – and whether you have to pay for the next release which incorporates your contribution.

By: Rohan

Rohan — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 23:14:02 +0000

I’ve been using the Garmin GPS in Australia – and the only thing I wish I had was a way of providing local knowledge.

For instance, I know that Parramatta Rd should be avoided at all costs, but have yet to work out a way of convincing Garmin it should know that too. I also know that certain roads are fantastic some times of the day, but absolutely suck at others – now there’s some inovation waiting to happen. It’s funny how in some places going an extra 10-20kms in the wrong direction can get you there much much faster..

Last time I was in the US I had the Avis equivalent of Never Lost – it used a centralized server for doing the map calculations (i.e. not done on the what looked like a GPS + WAP enabled cell-phone). Apart from it “shouting” the directions at me, it was very good. I never once felt that I could do a much better job without a map or just google mapping it.

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 22:40:01 +0000

I have made that U turn over 12 lanes in front of the tollbooths at the DFW Airport. Not having any US currency and being too tired to put up with being beeped for holding up traffic is surprisingly motivating.

Hertz Neverlost? Sure you’re Never Lost, but you’re often sub-optimally located.

I’ve been using the corporate Garmin GPS while in the US, and the map data is sooo much better than the Sensis-sourced map data Australian GPS units all seem to work from.

Alastair – can you dig up the source of map data for your review?

By: Alastair

Alastair — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 06:29:23 +0000

As with most types of software, attention to detail makes all the difference to real-world usability. And I wouldn’t necessarily infer that all GPS software is bad based on one implementation…

I succumbed to partially-Brainsnorkel-induced gearlust and bought a GPS phone recently, the Nokia 6110 Navigator. Review forthcoming obviously, but I don’t think it will spoil the surprise to say that the achilles heel of the Nokia (which uses third-party Route 66 software) is the quality of the maps. They lack crucial information about when right-hand turns are and not allowed. Needless to say this makes the navigation almost useless in some parts of Sydney.

However I still maintain that the real problem is the lack of a feedback loop to harness the wisdom of the (now HDSPA connected) crowds.