XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.sf.science   
   From: jclarkeusenet@cox.net   
      
   In article , tmcd@panix.com says...   
   >   
   > In article ,   
   > Greg Goss   wrote:   
   > >"Rod Speed"  wrote:   
   > >>No, it should have made it clear that it was diverting   
   > >>from the original route because of the congestion it   
   > >>knew about, instead of leaving you to guess that   
   > >>that was the reason for the diversion.   
   > >   
   > >I'm a driver, dealing with a complex situation.  The GPS unit has   
   > >been "hired" to provide me with turn-by-turn instructions on how to   
   > >get where I'm going.   
   > >   
   > >"Why" is interesting, but at the time, it's a distraction.   
   >   
   > There have been a number of news reports about GPS units giving   
   > directions.  I don't usually review a proposed set of directions in   
   > advance.  I would probably wonder whether   
   > - the GPS was very confused   
   > - there was a sudden reason for ordering this maneuver   
      
   GPS doesn't get "confused" but sometimes its map is wrong.  Like the   
   time it told me to turn left in Quebec, where turning left would have   
   meant crossing two guardrails, a median, several lanes of oncoming   
   traffic, and a chain link fence, climbing a rock wall, and Ghu knows   
   what beyond that.  I could see the remains of a crossroad where it told   
   me to turn, but there wasn't any road there now.  One has to exercise   
   judgment when dealing with GPS.   
      
   The datum (a technical term in geodesy) is also occasionally off--one of   
   mine has the relative placement of all the houses on my street right,   
   but they are all shifted north about half a block.   
      
   Trouble comes when people just slavishly obey, so it says "turn right"   
   and they turn right, right into the side of a building.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)