Community Chat

[biancardi]

On 3/31/2014 brii said:

They are distracting, but they make life easier.

Maps don't tell you if your location is on the right or the left or which lane to be in on the highway for the exit you need.

At night, it's very hard to see street names. I am certainly not going to use a map to fine somebody's house that lives 1 or 2 towns away.

There are always pluses and minuses to technology.

that is what mapquest is for - they do tell you where the location is. A little pre-planning...

I use mapquest all the time to find someone's home - even if it is my own town - if I haven't been there.

GPS are based on maps - and they aren't always correct either.

I have never gotten lost from using maps or mapquest.

[brii]

Sometimes things happen and you can't pre-plan.

At least there is technology available today so people don't have to fumble with maps - that's how I look at it.

[biancardi]

On 3/31/2014 Lila Belle said:

On 3/31/2014 biancardi said:

On 3/31/2014 brii said:

On 3/31/2014 mistriTsquirrel said:

My <em>four</em> things I <em>will not</em> get in 2014:

-satellite television

-any additional services from AT&T

-a smartphone

-gps...I can read a map, so what do I need gps for?

Have you ever actually used GPS? How do you read a map and drive at the same time?

how did we get around before GPS? People can plot their course first before they set out using the map. If they get lost, they stop and review their map again.

I am unsure how I was able to navigate and travel in this country for the last 30 years without a gps!! lol

I find that GPS's are a major distraction when driving.

I have my GPS set to voice.

yes, there is that. I was just answering the question on how people can navigate and drive to their destination without GPS.

[biancardi]

On 3/31/2014 brii said:

Sometimes things happen and you can't pre-plan.

At least there is technology available today so people don't have to fumble with maps - that's how I look at it.

and again, somehow, pre GPS, we all managed fine. I was just answering your question about how people can survive without it.

you can tell when a location is on the right or left, based on the address as well -once you get to the location, you can tell which side the even numbers are on and which side the left is on.

I guess this is like math. Somethings people will forget how to do because they rely on technology to tell them. I can see future generations who were not taught this not to know, but anyone over the age of 30 should know these things.

[brii]

Pre-GPS we all managed fine.

But we have GPS and other technology available to assist us when needed.

My daughter was in an auto accident and was transported to an unfamiliar hospital. We had never heard of the hospital and needed to get there safely and quickly. GPS afforded us the opportunity to find it easily.

[151949]

These are someones OPINION and certainly don't all apply to everyone. For instance - ilove my digital camera and certainly would not want for all my pictures to be those grainy phone camera pics.We have a reward cc for hotel points and use them all the time - I won't give it up til they say I have to.I definately would not want a tablet to be my ONLY computer. They are not that reliable - shut down fright in the middle of things etc. I'll always have a laptop at least.Who would rent someone their house for a one or two night stay? And we are required to have a landline phone for our security system - also our cells do not pick up the signal inside our house. And I'd rather buy a GPS than pay for Onstar on the car for years.

[ilovedaisies]

We used GPS for the first time on a long trip to Florida. It was fantastic! It's awesome how that thing knows exactly where you are and where you are supposed to turn next! After that trip we were absolutely sold on it. It got us all over the place, right to the USS MIssouri in Mobile, all over in NO and Pensacola. Fantastic!

[shesallthat]

i always use google maps. i love to find new places to shop nearby that i have heard about and i have never had a problem when using google maps! i have never gotten lost! it has always taken me straight to the place i wanted to go. it used to make my DH so nervous that i would have no problem hitting the road all by myself to places unknown but i feel comfortable that i would not get lost.

[Linders Back]

RE GPS vs a paper map:

I love my maps and always get new ones from AAA before a trip because I like to visualize the entire trip beforehand and the Garmin doesn't do that. (I think it is similar to my love of books rather than e-readers).

But the GPS is indispensable while traveling to unknown areas as you can check to see nearest restaurants, accommodations, gas stations or emergency locations. I will be traveling up the entire East Coast next month with my 93 year old Mother and knowing it can immediately direct me to a hospital is very reassuring. It also gives real time traffic and alternate suggestions if we encounter an accident or traffic tie-up. paper map can't do that. I t also serves as a trip diary in that it keeps a record of time on the road, mileage, and average speed limit, etc.

RE DVD player (and VCR): Hopefully won't have to buy new ones but would never give up the old. My local library has a vast selection of movies and TV Series both old and current that I can borrow for FREE. I also have home movies on DVD and probably will never see those available through HULU or Netflicks (unless I sell them when my son becomes famous ).

[biancardi]

On 3/31/2014 brii said:

Pre-GPS we all managed fine.

But we have GPS and other technology available to assist us when needed.

My daughter was in an auto accident and was transported to an unfamiliar hospital. We had never heard of the hospital and needed to get there safely and quickly. GPS afforded us the opportunity to find it easily.

Again, I am not saying it doesn't have its advantages, but you were the one who asked how someone could manage with a map. I pointed out the ways and yes, there are millions of people who are managing just fine without GPS and they do drive (and manage to find their destination)

I hope your daughter is okay...