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Who Needs GPS? The Story of Etak's 1985 Car Navigation System

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Re: Who Needs GPS? The Story of Etak's 1985 Car Navigation System

#81

Post by garaetjjte »

jmcdiesel wrote: post #68
theamk wrote: post #6

FYI, here is a part which is still relevant today: "the system continuously ironed out accumulated errors over time by comparing actual distances driven and turns made with road shapes on the map. Honey calls the technique "augmented dead reckoning." That means driving through a long stretch of straight highway could begin to trip up Etak's system, since there were no turns and no distinct roads for the computer to a…

Airliners used the same basic system for a long time... and it was, in fact, an airline incident that lead the US gov't to declassify GPS so trans-oceanic flights could be tracked better. To this day though, when I pilot starts up an airliner, they fire up that old system as a backup, its programed down to the gates at the airports, so they set their departure gate and as soon as they start moving, it tracks, through…

INS mode wasn't even enabled on KAL007, it flew on HEADING mode.

"According to the ICAO, the autopilot was not operating in the INS mode either because the crew did not switch the autopilot to the INS mode (shortly after Cairn Mountain), or they did select the INS mode, but the computer did not transition from INERTIAL NAVIGATION ARMED to INS mode because the aircraft had already deviated off track by more than the 7.5 nautical miles (13.9 km) tolerance permitted by the inertial navigation computer. Whatever the reason, the autopilot remained in the HEADING mode, and the problem was not detected by the crew."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Air_Lines_Flight_007

Re: Who Needs GPS? The Story of Etak's 1985 Car Navigation System

#82

Post by feintruled »

strictnein wrote: post #29

Surprised no one has mentioned its similarity to a Pip Boy: https://b.fastcompany.net/multisite_files/fastcompany/imagec... And a Fallout Pip Boy for reference: https://staticdelivery.nexusmods.com/mods/120/images/16096-1...

The Fallout similarities struck me too - in that universe technology diverged well before the micro-processor stage, with some of our current technology reimagined with a 1950s spin. This gadget fits the bill superbly!

Re: Who Needs GPS? The Story of Etak's 1985 Car Navigation System

#84

Post by Arizhel »

e28eta wrote: post #61
sedachv wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I can't imagine why you wouldn't want navigational assistance. Here is why I look up directions in advance in almost all situations: * GPS is a distraction to maintaining awareness while driving, motorcycling, and bicycling. * Navigational assistance does not help you when walking, taking public transit or taxis. Using GPS while driving prevents you from learning the layout of the place you are in which transfers t…

I know how to read a map. I have a good memory. I have a good sense of direction. I did a fair amount of driving before getting a smartphone/GPS. I delivered pizzas for ~3 years, and I'd look up the 1-5 houses on our paper maps at the store showing every street, nearly every house by number, most of the apartments by number, and then memorize the route. I drove cross country a couple times with basic AAA maps and pri…

Exactly; I agree 100%. GPS has made me a much better driver: I don't miss turns, I'm not distracted trying to find some fallen-down or turned-sideways street sign or trying to read building numbers from the street, and I'm alerted to traffic backups so I have a chance of avoiding them.

Re: Who Needs GPS? The Story of Etak's 1985 Car Navigation System

#85

Post by Arizhel »

civilian wrote: post #63
RJIb8RBYxzAMX9u wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Personally, I don't care that using a map would make me a "better navigator" the same way I don't care that driving stick would make me a "better driver." I don't enjoy driving at all, it's purely a mean to an end, so I'll take any aid that would make the experience more pleasant, and / or reduce my cognitive load. If I ever start making FU money, and fully self-driving cars are not yet a reality, I would definitely…

But I mean, it's not about enjoying driving. It's about being an attentive and safe driver. One of the things my Driver's Ed class went over is that: Even if you are the victim of an accident, there's a decent chance that there is something you could have done to avoid it. Things like: Making sure you have 2 of your 4 directions clear, leaving extra space, and watching other drivers. I think you're wrong that GPS red…

This is BS. GPS reduces your cognitive load, because it navigates for you. Without it, you have to look at a map (which is extremely dangerous while driving), you have to look for street signs, you have to try to read building numbers from the street. It's extremely distracting trying to find a location in a place you've never been. GPS takes care of all that for you.

People like you always talk about the GPS device being distracting, but how is that better than having no clue where you're going, or trying to read a giant paper map while you're driving and you've missed a turn and there's no place to pull over? You seem to basically be assuming that people should be able to memorize an entire map just by looking at it, and then somehow magically know which road is which even though the signage is frequently horrible. The real world doesn't work the way you think it does.

Re: Who Needs GPS? The Story of Etak's 1985 Car Navigation System

#86

Post by Arizhel »

ams6110 wrote: post #67
Arizhel wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't imagine why you wouldn't want navigational assistance. The only time I drive without my GPS is if I'm going somewhere I go frequently, along a route I normally travel, and it's a short distance. Any place new, and I'm using GPS, and even if I'm going someplace familiar, and I'm familiar with the route, if it's a good distance away I use the GPS anyway to make sure I don't miss a turn and also, very importantl…

I find that if I use GPS/Nav to get somewhere, I have no real awareness of where I am or how to get back. Having spent the large majority of my life without a smartphone (or a mobile phone of any kind) I don't really like that feeling. If I look up where I'm going in advance, or use written instructions, I can generally backtrack to my origin without too much difficulty.

I've spent the large majority of my life without a smartphone too. I have no trouble knowing where I am or how to get back when I use GPS navigation, or building a "mental map" of the area. I really don't know what's wrong with you people who make these claims.

Re: Who Needs GPS? The Story of Etak's 1985 Car Navigation System

#87

Post by megablast »

dsfyu404ed wrote: post #73
civilian wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But I mean, it's not about enjoying driving. It's about being an attentive and safe driver. One of the things my Driver's Ed class went over is that: Even if you are the victim of an accident, there's a decent chance that there is something you could have done to avoid it. Things like: Making sure you have 2 of your 4 directions clear, leaving extra space, and watching other drivers. I think you're wrong that GPS red…

>Even if you are the victim of an accident, there's a decent chance that there is something you could have done to avoid it. Sounds like a politically correct way of saying "you screwed up but the other guy had a 51% chance to do something that would have avoided the outcome but you had 49%." Kind of like how in 100% of "oops I missed my turn" rear ending the second guy pays but the first guy deserves to be slapped f…

So you have never been on the road, and avoided a car crash when someone else screwed up?

Re: Who Needs GPS? The Story of Etak's 1985 Car Navigation System

#88

Post by smackdabby »

CalChris wrote: post #65

Stan Honey is a legend in sailing as well as in technology. He's won the Jules Verne trophy as navigator, fastest round the world (48 days). He's won the Volvo. PacCup with Nolan Bushnell. Rolex Yachtsman of the year (his wife Sally has won twice). He did the NFL line effects, same for NASCAR and NHL. He did the Americas Cup effects. He did Sailmail. Multiple patents. And he's an incredibly nice guy. Dennis Connor is…

So he's responsible for those annoying digital ads on the glass during NHL broadcasts? Yuck.
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