Are Sat Nav's dumming down navigational skills?
Discussion
zakelwe said:
I have a trip into London tonight and have done the route via internet maps and steetview, so it is in my head.
Ok, I may well get lost, but isn't it better to try and use your own brain to get a handle on the geography than resort to an electronic device?
Thoughts?
Andy
I don't know if they ruin people's existing skills that much but I think they can prevent a new driver from developing them if over-relied upon. Personally I think they are a great tool to use alongside maps and knowledge. If I'm going somewhere new then I will generally look it up on google maps first so I've got a rough idea of where I'm going and then use my satnav as a prompt/reminder. Even if I haven't been able to pre-check the route before hand I'll try and think about the route the satnav gives me so I can grasp where its trying to take me rather than just "left, right, 2nd exit"Ok, I may well get lost, but isn't it better to try and use your own brain to get a handle on the geography than resort to an electronic device?
Thoughts?
Andy
Probably.
I use a Sat Nav for journeys I've never made before just to make the trip less stressful. Once I've been somewhere once or twice I'll generally remember the route.
Sometimes I have to drive accross C.London and seeing as I havent taken 'the knowledge' and normally use the Tube I much prefer to plug the destination into the sat nav and go. I can and do read maps but driving in C.London can be stressful enough without becoming lost / juggling a map and driving.
Even when walking - its alot easier to get the iphone out and load up google maps / TomTom than carry an A to Z around with you.
I use a Sat Nav for journeys I've never made before just to make the trip less stressful. Once I've been somewhere once or twice I'll generally remember the route.
Sometimes I have to drive accross C.London and seeing as I havent taken 'the knowledge' and normally use the Tube I much prefer to plug the destination into the sat nav and go. I can and do read maps but driving in C.London can be stressful enough without becoming lost / juggling a map and driving.
Even when walking - its alot easier to get the iphone out and load up google maps / TomTom than carry an A to Z around with you.
Yes and it pissess me off! Royally!
Sat nav is a grat driver aid but thats it, an aid not a replacement for a decent A-Z and an Atlas. Plus with sat nav one may be tempted to play the 'how much time can you knock off destination' game.
Oh, it's also a great feeling to look at an A-Z memorise the map and get to your destination based on the code of'
4th left
3rd right
two light
right at roundabout
etc...
Sat nav is a grat driver aid but thats it, an aid not a replacement for a decent A-Z and an Atlas. Plus with sat nav one may be tempted to play the 'how much time can you knock off destination' game.
Oh, it's also a great feeling to look at an A-Z memorise the map and get to your destination based on the code of'
4th left
3rd right
two light
right at roundabout
etc...
FamilyDub said:
Yes, it is responsible.
Just watch the MLM dive out of L2 when the 'Nav guides them to leave the motorway, or dive across people on a roundabout.
I go all retro on your ass and USE ROADSIGNS.
Sat navs have nothing to do with MLMs and general poor driving. An MLM will be a sJust watch the MLM dive out of L2 when the 'Nav guides them to leave the motorway, or dive across people on a roundabout.
I go all retro on your ass and USE ROADSIGNS.
Edited by FamilyDub on Friday 20th May 16:25
t driver with or without a sat nav.Sat navs are basically a virtual passenger that reads a map. It doesnt say 'sit in the middle lane for 50 miles' then 50 miles later 'oohh that was the exit you needed - youd better reverse up the carrage way or turn left sharply'
Used intelligently, Sat Nav is great.
However, the question posed by the OP is whether they are dumbing people down, and I think they are. We see on the news people getting stuck down farm tracks or driving miles in the wrong direction because they blindly follow the directions. That's dumbing down - the surrender of common sense.
I generally plan my route before I set off and have it on the seat next to me. I do use the Sat Nav on my phone sometimes if I'm unsure of the route, and very useful it has been. But there are times where I say "well that's bloody stupid" and ignore what it says, and generally that decision is justified.
So, yes, I think it is raising a generation of people unable to navigate for themselves. It should be an aid to nagivational skills, not a replacement.
I'm of the generation where I was taught "approximation" - the technique of getting the rough ballpark figure and then using your calculator. If the answer on your calculator is wildly out from your ballpark, you know you miskeyed.
For example, calculating 9 x 10 on your calculator and then saying "the answer is 900" because you miskeyed and actually typed 9 x 100, and had so little grasp of maths that you couldn't see that 9 x 10 should be "around 100".
(Over-simplified example, but hopefully you see what I am trying to say)
However, the question posed by the OP is whether they are dumbing people down, and I think they are. We see on the news people getting stuck down farm tracks or driving miles in the wrong direction because they blindly follow the directions. That's dumbing down - the surrender of common sense.
I generally plan my route before I set off and have it on the seat next to me. I do use the Sat Nav on my phone sometimes if I'm unsure of the route, and very useful it has been. But there are times where I say "well that's bloody stupid" and ignore what it says, and generally that decision is justified.
So, yes, I think it is raising a generation of people unable to navigate for themselves. It should be an aid to nagivational skills, not a replacement.
VladD said:
The thing is I also use a calculator instead of doing the maths in my head.
Now, that's a good example. I'm of the generation where I was taught "approximation" - the technique of getting the rough ballpark figure and then using your calculator. If the answer on your calculator is wildly out from your ballpark, you know you miskeyed.
For example, calculating 9 x 10 on your calculator and then saying "the answer is 900" because you miskeyed and actually typed 9 x 100, and had so little grasp of maths that you couldn't see that 9 x 10 should be "around 100".
(Over-simplified example, but hopefully you see what I am trying to say)
Edited by JonRB on Friday 20th May 16:53
Yes,
The first time a colleague had to pick me up from work they used a sat-nav to find my house (4 mile drive through town for them at the most), fair enough. That was 6 months ago, he's been to my house half a dozen times since and still needs the satnav.
People are too reliant on the satnav and don't even take note of where they're going or have been so will be unable to make the journey themselves.
I admit I carry a satnav in the glovebox just in case but generally try and get there the old fashioned way.
The first time a colleague had to pick me up from work they used a sat-nav to find my house (4 mile drive through town for them at the most), fair enough. That was 6 months ago, he's been to my house half a dozen times since and still needs the satnav.
People are too reliant on the satnav and don't even take note of where they're going or have been so will be unable to make the journey themselves.
I admit I carry a satnav in the glovebox just in case but generally try and get there the old fashioned way.
Edited by Sam1990 on Friday 20th May 16:56
I don't have one so I guess I can't comment from experience.
However, I do think the guy/s who invented/marketed them are absolute geniuses. Convincing the public to part with lots of their hard earned cash (I'm guessing they are over £100 (notwithstanding the ones which come fitted to the car)) on a little box stuck to your windscreen which tells you directions....instead of £4.99 on a road atlas.
Has it been so successful because men don't like asking for directions?
However, I do think the guy/s who invented/marketed them are absolute geniuses. Convincing the public to part with lots of their hard earned cash (I'm guessing they are over £100 (notwithstanding the ones which come fitted to the car)) on a little box stuck to your windscreen which tells you directions....instead of £4.99 on a road atlas.
Has it been so successful because men don't like asking for directions?
OMNIO said:
FamilyDub said:
Yes, it is responsible.
Just watch the MLM dive out of L2 when the 'Nav guides them to leave the motorway, or dive across people on a roundabout.
I go all retro on your ass and USE ROADSIGNS.
Sat navs have nothing to do with MLMs and general poor driving. An MLM will be a sJust watch the MLM dive out of L2 when the 'Nav guides them to leave the motorway, or dive across people on a roundabout.
I go all retro on your ass and USE ROADSIGNS.
t driver with or without a sat nav.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff