Monday, October 19. 2009

Science Suggests Using GPS "Dulls" Brain's Mapping Tools

Alex Hutchinson writes in The Walrus (Canada's Best Magazine):

...neuroscientists are starting to uncover a two-way street: our brains determine how we navigate, but our navigational efforts also shape our brains. The experts are picking up some worrying signs about the changes that will occur as we grow accustomed to the brain-free navigation of the GPS era.

Thursday, October 15. 2009

NYT Reviews iPhone Nav Apps: Not all Rosy

Erica Taub writes the review and notes:

Of the four GPS apps I tested — from major navigation companies — each crashed several times, jolting my iPhone back to the home screen. Occasionally, the iPhone did not seem to recognize that I was even using the GPS feature, and the phone simply shut off. None of the apps could keep up with my driving. I often made a turn or reached an intersection before the map redrew to indicate that I had. At other times, the app showed me making a turn before I actually had.

Friday, September 25. 2009

Butterflies Use Antenae (among other things) to Navigate

Researchers used black enamel paint to block Monarch butterflies use of their antennae. The result: those with antennae covered (ore removed) got lost traveling to Mexico from the U.S. (Those with clear paint on their antennae did fine.) The conclusion is that the butterflies use antennae as both light sensors and clocks that work in conjunction with clocks in their brains.

- AP

Thursday, September 17. 2009

"SatNav Made Me Do It" Doesn't Fly in UK Court

Robert Jones was found guilty of "driving without due care and attention" in the UK. He followed his satnav device's instructions and drove down a path not designed for cars and made contact with a fence. He also travelled onto some private land. The court didn't buy his explanation that he followed the directions. He was fined $1,470.

- C|net
- Examiner

Local Man Raises Funds for GPS for Fire Engines

A Slidell (Louisiana) resident held a wine tasting event and a raffle to fund the purchase of Garmin GPS devices for the local fire department. The local Best Buy provided a discount to make the money go further and even installed the devices in the fire trucks.

- Tammany News

Tuesday, September 8. 2009

Scrabble + GPS + iPhone = Seek 'n Spell

Ok, I've been reading about iPhone apps, specifically location-based ones. for quite a while. None have made me think, "wow, I want that"...until today. Seek 'n Spell is a letter hunting game played in a park - the game downloads a satellite image for you to use as a map and you capture virtual VW Beetle sized letters by running to them, to spell words for points. This sounds fun - but then I used to play Scrabble competitively and am a runner...

- GPS Business News