GPS technology as we know it has been around for at least 30 years beginning with the launch of the first GPS satellite. Since then, it has gone from U.S. Government space toy to the “must have” for every driver. For the recent gift-giving season, I was generously given a Garmin nüvi^® 650 GPS personal travel assistant. I’ve never had a personal assistant of any kind before, so at first, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Would it take care of all my travel needs? Would it kindly ask the other drivers around me to move out of my way for travel? Would it remind me that the coffee in the foam cup is hot and to sip it responsibly while driving? Would it pack those extra clothes for the unexpected travel delays (i.e., spilled coffee)?

Garmin is one of the top industry leaders for GPS technology, founded on the principles of innovation, convenience, performance, value, and service. I felt comfortable knowing that good money was spent on a good quality unit. I had been looking at GPS units for my car for at least a year or so, and in all the options—TomTom, Magellan, Navigon… I found it amazing to see how many different applications some of these companies are cramming into, what is quickly becoming, a do-it-all kind of tool. My “personal travel assistant” has a pretty extensive list of built-in applications and options including:

• MP3 Player
• Audible^© Book Player
• Picture Viewer
• Calculator
• Oxford^© Language Guide (for purchase as add-on)
• Garmin Travel Guide (for purchase as add-on)
• Savers Guide (for purchase as add-on)
• World Clock
• Currency Converter
• Unit Converter

It also came with a suction cup mount, the vehicle power cable, a USB cable, a Dashboard disk, and information for registering your unit on the Garmin web page.

I’ve used my nüvi^® for a while since I received it. I have not opted to purchase the add-ons as noted, but overall, I like it very much. It is conveniently portable, such that it doesn’t need to be attached to my windshield to work, though I haven’t found any reason to use it outside my vehicle. For in-car navigation, I have found it to be most suitable in getting me to my intended destination. The pleasant British female voice (known as “Emily”) is most appealing, guiding me to “Turn left on Main Street,” or “Take exit 63 on the Right” in the proper Queen’s English. When I chose otherwise, she is quick to “recalculate” the route, and re-direct me back on track toward my destination for the shortest route or fastest route (not always the same thing—see below for more).

The added tools are useful in unique situations that one may find themselves in while traveling—the calculator could be used to figure out the tip for dinner, the world clock could easily tell you when it’s ok to call those close friends in Europe, the unit converter could be used to figure out the speed limit when driving through Canada, and the Audible^© Book Player allows you to go On the Road with Jack Kerouac reading to you if you choose, while on the road. I have not found a use for the picture viewer, though I’m sure with some creativity that will come in time, and I own another MP3 player so I don’ t expect to use my Garmin for that as much.

GPS has many other uses besides simple navigation to your favorite coffee shop or nearest gas station. At Fuss & O’Neill Technologies, we use GPS to capture the locations of various things—utility manholes, street signs, even the front door to your home—for mapping and analysis purposes. GPS is also used as a tracking tool to ensure a rapid response from the nearest service or emergency response vehicle; however, the nearest vehicle with the shortest travel distance may not always be the best choice.

This brings up the difference between “shorter” and “faster.” The Garmin nüvi^® can be set for “Faster Time” or “Shorter Distance.” While the shorter distance may be more efficient in mileage, it may be longer in travel time due to traffic lights, city street speed limits, and city traffic congestion. The faster time will probably require highway driving but will move you at a faster speed, will avoid traffic lights, and will take you a few more miles “out of the way.” Both will get you to your intended destination, but one will be a little more scenic than the other.

I enjoy driving with “Emily” in the car as I answer the question, “whither goest thou, America, in thy shiny car in the night?” I have faith that she will guide me safely home from anywhere I happen to be, even when I decide to veer from the designated path.

Thad

Those of us who create and use paper maps are familiar with their many challenges. Paper maps have been around since the dawn of ancient civilizations, or at least since the Egyptians began sketching out the route to their neighborhood pyramid on papyrus. Ever since then, they have perplexed even the most ambidextrous quadrupeds among us. Furthermore, many among us are just plain confused by the cryptic symbols used on these origami torture devices. To understand this secret language,  it helps to know what you are looking at.

The numerous maps created by Fuss and O’Neill Technologies G.I.S. department can vary from the very simple to the incredibly complex, but they all contain some basic “furniture” that helps the map reader gather information. It can be considered the “Cartographer’s Trinity”.

• First and foremost, is the map title—without it we’d be lost (pun intended). This is pretty straight forward—it should tell you what the map is intended to show or where in the world the map is representing. Keeping it simple is the best advice. A title such as, “Map of the United States” works better than, “Map showing places that I have never been to before, but intend to visit at some point blah, blah, blah”. The title should be descriptive of the content, but not so elaborate that it detracts from the actual map
• Second is the map legend. This can get pretty complicated and out of hand if you allow it to. Finding the right balance between useful and useless information is integral. It is important to keep mindful of the map purpose when deciding on the legend. Clearly recognizable symbols, such as ponds and rivers, don’t have to be included in the legend. The symbols should differ enough from one another to prevent visual confusion.
• Third is the scale bar or scale text. This let’s the reader know if they’ll need to travel a few feet, or a few miles between locations shown on the map. The key here is a usable common unit of measure— i.e. one inch equals x feet or meters or miles or Smoot.

Based on the overall simplicity of the map, the legend may be omitted.

Deciphering the map information is only the first of two puzzels to be faced. Once you have conquered reading the map, and arrived safely at your planned destination without stopping to ask directions at many 7-Eleven‘s along the way, the ordeal of re-folding the map to its original shape can be as daunting as the journey itself.

look familiar?

In the days long before the in-vehicle navigation systems, I recall as a young child the wadded up crumple of paper that my parents kept in the glove compartment. It usually only appeared on family summer vacations that involved the above-mentioned stop at several 7-Eleven‘s along our trip, and strong encouragement from my mother. I remember fondly the confounding expressions my dad’s face would make as he attempted to return the gas station “souvenir” to its original shape and size. It wasn’t until I found myself on one of those college-age “road trips” that I too was facing the perplexing challenge of re-folding the map. In an attempt to pass along additional wisdom and experience of that stressful time, I offer the following lesson in the fine ancient art of “Map Folding”:

1. Begin with the map laying flat on a hard surface, such as the hood or roof of your vehicle.
2. Most large folded road maps begin by folding in a fan-like pattern, alternating the fold direction, in equal width.
3. Depending on the length of the strip that you created with the folds, it will fold into thirds, bottom up, and then top folded down, or it will fold in half, and then in half again creating a rectangular shape.

Paper road maps are becoming less visible every year, as the cost of in-vehicle navigation systems becomes less and less expensive. I must admit though, I keep my paper map neatly folded in my glove compartment. It reminds me of a simpler time of family vacations, unplanned stops at small town 7-Eleven‘s, and the echo of “are we there yet???”

Thad