| I've been listening to comments on the street about | | | | first instruction the GPS spoke was "make your first |
| the increasing use of automotive global positioning | | | | right and then continue .5 km, then turn left" and by |
| systems. When a new technology comes into | | | | gosh it was right. Our final escort had rented an Audi |
| mainstream use there are always people cautious | | | | with an in dash GPS, that was too cool! |
| about it's use, as there should be! It is important to | | | | This last unit was particularly useful because none of |
| look at the cons as well as the pros. | | | | use knew where we were going. The instructions |
| One comment I have heard is that they are | | | | called out by the GPS saved us time and money |
| dangerous. There are stories of people following the | | | | (fuel). In fact a little friendly competition developed. |
| verbal instructions and making a turn right off the | | | | Our Director of Engineering is a bit of a technology |
| road because a map was out of date. This reminds | | | | enthusiast. He takes his hand held GPS with him on |
| me of stories when cruise control first came out. | | | | every trip. Our driver zoomed in on the map, as we |
| There were examples of people suing the | | | | got closer to our destination, looking for the actual |
| automotive companies because they set cruise | | | | street name. Our Engineer used his GPS to monitor |
| control, took their hands off to let the car take them | | | | the direction and update us on how far we were |
| to their destination, and crashed. My point being that | | | | from our destination. Meanwhile, our President was |
| the GPS is technology, plain and simple. It must be | | | | playing with his GPS enabled Blackberry. He |
| combined with common sense. | | | | commented out of the blue, you probably should |
| I was recently on a business trip to Europe with our | | | | make your second left. The Blackberry provided |
| President and Director of Engineering, looking at | | | | detailed instructions on how to get to our destination. |
| equipment we have been considering for our plant. It | | | | My point in all of this is that the automotive GPS |
| was a hectic tour from Denmark, through Sweden, | | | | units are safe, when used with common sense. When |
| back to Denmark and finally a flight to Manchester | | | | they become standard features in all cars we will see |
| and visits to manufacturing facilities throughout | | | | that people save time (which is money) and will also |
| northern England. Three different sales associates | | | | reduce greenhouse gases by not wasting fuel. |
| escorted us and they all used GPS units to take us | | | | In closing I have a word of advise for those |
| to our destinations. | | | | programming the voice recognition programs in GPS |
| One had a new Volvo that came with a GPS that | | | | units. Get rid of the instruction "When possible, make |
| popped up when the car started. When activated, it | | | | an illegal u-turn". |
| issued instructions in Swedish. The next had | | | | By the way, if you are self-employed or use your car |
| purchased a Garmin street pilot. He stored it in the | | | | for work you should ask your account whether you |
| glove box and set his route before starting out. The | | | | can claim it as a tax deduction. |