[haisaikat]

G

PS or in generalized form the Assisted Navigation has made travelling so much hassle free for us. The increasing popularity also has resulted in steady increase in the market on various services that can be rendered through this technology resulting in a projected market of 140 Billion Dollars by 2025 growing at a pace of more than 18% every year which is like almost doubling every 5 years.

Source to the market analysis is here.

Hold on, this is not another market trend analysis thread. This is something a wee bit different.

Have you ever felt that GPS takes away some of the fun of the adventure in the driving by taking away the uncertainty of the journey, the very big thing that it solved in the first place?

A few days back me and my wife were driving down to a highway dhaba on a beautiful cloudy afternoon. Since we pretty much know the route to the dhaba which is 60 KM from the city we decided to turn off the GPS. So we were obviously more careful so as not to miss taking the obvious bifurcations, making it more certain that we read and relate and interpret the road signs and direction boards correctly and timely.

Since I did not need to keep an eye on the "time to reach", "next turn distance" and "estimated time to arrive at destination" we found ourselves focusing on admiring the roads, the greenery, the cloudy skies and which one of the 3 nearby dhabas we should be going this time. Note we have traveled several times through this same highway earlier but with GPS assistance.

I kept the car speed at 60 -70 even when the limit was 80. As and when each fuel station or any highway establishment came we carefully slowed down in order to peek at the entrance and trying to assess if we have arrived at our destination and then moved on again. At one point in time we even had the feeling if we have missed our destination by driving it past. This feeling elevated even more after seeing the road sign that the next exit is after 10 KMs and the fact that I forgot to check the ODO or reset the trip meter at the start so not sure how much distance we have covered.

After driving some another 6 -7 KM finally we got the glimpse of the first dhaba and concluded we were on the right route before eventually reaching to our destination. We enjoyed the short stay for the lunch and resorted to the same No GPS stand during the return, got greeted with a beautiful rain. What more can one expect.

So what exactly was different. I realized that when I drive with GPS it becomes more of a target oriented driving where I have to look up for road conditions, the distance to next turn and even nowadays for the accurate speed of the car too. I do talk with everyone on board, look around everywhere but the subconscious mind keeps some amount of focus reserved for the GPS that gives the sense of relief that I am at least not headed in the wrong direction.

When I related the experience back to my first highway drive back in 2009 I remember taking out print outs of the route shown by Google Map, albeit 2 copies with one being the return route turn by turn direction, even though it was merely 70 KM. I made sure to have spent at least 1 hour studying the map and the route and the turns shown, deducing the key diversions to take in the route. During the actual drive, I made frequent checks on the ODO to assess how much progress have been made and if we should be on lookout for the next turn in the route. We reached the destination properly and till this date I remember every bit of that short trip, such is the thrill. Here is one click from that trip, notice the folded printout of the map on the dash.

I realized that this uncertainty without the GPS have a lot more thrill. All in all, WE ENJOYED the journey way better.

Curious, what do other BHPians think? If you are inclined to believe that it does not impact your feelings then recommend going without it at least once, and make sure its not on daily office commute rather a semi unknown route.

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[ampere]

I agree with you in parts, that because of GPS it becomes more of a target oriented driving.

Still, coming to the realization of a sense of geography that one has analyzed before the drive is a good security to have.

When we go on adventure drives without family, we can have a sense of time and hence know based on pending legs of journey, how much we can afford to spend time at a place we just may a found nice. I would take that realty check any day instead losing something worthwhile down later in the day.

And coming to drives involving family, we would have anyway planned the drive well in advance to make sure our family gets the best of road conditions, timings and hotels/break-points. So to that effect, it becomes a target oriented drive. Hence GPS would anyway help in such endeavors.

[landcruiser123]

To a certain extent, yes! I just like the feeling that no one/no device is telling you where to go. :P

If my journey involves major highways/freeways, I just set remember majority of the routes and set the GPS only for the last part. I might drive 80-90% without GPS and last 10-20% with GPS

[sumeethaldankar]

Not really, the GPS is just a device which points you in the mostly the right direction. It has just become another screened distraction as are mobiles. I don't think it takes the fun in the drive. In the city google maps helps identify traffic etc and lets us know estimated time to reach. If it's and traffic is there I just heave a sigh and curse the traffic and that's it. On the opposite back in 2015 when I gone to Pune I used google maps to reach from the city to the highways and it took me through more scenic roads and short cuts. I got to drive through a manned rail crossing something which I had not done in many years. I think because of the GPS I can dare to venture out even further than I would by myself so for me it adds to the adventure rather than take anything from it.

[RedTerrano]

Voted never.

With the GPS navigation, I find I am more relaxed while driving as I am sure I will be guided down the right path. This leaves me with more time to enjoy the sights enroute.
Twice in my various journeys (Chennai - Pune and Pune - Betul) the navigation has led me through some narrow lanes where I actually suspected the system was messed up, only to get back on the highway. Later computation and review revealed, those were actually shortcuts.
Besides this live traffic and road closure are two more features which I find immensely helpful.

[ruzbehxyz]

Voted for partially.

Before the advent of GPS, it was fun and required studying maps and navigating.

Now with GPS, the fun is reduced but has added to accuracy. However the sense of direction, remembering roads etc. is finished.

[ValarMorghulis]

Voted never.

As some one who has been trapped in a city (during my childhood) in Agra for a couple of hours, taking turns around multiple landmarks, asking for directions from every Rahul, Vishal and Shashank, and still getting lost, IMO, GPS is a blessing.

With GPS I actually am more relaxed since I know the assistant is going to guide me exactly where and when to turn.

I think it is one's preference, but for me GPS is a big YES.

[Eddy]

Kill the adventure? For people like me with limited direction sense, I sometimes wonder how people survived before Google Maps

[paragsachania]

I keep the navigation screen on only when I am closer to destination. That has helped me focus on the thrill and adventure part of the drive till now.

And no, GPS navigation has never made me drive against a set target because I always feel one's driving (speeds) should never get influenced by what one sees on the navigation screen. That is a very bad way to drive anyway. It should always be based on the merit of roads.

[Ry_der]

Originally Posted by haisaikat

I realized that this uncertainty without the GPS have a lot more thrill. All in all, WE ENJOYED the journey way better.

100% correct, atleast for me. I use GPS only when I am off to somewhere for the first time. Doesn't matter, if it's within the city or in another state. Never gave it a thought like you did but I never felt the need.

IMO the actual problem is with the ETA displayed on the navigation (Google ). It activates the otherwise dormant part of our brain and we try to beat that ETA timing at any cost thus missing the real fun.

[Hayek]

GPS is a huge boon when you are driving to places you don’t know.

We first used GPS on our holiday in England and Scotland in 2010 - it was a boon, but nowhere near perfect - and we also carried physical maps which helped a lot.

On my first driving trip to Goa, back in 2011, Google Maps was new. I had a map from Garmin - but as I entered Goa and got off the highway to head towards the Leela, I was lost. Fortunately my wife had Google Maps on her phone - it was the first time we used that software.

Since then, Google Maps has become a core part of any driving holiday - it reduces stress and allows you to focus on enjoying the drive, rather than worry about where you are and where you are going. I am clear that the stress of finding my way around is something I am glad to avoid.

[srinath.s]

Voted NEVER. To me, the anxiety of getting lost/missing an exit/taking a circuitous route far outweighs the pleasure of exploring the unknown. I love driving and enjoying the scenery though, so a balance is struck by turning off the screen once I hit a long stretch (Gmaps itself provides this option) and relying on the voice prompt to not miss a turn/exit, and turning the screen back on once I am close to the destination.

[Rajeevraj]

Voted partially. I have the habit of studying a new route in detail before heading out. So during the drive , I am always using my judgement in addition to the guidance of google maps. So it's not a blind follow the map drive.

On known routes, only turn it on for any congestion related information.

Having said that, blindly trusting google maps can lead you on an adventure by itself. Especially on smaller, lesser known routes, google maps can go terribly wrong too.

[Abhi5868]

GPS has been a boon for my family. We usually have atleast one never-done-before trip ever year, except this year(although we're planning something for October).

We usually use the GPS to check whether we're on the correct route to the destination and switch it off once done. And my dad can't thank Google maps especially since he's regularly visiting strange cities for work. While the thrill of asking the passer bys about the route can't be matched, I personally don't think GPS has in any way snatched the thrill of visiting new places. It has only made it easier, although won't deny the fact that it has, more than once landed us inside the unexplored GALI Mohallas in the name of the shortest route.