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Video: Stranded Canadian couple latest victims of “Death by GPS”

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Technology

“Death by GPS” – Click above to watch video after the jump

Recently, we learned that sixth-generation Chevrolet Corvettes are out to get us, and now it seems that our beloved GPS has turned on us. Consumer Reports calls it “Death by GPS”, and it’s a term that refers to folks who wind up in dangerous or fatal situations because they blindly follow the directions provided by their electronic navigational aid.

A Canadian couple was recently in the news when their GPS led them astray and into a remote part of Northern Nevada. The husband set out for help while the wife remained with their vehicle for seven weeks until being discovered (still alive) by a group of hunters.

We live in an age where we rely quite heavily on the technology around us. It’s no surprise then that we put blind faith in our personal devices, yet we should take a step back to see them for what they really are. The GPS is a tool to aid with navigation, yet it’s not an infallible machine. Data (and a clear line of sight to orbiting satellites) is a major requirement for a navigation unit to function at its best. More remote areas have less data because of the infrequent amount of traffic they receive, thus a navigation unit would have less information with which to provide feedback.

If you’re behind the wheel of a vehicle, and you’re heading into unfamiliar territory, it’s a good idea to remember that your navigation system is part of a team. Your brain should also be part of that team. Click past the jump to watch a CBS News clip discussing the “Death by GPS” phenomenon.

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Stranded Canadian couple latest victims of “Death by GPS” originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 May 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study: Men more likely to overrule GPS than women, still won’t stop for directions

Filed under: Technology, UK

Satellite Navigation System

The voice of the navigation system tells you to turn right, but you are absolutely positive that it’s a better idea to go straight for two more streets and then turn left. Do you listen to the sat-nav, or your gut? If you’re a man, you’re more likely to stick to your guns, at least according to a study by UK insurance retailer Swinton.

The study, which polled 3,000 users about their navigation habits, discovered that 83 percent of men have disobeyed their nav system at least once, compared to under 75 percent for women. The study also showed that one-third of all participants surveyed felt their navigation system took them between one and five kilometers astray, while half say the system’s directions led to an in-car argument with a passenger.

Steve Chelton, Insurance Development Manager at Swinton, points out that, “a sat-nav should aid your own navigational abilities rather than replace them.” That’s a good point to be sure, but what should a driver do to make sure their nav isn’t giving them the high-tech shaft? Two-thirds of the drivers in the study keep an old-fashioned paper map in the car just in case.

[Source: National Post | Image: Chris Shunk/AOL]

Study: Men more likely to overrule GPS than women, still won’t stop for directions originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Student finds GPS tracker stuck to car, FBI asks for it back

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Technology

So, now that we know it is legal for the FBI to place GPS trackers on cars without a warrant, the next logical question is, how often does it happen? We can’t say for sure, but the recent experience of 20-year-old U.S. student Yasir Afifi leads us to believe it’s taking place more often that we’d like to think.

Afifi, who is an American citizen born here in the States with an Egyptian father, brought his Lincoln LS sedan to a mechanic who put it up on a lift. There, underneath the car, was an odd cylindrical tube connected to a device with an antenna. It wasn’t a bomb, but it was a tracking device.

A friend took pictures of the device and put it up on the interwebs… which led to a gaggle of police officers and FBI agents showing up at Afifi’s apartment complex in California asking for their device back… sternly. “We’re going to make this much more difficult for you if you don’t cooperate.”

A tad worrisome, no? Says Afifi, “It seems very frightening that the FBI have placed a surveillance-tracking device on the car of a 20-year-old American citizen who has done nothing more than being half-Egyptian.” We agree… but it apparently doesn’t violate the 4th Amendment.

Turns out Afifi has nothing to worry about. “You’re boring,” said an unidentified agent. This is one of those rare cases where being boring is a rather good thing.

[Source: Wired via Engadget]

Report: Student finds GPS tracker stuck to car, FBI asks for it back originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Garmin Nuvi GPS recalled over fire risk – Suzuki threatened?

Filed under: Aftermarket, Technology, Suzuki

Garmin Nuvi GPS system Garmin has recalled a total of 1.25 million portable GPS units for a possible fire risk, with 796,000 of those sold here in the United States. According to Consumer Reports, the problem stems from a faulty battery that may cause the device to overheat while in use. So far, there have been no injuries or property damage due to the defect, and fewer than 10 units have been reported with the problem.

The recall covers Nuvi 200W, 250W, 260W and a few models in the 700 series that land in a certain date-code range and that use a specific type of printed circuit board design. The easiest way to tell if your unit falls under the recall is to head over to Garmin’s site and enter in your model’s serial number. If yours comes up as one of the unlucky few that has to be returned, Garmin will provide you with all of the necessary mailing instructions.

Interestingly, several automakers have offered cradled Garmin products in place of costlier in-dash navigation systems, some of which will be covered under the recall. Among those manufacturers, Suzuki has been the first to confirm to Autoblog that some of its models will be impacted. The company said that it is currently working with regulators to deduce which vehicles shipped with the faulty Nuvi systems and how to proceed with getting the units fixed. Stay tuned for more information.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Garmin Nuvi GPS recalled over fire risk – Suzuki threatened? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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