Tag: maps

Google Maps goes steampunk with scrolling brass wristlet

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Design/Style

Google Maps gone steampunk?

Google Maps directions are great, but when the turns are coming one after the other, it can be challenging to follow the route and simultaneously avoid mowing down passersby. Simon Jansen’s Brass Wristlet Navigator Watch offers a potential solution and puts a little piece of steampunk on your wrist.

A navigation system that delivers your route in the way proclamations were read back in ancient Rome or rally notes were read at the advent of the sport, the brass, leather and glass Wristlet needs no batteries and couldn’t be easier to use. Simply turn one of the knurled knobs to move the scroll. Head on over to the Makezine blog to get inspired; let’s see what kind of chops y’all got.

[Source: Asciimation via MakeZine | Photo: Asciimation]

Google Maps goes steampunk with scrolling brass wristlet originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Aug 2010 12:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford improves voice recognition for SYNC, adds Send-to-Car for Google Maps [w/video]

Filed under: Technology, Videos, Ford

Ford SYNC 2011 demonstration – click above to watch the video

Those that have been paying attention to Autoblog for any length of time will know that the staff here have long been enamored with the voice recognition (VR) technology that is a part of Ford’s SYNC system. SYNC VR generally does a better job of recognizing commands than any other such system and has a flatter menu structure than most.

For its 2011 iteration, Ford and its technology partner Nuance have significantly upgraded the system which now recognizes more than 10,000 commands without having to traverse a single menu. One of the frustrations of dealing with other VR systems has been figuring out the specific commands required to enter a destination or make a call. Nuance has implemented an array of aliases that let users say the same thing in different ways such as “play track” or “play song.”

Starting this week, owners of SYNC-equipped cars can now send directions from Google Maps on their computer directly to their car – even if they don’t have a navigation system. The send-to-car system has been available for several weeks on General Motors OnStar-equipped vehicles and Ford brings the number of automakers that support this technology to 20 worldwide including Audi and BMW. Check out the technology in the video and press release available after the jump.

[Sources: Ford, Google]

Continue reading Ford improves voice recognition for SYNC, adds Send-to-Car for Google Maps [w/video]

Ford improves voice recognition for SYNC, adds Send-to-Car for Google Maps [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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