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Without Google Maps, or functional equivalent, or do you ever manage to find your way anywhere? When I think about leaving the getting rid of my phone, my firs

Without Google Maps, or functional equivalent, or do you ever manage to find your way anywhere? When I think about leaving the getting rid of my phone, my first thought is that not having maps would suck. I planned a bus trip from Point A to Point B yesterday, and without a phone, that would have sucked. And I like Lyft a lot. It'd be a pain to get rid of that.

backpropaganda 10y ago
Funny how we both asked exactly the same question. I wonder if there's a niche for making phones which just have the basics + Maps and Uber/Lyft. Perhaps Uber or Lyft should try to make such "devices".
- CalRobert 10y ago
  A GPS (Tomtom, garmin, etc.) with access to transit feeds would be really useful. We already have a standard for transmitting traffic information via FM radio; maybe it could be put to use transmitting bus/train info as well? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_message_channel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_message_channel Phones are pretty good at nav but I still really like having a standalone GPS.
w0utert 10y ago
I feel the same, yet I'm starting to realize that maybe I'm overestimating the importance of always being able to catch the first available bus, have a perfect connection at the train station, or not having to ask around for directions. For example when taking the train, I got used to obsessively checking transit apps to see exactly how late I would be at the next stop, how much time I would have to transfer, what time I would be home, etc. If you think about it, this introduces stress (train is delayed, will I catch my bus?) that is almost never worth it. 9 out of 10 times half an hour delay is perfectly fine, and in the transfer time you can simply walk around a bit, contemplate, get a snack, etc. With maps I have the same thing, sure it's nice to never take a wrong turn, but on the other hand it's usually not so bad and it can even bring you to interesting places. Asking instructions is usually not much of a problem either, and neither is reading a paper map, or simply jotting down some reference points for yourself before you leave. I used to do this all the time when taking the car back when Google Maps didn't even exist, and I usually managed just fine. There's one exception though, which is driving in an unknown city. I absolutely hate that, and I would not want to miss GPS for that, the opportunities of getting lost are simply too high, and the stress of navigating a city by car having no idea where to go is just too much for me. That said, cars and big cities don't go together well anyway...
badosu 10y ago
Not a non cell phone user, but I can tell my experience avoidind GPS as much as possible: - Not delegating the responsibility of knowing your way externally (Maps) you get a better sense of location on your own city that builds up in time. - You also improve your spatial memory and ability to solve location problems. As time goes by you need less information to figure out the path problem. E.g. instead of solving A -> B and knowing C -> B where C is near A you just ask A -> C. - In unknown locations you actually talk to people and it's not very difficult to solve your problem using that - You also can always use G Maps on your desktop and take notes or memorize the path, it surprisingly works well and has a great positive effect on your brain. I guess that's one thing we are optimized for.
0x445442 10y ago
Thomas Guide FTW! http://store.randmcnally.com/thomas-brothers/thomas-guides.html?SCCampaign=tbhome http://store.randmcnally.com/thomas-brothers/thomas-guides.h...
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]

backpropaganda 10y ago

Funny how we both asked exactly the same question. I wonder if there's a niche for making phones which just have the basics + Maps and Uber/Lyft. Perhaps Uber or Lyft should try to make such "devices".

CalRobert 10y ago
A GPS (Tomtom, garmin, etc.) with access to transit feeds would be really useful. We already have a standard for transmitting traffic information via FM radio; maybe it could be put to use transmitting bus/train info as well? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_message_channel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_message_channel Phones are pretty good at nav but I still really like having a standalone GPS.

w0utert 10y ago

I feel the same, yet I'm starting to realize that maybe I'm overestimating the importance of always being able to catch the first available bus, have a perfect connection at the train station, or not having to ask around for directions. For example when taking the train, I got used to obsessively checking transit apps to see exactly how late I would be at the next stop, how much time I would have to transfer, what time I would be home, etc. If you think about it, this introduces stress (train is delayed, will I catch my bus?) that is almost never worth it. 9 out of 10 times half an hour delay is perfectly fine, and in the transfer time you can simply walk around a bit, contemplate, get a snack, etc. With maps I have the same thing, sure it's nice to never take a wrong turn, but on the other hand it's usually not so bad and it can even bring you to interesting places. Asking instructions is usually not much of a problem either, and neither is reading a paper map, or simply jotting down some reference points for yourself before you leave. I used to do this all the time when taking the car back when Google Maps didn't even exist, and I usually managed just fine. There's one exception though, which is driving in an unknown city. I absolutely hate that, and I would not want to miss GPS for that, the opportunities of getting lost are simply too high, and the stress of navigating a city by car having no idea where to go is just too much for me. That said, cars and big cities don't go together well anyway...

badosu 10y ago

Not a non cell phone user, but I can tell my experience avoidind GPS as much as possible: - Not delegating the responsibility of knowing your way externally (Maps) you get a better sense of location on your own city that builds up in time. - You also improve your spatial memory and ability to solve location problems. As time goes by you need less information to figure out the path problem. E.g. instead of solving A -> B and knowing C -> B where C is near A you just ask A -> C. - In unknown locations you actually talk to people and it's not very difficult to solve your problem using that - You also can always use G Maps on your desktop and take notes or memorize the path, it surprisingly works well and has a great positive effect on your brain. I guess that's one thing we are optimized for.

0x445442 10y ago

Thomas Guide FTW! http://store.randmcnally.com/thomas-brothers/thomas-guides.html?SCCampaign=tbhome http://store.randmcnally.com/thomas-brothers/thomas-guides.h...

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]