I think this is an interface design problem, not something intrinsic to GPS navigation. Provided that I set the unit to show my position on an always-north-fac

I think this is an interface design problem, not something intrinsic to GPS navigation. Provided that I set the unit to show my position on an always-north-facing map, I arrive at my destination knowing exactly where I am. If, by contrast, I leave it in its default mode of rotating the map around an always-up-pointing car, then I get completely confused. I also never use the spoken directions, precisely because I want to know where I'm to go, not when to perform atomic actions like turning; and the map shows me where to go. If I need to get on I-93 N, and the map shows me as being near I-93 N, then I'm smart enough to follow the signs and to reckon when to be in which lane, which are more likely to be correct than the map in the GPS unit. A constantly changing, map-like rendering of what I see out the windshield accompanied by context-free commands is not helpful. A map that magically shows me my current position and direction is.