Archives for July 2014

Tourists get stranded in the ocean after following GPS directions.  Photo: Chris McCormack.

There are times when GPS is a lifesaver, whether you are driving or out on the trail. I get turned around occasionally and in unfamiliar cities sometimes it can be hard to watch the traffic and read the tiny street names to make sure you’re on the right path. GPS comes quite in handy then. However, there is a certain sense of, well, common sense that ought to be present while navigating anywhere.

Especially when your GPS tells you to drive into the ocean. read more

Voice Caddie’s newest golf GPS unit is almost in a league of its own. With a sleek, futuristic screen-less and hands-free design, the VC300 allows golfers to focus on what really matters–their game. This voice output GPS rangefinder is equipped with nine pre-recorded languages, and speaks in a clear easily-understood voice. It also features volume control and is designed to clip to a hat, shirt, golf bag or anywhere else. The device comes pre-loaded with more than 3,000 courses worldwide and can recognize the course the golfer is playing. With a simple touch and GPS technology, the VC300 can measure the distance to the front, back, and center of the green as well as the shot distance for drives. read more

GPS technology is ever expanding and improving and changing. It seems that every week there is a new tracking device being launched and constant updates to dedicated mapping GPS devices. Many of us (myself included) sometimes take it for granted that we can find our way to just about anywhere with the power of technology. We take it for granted, and expect that it will always be there. But technology isn’t infallible and isn’t always around during times of emergency. When Hurricane Sandy hit, power outages lasted for several days at a time–way longer than the battery of most devices.

In all of our technology-driven society, it seems like some important things have been lost. The ability to get lost and discover new things. The ability to find your way without staring at a screen before or during your trip. The drive to wander and just see where things take you. Basic ability to read a map and conduct yourself without technology to aid. How many kids even know how to read a map or find their way to an unfamiliar location without a computer-mapped route? read more