SatNag, anyone ?
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2003 9:39 am
Satellite navigation systems to be made 'more realistic'
Calm delivery of accurate information unnerves experienced motorists
Manufacturers of in-car satellite navigation systems have rsponded to requests to modify the manner in which their systems operate. A typical "Sat Nav" system has a computerised voice that calmly informs the driver which way to turn on the approach to a junction. Whilst this might seem ideal, it transpires that such automated perfection does not work in the real world.
Married drivers, in particular, find it difficult to adjust to using the systems. Veteran driver Bob, from Coventry, summed up the situation. "I just can't get used to being told which turn to take before I actually reach the junction. My wife usually does the navigation for me and the always tells me to turn just after we've passed the junction. It's also a bit unnerving that it doesn't get increasingly irritated with me as the journey progresses."
Mindful of such criticisms, a new system was unveiled by Ford at the recent UK Motor Show. Called "SatNag", this system professes to give a "real world navigation" experience and includes a number of innovative features. The first thing the driver will notice is that they have a choice of navigation personalities. These include: "Had an argument last night", "Hopeless at directions" and "Didn't want to come out in the car in the first bloody place".
The driver will also be to select the level of anticipation present in the system. This will dictate the amount of violent braking required to make a requested manoeuvre and can even be set to miss every other turn.
To round things off, the system can be pre-programmed to "flare up" and refuse to give any further directions. In the deluxe model the system can actually get sufficiently irritated to storm out of the car and refuse to get back in again despite extended pleading from the driver.
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