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Is GPS making drivers lost and confused?
by Neka Sehgal - September 4, 2012 - comments
The study highlighted the flaws of GPS technology that caters to a docile driver who follows navigational command blindly.
How often have you heard “it was my darned GPS, not me,” defense when people miss a turn, get lost, go past a police barrier and are ticketed for failing to obey a police signal!
A global positioning system based satellite navigation systems is now a common part of driving, providing turn-by-turn navigation instructions on smartphones, portable units or in-car dashboard navigation systems.
However, GPS is only supposed to help motorists navigate, not take over the driver’s decision making. Ultimately, the driver is the one responsible for the decisions made behind the wheel.
An analysis revealed five types of ‘navigational trouble' where GPS systems cause issues and confusion for drivers. These include destinations, routes, maps & sensors, timing and relevance and legality.
Interactional analysis of video data
In a bid to understand the navigational practices deployed by drivers and passengers, researchers carried out a study titled "The Normal Natural Troubles of Driving With GPS."
The study highlighted the flaws of GPS technology that caters to a docile driver who follows navigational command blindly.
Barry Brown at the University of California, San Diego and a student assistant, Allison Primack used interactional analysis of video data from naturalistically recorded journeys with GPS.
The videotapes captured the instructions issued, the drivers' responses and the in-car conversations about what to do including the cursing.
Revelations of the study
An analysis revealed five types of ‘navigational trouble' where GPS systems cause issues and confusion for drivers. These include destinations, routes, maps & sensors, timing and relevance and legality.
It was noted that man made errors were the cause of many problems that occurred. Despite there being no fault in the software developers or the maps, the driver placed the blame squarely on the GPS unit saying, “These GPS things — it’s really confusing.”
TomTom, a leading manufacturer of navigation devices says nearly 25 percent of the vehicles in the US and Europe are now equipped with GPS units. In addition, detailed instructions are available as smartphones to cut navigation blunders.
However, excess of visual information plus audible instructions can be too confusing for the layman.
According to study by a research team led by Andrew L. Kun, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of New Hampshire voice instructions without the screen prove to be a safer option.
“Voice-only instructions delivered subjects to their destinations, and you could argue that they drove better because they looked at the road more,” Kun said. “Yet a majority preferred having a navigation screen — they felt anxious without it.”