Seduced by New Technology

It has not taken too long at all for Robin to be seduced by new technology.  He was starting to feel the odd one out.  All our other travelling companions on our South Island Odyssey trip own and use a GPS system.  Not only that, but when we go out on day trips and offer Dot and Derek a ride in our car (so they can leave their motor-home parked up on site), our passengers have been bringing their GPS system along for the ride as well.  “Turn left at 200 metres, then turn right”, the disembodied voice from the back seat has been telling us, and it occasionally panics and orders us to “Do a U turn”.  So today Robin took the plunge, had a look at what was on offer at the shop, was offered a reasonable discount to sweeten the sale, and purchased this.

All set up and calling out instructions

It took him a while to work out how to register his new toy on line, and set it all up ready to use.  Then we set off on a short journey, just to see how it all worked.  So there it was, sitting all safe and secure inside it’s special donut holder on the dashboard, telling us exactly where to go.  It’s mind boggling just how these things work, getting information from satellites high up in the sky.  Just how does it all work, I ask myself.  I’m more comfortable with a low tech method, and this is what I use, my trusty AA Road Atlas.  This book has served us well for many years.

The low tech way

But I must admit that the Garmin got us there and back quite easily, and we arrived back safe and sound in Mosgiel.

Safely back in Mosgiel

I can see that it would be very useful in cities and towns to find a residential address when you really don’t know where to go.  But surely motorists don’t need such a device when travelling up and down the State Highways?  Isn’t the road atlas enough for these sort of trips?  What do other motorists think – or is everyone (except me) seduced by new technology these days?