Yikes - width=”600” on images would help readability
I’m sure it’s a good post otherwise
I used the VT-100 and VT-101 in college on both DEC VAX 11-730 and DEC VAX 11-780
Ah the first map you post shows Compton. Perhaps that was the inspiration for the Avoid Ghetto app. Would have helped Reginald Denny back in the day.
Waiting for the time when I can just type in the address, or say it, and the car drives me there and makes breakfast and lunch on the way-
nah! Waiting for a lotto win so I can hire driver who packs a pickanic basket for me.
What an amazing story. I enjoyed it start to finish. I remember the “Etak” name, but did not realize the complexity of the system, the challenges of the first map digitization, and the hardware requirements in the car. Or the fact that they symbol goes back to the “Asteroids” game that I enjoyed decades ago in arcades!
Paper maps are the best. While google maps et al can show you close ups of small areas, to get the bigger picture doesn’t always happen. Using a map you can more easily see if there’s a feasible alternative route to where you’re going.
$4,049.29 in today’s decrepit cash...................
P
Navigational devices are great, but that good old fashioned paper map still trumps it. We’ve had two of them, and they both made mistakes, such as wrong turns, taking a longer distance and the worst is trying to put us on a road that does not exist.
My favorite story is a trucker that got stranded on a one lane only dirt road in the backwoods of the Black Hills. He relied on his device and got to a point to where he not only could not turn around or back up, but had no cell signal. Personally I’d say he was an idiot for getting off the paved highway onto a narrow dirt road.
Nice ... a trip down memory lane for some of us.
How may here have played Asteroids on a video-game console in an arcade?
How many here have programmed on a VAX 11/750 (or any other VAX)? What language did you use?
How may here have worked with vector graphics?
I have 2 portable GPS devices (now outdated)that I have used. The oldest one worked pretty well, but the newer, a Tom-Tom was possibly a superior device but never lived up to the promise of permanent updated map service. I worked & worked with this, but could never get it to update. Partly due to this, I don’t travel much anymore.
Interesting post.
Interesting story, and as an engineer, this would have been a amazing product to be involved in the development of.
Somehow, unerringly and for decades I made my way to drilling locations all across the country with nothing more than a legal description and a book of county road maps. The only change today is printing a map with the address spotted on it and I can drive anywhere I need to go. God help us all if the lights go out.
"My top score in 'Asteroids' is..."
I see you put some work into getting the article on here just right. Great job! Some cry there's too many non-political items posted, but I find a total input of it makes Jack a depressed boy.
I'm looking for the best console unit where the radio used to be in my 2000 Camry. Low price, a real volume button near the driver, high memory - which is a hard stat to find on these things.
I like having a Thomas Guide in the vehicle.
Great history article....
HAVE DRIVEN OVER A MILLION MILES in pst 68 years using ONLY maps.
NO THANKS.