A Better Breed of GPS Software?

willo asks: "I recently built an on board computer for my Grand Cherokee. The initial uses for it include music, gps navigation, on board diagnostics and a baby cam so I can see how my kid is in that rear facing seat. After lots of research and testing, I'm really disappointed with the mapping software out there for Linux. Gpsdrive provides the basic functionality I need, but the street names are built into the image and are difficult to read at a glance while driving. Not to mention that it has to download the maps it needs ahead of time. Xastir can handle almost any map out there, but it reads through every map for each redraw! It also seems to lack the ability to zoom intelligently based on location. Note that it's not really designed to be a navigation aid, but rather a ham radio APRS tool. (I am a ham). Delorme Street Atlas USA does what I really want, but it's been a pain to make run properly under wine. Is anyone else out there working on a decent navigation application?"

"To be really usable navigation software should do the following:

• handle maps efficiently and draw them quickly
• have intelligently organized map sets for countries/states. (You can't download a friggin map in the middle of Montana!)
• include serial gps/gpsd support. (just about everyone has this)

I've found a few references to mapping projects that seem to just be vaporware.

Map Sources do exist for this! Bruce Perens made TIGER/line data availible. NAVTECH is the map source for pretty much all the vehicle navigation systems out there, and high resolution maps are availible from the Geographical Information Survey."

Comments

Baby Cam

[mickwd]

Surely it's safer for your kid if you watch the road ahead while driving a large, lethal piece of heavy metal, rather than try to zoom in and read street maps and watch your kiddy cam.

What's your kid gonna be doing, anyway ? Holding up a large sign saying "Daddy, stop being so bloody stupid" ?

My onboard navigation solution...

[Anonymous Coward]

A paper road map.

Advantages:

• Cost less than $10.
• Minimal expertise needed for installation.
• Works even without a power source.
• Just hard enough to use that you're not likely to try it while driving in traffic.
• Connects via manual coordinate lookup with any GPS or other position-finding device.
• Very robust. With simple lamination, will work underwater.
• Very portable. Folds up into small package.
• Little maintenance required.
• Well-established technology, widely available.

Re:My onboard navigation solution...

[arcadesdude]

• Very portable. Folds up into small package.

"Anyone who thinks people lack originality should watch them folding roadmaps." --Unknown