The joy of Microsoft's 'avoid ghetto' GPS patent

C/net ^ | January 7, 2012 | Chris Matyszczyk

[Daffynition]

Pedestrians have sometimes felt neglected when it comes to GPS directions.

Indeed, not so long ago, one lady sued Google because the directions its map offered led her (she believed) to be struck by a car.

Now Microsoft has been granted a patent that is designed to make its maps more pedestrian-friendly.

Somehow, this patent has immediately been dubbed the "avoid ghetto" feature.

[Daffynition]

[Venturer]

Actually this feature wasn’t that hard to design.

In every city in the country with a Martin Luther King Street or Boulevard they drew a circle around it and wrote “Danger”.

[chuckee]

Good luck in navigating Detroit with this GPS.The audio will never advance beyond “recalculating”.

[traditional1]

All they need to do is to identify “Democrat” vote districts, and “Republican” vote districts, and you’ll know where the dregs of society are located.....

[Fester Chugabrew]

Were it not for the fact “ghetto” is inching its way into every aspect of American life, this GPS feature might prove more enduring than endearing.

[Revolting cat!]

Wait, a minute! Where is guilt?! Elvis was there!

[Ouderkirk]

In every city in the country with a Martin Luther King Street or Boulevard they drew a circle around it and wrote “Danger”.

Nailed It !!!

[BenLurkin]

They should call it “less risky” rather than “safe”.

No place is safe.

[Psycho_Bunny]

Holder’s Justice Department will immediately be launching an investigation......

[RightGeek]

lol

[RetiredTexasVet]

Notable additions to the Ghetto category of locations include: White House, Dept. Of Justice and AG Offices, Dept. of Energy and EPA, HUD, and most of Washington D.C. with the exception of several vacant buildings and lots.

[Chode]

the "War Zone" is a nice touch...

[SERKIT]

I am surprised that Atty General Lisa Madigan has not yet harnessed the power of GPS to show all gun owners on a map to “help” criminals prey on unarmed citizens....(hint: it almost happened here in ILL-ANNOY).

[bigheadfred]

Yeah. I tried this out. Works GREAT. I haven’t been home in DAYS.

[Revolting cat!]

[Daffynition]

[Revolting cat!]

Yes, and the First Church of Malcolm the Tenth!

[getarope]

I prefer Paul Shanklin’s “In a Yugo”.

[RedMDer]

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[martin_fierro]

[JimRed]

It’s no longer amusing when some one makes a wrong turn and ends up dead, as happened to a young man in New Brunswick, NJ a few years ago.

[Lazamataz]

True. However, every single decision Obama makes is to harm America.

[dfwgator]

The Griswolds could have used this

[allmendream]

White Guy's Guide to Driving in L.A.:

Rule #1 - don't get off on any exit you have heard mentioned in a rap song (i.e Crenshaw, Inglewood, Compton, etc).

[Daffynition]

[TexasRepublic]

I sure could have used one of those when I strayed too far south from the Field Museum in Chicago. As I was looking for the Museum of Science & Industry, it dawned on me that the local inhabitants looked neither scientific nor industrious. I had a sudden yearning for the arsenal that I had left in Texas.