Posted on 02/13/2019 8:57:19 PM PST by Rebelbase
Full title: Mankind has lost the art of map reading, says the man who INVENTED GPS: Bradford Parkinson says world is 'too dependent' on smartphones that are vulnerable to failure
The inventor of GPS has lamented that people are unable to read maps because they are now 'too dependent' on using their smartphones or sat-nav devices.
Bradford Parkinson, the pioneer inventor of the navigation system relied upon by billions of people, said that he 'worries' about what impact its failure could have.
Professor Parkinson received the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering in London last night for his key role in developing the Global Positioning System or GPS, along with the rest of his team: Professor James Spilker, Jr, Hugo Fruehauf, and Richard Schwartz.
They originally began working on the system in the 1970s as a military project but were unaware of the revolutionary impact it would have on wider society.
GPS signal is made by a network of around 30 spacecraft in orbit that transmit positional information and precise timing to receivers around the globe.
It helps cars, trucks, planes, ships and trains to navigate as well as providing a timing reference for the financial industry.
Professor Parkinson said that many of the tasks it performs were not anticipated when it was created but that it is vulnerable to failure, the Times reports.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
There are several videos on YouTube that show modern day teens trying to use a rotary phone.
It’s hilarious!
“The old ones (pre ~1950) show each individual building and feature.”
I can’t recall if it was a TV show or an aquaintance, but they would use those old maps to identify where the old outhouse was on a property.
Then ask the current owner if they could dig around and then share whatever decent finds they found.
On one project I was using fancy metal detection gear to locate possible buried debris, drums, etc. prior to development. One of the small spots I located they dug up. No hazardous waste - but an old outhouse with Revolutionary War era buttons, bottles, etc. (Of course I never saw any of it!).
Looks like a fascinating book!
Fascinating fellow. I asked him a lot of questions about the GPS after he mentions what he had done when I asked him what he had done before retiring.
I spend a lot of tie in the boonies, in our Unimogs, on our Rokon Trailbreaker and Skidoo Expedition.
I use all available sources of information about where I am going.
Books, GPS, Topo maps,both modern and old, any other paper maps or online maps I can find.
The more info the better.
On the trail I use GPS and folding maps.
If in the Unimog(s), laptop computer with DeLorme GPS receiver and topo maps, sometimes satellite images.
Ham Radio APRS at times too.
This is going to be a fun thread.
I also love maps and always sail with paper charts.
It is astonishing to me how clueless so many sailors are regarding anything that was commonplace knowledge...
I have an acquaintance who looked only at his GPS plotter as he ran a big trawler up the Delaware not long ago...
As if the plotter and AIS were going to tell him about the actual world around him, too.
I sat beside him and looked at his tiny pupils tracking the screen...
No lookout...
Spooky.
A Second Lieutenant with a map!
I still have the map of my battalion's area of operations in Germany. I assembled it when I was the Battalion S-4, to illustrate the logistical challenges of providing short range air defense to Bitburg, Hahn, and Spangdahlem air bases.
6/56 ADA, motto "Night Hides Not".
Following highlighted instructions on a screen for a turn or exit coming up in a few minutes is entirely different than planning a trip to an unfamiliar city, selecting major highways, exits, and the final few turns in an unfamiliar location.
Which is entirely different than following a map and compass to sail between ports or fly between airports.
Google maps with satellite and street view is awesome. I have a box of street maps going back to the 1930’s. Some need updating.
“Can’t read maps”, Atlas shrugged.
There’s several good resources available online where you can print out topo maps of your desired area.
One of my first jobs was in the Mapping Department of a city in pre-CAD days. I was “just a secretary”, but did a lot of the technical work to help out, and it was so interesting. Mylar. Rapidograph pens. I love maps.
My 55 year old son just got back from Italy. He made a gorgeous map of his trip with the plane flying in...his stops....and his plane leaving. When my daughter saw the map, she wanted a copy, too. We're a whole family of map lovers.
One of my now deceased buddies was stationed on the Potomac during WWII. He said...you wouldn’t believe how fast we topo’d the Capitol and all the surrounds.
Mine was the big one. It had a really nice leather pouch and it was my Dad's until he gave it to me. I was the only one of his four children to take the hard math and science classes so I got his slide rule.
My grandchildren can’t imagine “No TV”....until I was 8.
I use Topoquest.
Some truth to this.
I had to unfamilar lands cross town yesterday. Pulled out the old sextent but forgot how to use it.
Whoa
I got rid of mine about 15 years ago. I don’t even miss it.
I thought I would miss it. I’m shocked to find out I do not.
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