Under 25's ditch maps for sat-nav

The Telegraph reports that a generational gap may be developing with older drivers sticking with printed road maps while under 25 rely on the electronic systems to navigate the roads. A survey by Autonational Rescue found that three in 10 motorists checked a road map first to double check their location, but only one in 10 of under-25s did this. It also found that one in three prefer to print a route from the internet and take it with them, although almost one in 10 of these drivers found internet instructions can sometimes take them miles out of their way.

Out of the satnav motorists, more than one in 10 said the machines took them on a long-winded route. Four fifths are happy with the system. "It seems we have a generational satnav age gap," said Ronan Hart, Autonational's marketing manager. But Hart reckons that sat-nav is making younger drivers lazier and less geographically aware.

Also, last year it was reported that satellite navigation systems were blamed for causing around 300,000 people to crash in Britain, while a further 1.5 million admitted performing sudden direction changes because they were following the devices' directions.

Andrew Howard, head of road safety at the AA noted that, "When you're driving a car, a satnav is a darn site easier and safer to use than a roadmap, but when sitting in the living room plotting what to do a roadmap is easier to use... The question is whether they are supplementary or complementary." Source: The Telegraph, 14 September 2009. tinyurl.com/y99nhne

http://www.flickr.com/photos/exfordy/ / CC BY 2.0

How the mouse points us to the future

Melbourne's 'The Age' reviews the past, present and future of the humble mouse, "the incredibly simple tool that translated a user's physical hand movements to virtual onscreen gestures". Douglas Engelbart's original prototype at the Stanford Research Institute in California in 1963 had two external wheels that translated the X-Y position into an electrical signal that moved an onscreen cursor. Bill English (of Xerox PARC facility fame) improved on Engelbart's design by moving the sensors to the inside of the mouse. Since then, the mouse has changed quite dramatically, with Apple's Mighty Mouse and Logitech's top-of-the-range MX Revolution on the scene. Mice now have foot covers and have lost their tails, They can have 1, 2, 3, or 4 buttons and a scroll wheel, or two. Out are rubber balls in in are LEDs. But now the Mark I finger seems to be taking over again, from track pads to touch screens. "It's natural, obvious and smells of the future." Source: The Age, 3 September 2009. tinyurl.com/nmfgor 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21560098@N06/ / CC BY 2.0

Facebook lite goes back to basics

A sleeker, trimmer, cleaner version of Facebook is now available. Facebook lite, initially developed for those with slow connections, is faster and simpler, offering fewer services than the classic site. The options are limited to letting users write on their wall, post photos and videos, view events and browse other user's profiles. There are no apps or special boxes.

"It appears, at a quick glance, to be a better site for Facebook newbies or for anyone who finds the current site overwhelming and noisy," said Rafe Needleman at technology website Cnet. Terence O'Brien at Switched.com said "The simple site loads noticeably faster, is easier to navigate, and is much easier on the eyes thanks to the lack of people sending you 'virtual booze' or asking you to join their 'vampire fraternity'".

Many industry watchers said they believed that even users with good internet connections might well flock to Facebook Lite because of its new look and ease of use. "It's good to see Facebook listening to their users," wrote one user. Source: BBC, 11 September 2009. tinyurl.com/krz7js

Human factors concerns as Samoan drivers switch to the left-hand side

On 7 September, drivers in Samoa in the Pacific switched from driving on the right-hand side of the road to the left. The change was pitched as economically beneficial by the Government, allowing tens of thousands of expatriate Samoans living in New Zealand and Australia to send used cars to their families back home, making cars will cheaper and more available in rural areas.

There are fewer than 20,000 vehicles on Samoa's roads, and about 4,000 are currently right-hand drive. The changeover met with fierce opposition. Critics claimed that the government has failed to consult the public on the change or conduct any feasibility studies. In April last year an estimated 18,000 people - about 10% of Samoa's population - demonstrated against the change. 

Opponents argued that confused drivers will forget which lane to pull into and pedestrians will look the wrong way. "Cars are going to crash, people are going to die - not to mention the huge expense to our country," said lawyer Tole'afoa Solomona Toa'iloa, who  headed a legal challenge in the Supreme Court. Traffic analysts testifying in court agreed that more accidents were likely to occur. But the Supreme Court rejected the legal challenge. Local bus owners are furious about having to either buy new vehicles or convert their old ones so passengers don't have to step off into the middle of the road. 

New signs directing drivers to keep left have been removed, and directional arrows on the road have been painted over to point the wrong way. But critics insist not enough has been done to prepare drivers. Samoa's Chamber of Commerce estimates that it will cost at least $300m (£185m) in direct and indirect costs. Source: BBC, 6 September 2009. tinyurl.com/ljyo42

http://www.flickr.com/photos/treyguinn/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Text-driving video "one of the best public information films ever"

The dangers of text-driving have been highlighted around the world thanks to a road safety film made by police in Gwent, South Wales. The video has become a global hit and been described as one of the best public information films ever. In the film, a fictional 17-year-old is distracted for a few seconds while driving with two friends. She causes a crash which kills her friends, and another couple.

The `viral video’ has reached web users across the world, including India and South America and has over 2 million hits on You Tube. It has also featured on CNN, discussed in Time magazine, and described by an advertiser as possibly one of the most powerful public information films ever made.

The 30-minute film is to be shown on BBC Wales in October. The force is also working on a schools learning pack. Gwent’s Chief Constable Mick Giannasi said: "I am astonished but encouraged by the way news of the film had spread" and has had suggestions that it should be used as part of the theory test for young drivers. The film was made for just "a few thousand pounds" by the force using amateur actors. The force had intended to make a film about joyriders but were told by youngsters from nearby Tredegar Comprehensive School that texting is more dangerous. The film director Peter Watkin-Hughes said: "If we can get one person to change their behaviour then it is worthwhile." Source: Telegraph, 4 September 2009. tinyurl.com/nvy59m