Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Posts: 350 Location: Garmin 765T in DFW, Tx
Thu Mar 19, 2009 1:00 pm
What Infama said AND it is recalculating a new route to your destination based on your deviation....
Some have changed that voice announcement to better match what they get from the Passenger seat:
"You idiot, you missed the turn"
"My mother TOLD me you had no sense of direction"
etc..
What Infama said AND it is recalculating a new route to your destination based on your deviation....
Some have changed that voice announcement to better match what they get from the Passenger seat:
"You idiot, you missed the turn"
"My mother TOLD me you had no sense of direction"
etc..
I paid for a GPS just to avoid that situation !
Raising the level of stress is not good for your health, it's scientifically proven.
I will take a TomTom over a Garmin anytime.
Well when I give my Nuvi 660 a new destination it will read "Calculating" in the green bar at the top. It will also give a declining % figure as it "calculates" the route. So when I don't turn where it wants me too it has to figure out a new route or"Recalculate" the new route.
Now when you turn or don't turn on purpose you know you have deviated but if you inadvertantly miss the turn it is letting you know you are off the route
Last edited by mmsstar on Thu Mar 19, 2009 5:16 pm; edited 1 time in total
Just guessing that what Tim is asking refers to a situation where it doesn't appear that you've deviated from the selected route. When I've had that occur on the nuvi760 and Magellan 4350, it seems to me that some traffic issue may be the culprit, even tho no new route appeared to be offered. (Tho there might have been a small change on a future track) I don't have traffic on my TomTom, so I can't say if that is the only cause.
Yes, this was intended to spark discussion. The question remains:
1) I'm following a route and I accidentally miss a turn. Why does it announce that it is calculating a new route? What would I do differently if it didn't say anything at all?
Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Posts: 350 Location: Garmin 765T in DFW, Tx
Thu Mar 19, 2009 5:07 pm
Would have to ask the programmer types we, er, ah, they! come up with the most inane communications that is understood perfectly at the time...
then 6 months later we are wondering - What the hey did "they" do that for ?
Is it just a comfort message to let you know it knows you are off route and is busy processing and may miss the turn that is next ?
Last edited by JohnBoyToo on Thu Mar 19, 2009 5:12 pm; edited 1 time in total
Yes, this was intended to spark discussion. The question remains:
1) I'm following a route and I accidentally miss a turn. Why does it announce that it is calculating a new route? ?
I think infama has it right, it's to let you know you have deviated from the planned route. I appreciate it for one. A couple of times over the years I've missed my turn on an Interstate and ended up driving 20 miles or so out of my way.
I'm going to play devil's advocate for awhile here.... I'm not as hard-nosed about the issue as perhaps my responses will sound... just thought I'd provoke some discussion.... here we go--
A couple of times over the years I've missed my turn on an Interstate and ended up driving 20 miles or so out of my way.
So you missed your turn... what difference does it make in what you do next? You can't go back in time, and the GPS will tell you what is the best way to get there based on your current position. So why yell at you for your mistake?
Is it just a comfort message to let you know it knows you are off route and is busy processing and may miss the turn that is next ?
How is being told you are "off route" comforting? Wouldn't it raise the stress level for most people? Since it will just continue to provide prompts to your destination, wouldn't it be better if it just silently accepted the mistake and "moved on" so to speak?
It sounds like you got this message from a Garmin.
I always don't follow a provided route with my TomTom but hopefully if they ever decide to start doing this they could provide an option to enable or disable the verbal announcement. I say if because they don't provide a good placement for Clear Route but at least it's there
From what I have been reading on TomTom vs Garmin design.
TomTom could provide this customization well Garmin would be saying everyone could like it so don't provide an option to turn it off.
I also agree with infama that it is to let you know that you missed a turn and it has to calculate an alternative route. Maybe a feature for those who like to glance ahead and make a mental note of the next turn. Well they can forget it as they apparently weren't following the directions in the first place.
Sounds like however is some people enjoy being told they missed something so it is recalculating. Personally I would find it aggravating over time just like the advance instructions for TomTom. I hate to keep getting told Keep [s]right[/s] left around every major intersection I already know my turn off and if I miss it I know the GPS will recalculate and give an alternative.
Edit: tomj03 pointed out I had right instead of left above
I tried a Strike-though BB tag to show the mistake but it doesn't work
Tim would have to create a custom BBCode to add support for Strike-Thru
Code:
Title: Strike-thru
Tag: s
Replacement: <s>{param}</s>
Example: [s]Strike-Thru[/s]
Description: This allows you to strike through content in your post.
Use Option: No.
Last edited by Malouff on Fri Mar 20, 2009 8:15 am; edited 1 time in total
How far off course would you get it it didn't say anything at all
Why would I get any more off course if I didn't tell me it was recalculating? It will continue to give me verbal prompts to my destination. If I didn't know I missed the turn that won't change the prompts it gives me moving forward.
Give you a perfect example of why the "Recalculating" announcement is important. Yesterday I was using both my nuvi and the Navigon 7200. Coming up on a tollroad ramp with three options at the exit. I accidently got in the wrong lane, one that took you to a local road. The Navigon made no announcement at all that I had missed a turn and seamlessly routed me on the local road for about a half mile, then a left turn onto another local road with a quick right turn after, that eventually could put me back on the tollroad. Of course I might never have noticed except that my nuvi announced "Recalculating". I looked for a place to turn around and a quick U-Turn that took less than a minute put me back on the proper path. The Navigon would have taken a several minute detour to get me back to the toll-road.
Joined: 14 Jan 2009 Posts: 55 Location: Denver, CO
Thu Mar 19, 2009 5:43 pm
I live in Denver and one of the main streets is Colfax Ave. It is a two way street, that my Garmin 765T no matter what time of day, turns grey and reports heavy traffic. I was going to a location that was 100 blocks from my home and located on Colfax Ave. Althougth I sort of knew the location, I put the address in and let it route me there. Of course it selected Colfax, a very main street, but also slow as it is two way. I selected a parallel one way street which had fewer stop lights, and moved at a much faster pace. Every street I passed I would get the turn left, to get me back to Colfax, then the Recalculating. Over and over, Turn left, recalculating. It never rerouted, to the faster street, and basically drove me nuts. If I knew of an option to turn this off, I would be the first in line.
You can use one of TurboCCC's excellent voice mod files to change "Recalculating" to anything you want. Mine says a simple, non-irritating single sylable "Oops"
@gatorguy - Isn't that more of an issue of the Navigon not offering to make a legal u-turn? I guess I might also argue that since you knew where you were going you knew that turning around would be (legal) and faster-- something the GPS didn't know. But that is a good example, I'll give you that.
Really wasn't commenting on whether I was offered a u-turn. My Nuvi didn't offer it either. Just that at least I was notified that I had gone off-course by my nuvi (the Navigon didn't) so that I could make a conscious choice how to proceed.
Hard to tell. Probably depends on how obvious it is to get back on track. If you passed the re-entry ramp, which in this case I did, many drivers would realize it's easy to get back on the tollroad, while others might not or not want to be bothered. To comment on where I think you're going with that, yes, both devices would have eventually taken me to my destination by simply continuing to follow the navigation instructions. But a recalculation notice did have a benefit.
That wasn't quite where I was going.... My argument is simply that the "recalculating" voice/message is unnecessary if you are following a route and you don't know where you are going. The voice telling you that doesn't give you any information that is "actionable". There is nothing different you will do knowing that you (previously) made a wrong turn. The device will calculate a new route anyway and keep guiding you on the best way it thinks to get there and guide you there. On the other hand, the voice could be distracting and make you more stressed out.
In the example you gave, you were basically disagreeing on the best way to get to the destination. The GPS suggested one way, but your disagreed and decided to turn around.
When the device says "in 1/4 mile, turn right" that gives me something actionable to do.... make sure I'm in the right lane, prepare to look for the road I'm turning on, etc. But I'm just not sure why the GPS bothers to tell me it is calculating a new route.
I'm a bit of a minimalist in that regard... Give me the information I need and can do something with-- and then get out of my way and don't become a distraction. Being told I couldn't follow its directions will just cause my blood pressure to rise.
I'm making a muuuuuuch bigger deal out of this than it really is, but thought I'd start some conversation.
Can you give details of your example
A small route before the toll and a destination.
The only toll road I think I have ever gone on is the Beachline Expressway in Florida in Orlando without a GPS using a Google Paper Map back when they were using NavTeq maps.
Now looking at Google it wants me to use Central Florida GreeneWay both were departing from MCO the Orlando Airport to Orange Lake Country Club Resort.
v8.15 maps also say to use Beachline and then when you calculate an alternative it will pick GreeneWay but not the same route.
Nothing as exotic as the Orlando tollroads, which are always confusing to me. This was getting on the Polk Parkway from Harden Blvd in Lakeland. If you make the turn and get in the left lane, you're going local in about 100 yards. Not marked until you're 100 feet or so from committing.
@Tim: I've always found it a little irritating to get the "recalculating", especially when you've intentionally deviated. But using the Navigon, I discovered that I do make note of accidental/unintentional changes more than I thought. Overall I'd rather have it than no announcement at all. At least you know you might be a little later than you thought, or might not be going by a potential stop that you haven't programmed in.
Simply tap the screen, Navigate to, Recent destination (any) and then immediately cancel! This clears the route in 4 taps, but its really fast. I dare say, faster than the current menu option and very intuitive.
Nice trick for when it takes time for the GPS to calculate the destination
That trick however won't work if it just takes a little time to calculate the route as it will go strait to the status summary screen with the familiar Details, Find Alternative, and Done buttons.
I guess a person could create a destination way out of your way and add it to a bookmark and save it as 1 so it shows up first so you can always do this.
I still think TomTom should change the Done Button into a Clear Route button since you can click on the summary text or map to exit that screen.
Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 68 Location: Central Texas
Thu Mar 19, 2009 7:39 pm
Hey, I know the answer! It's because Garmins' so frequently get diss'd for coming up with crazy routes. So when YOU miss a turn, Garmin says "recalculating" to make sure you to know that this time it was YOUR fault.
Nice trick for when it takes time for the GPS to calculate the destination
That trick however won't work if it just takes a little time to calculate the route as it will go strait to the status summary screen with the familiar Details, Find Alternative, and Done buttons.
I guess a person could create a destination way out of your way and add it to a bookmark and save it as 1 so it shows up first so you can always do this.
I still think TomTom should change the Done Button into a Clear Route button since you can click on the summary text or map to exit that screen.
Correct, but I have so many recent destinations, that there is always a far one handy. Plus, I am now so fast that unless its a block away...I win! LoL
I agree that they should either put it on the main menu or in the quick menu as an option.
My argument is simply that the "recalculating" voice/message is unnecessary if you are following a route and you don't know where you are going.
The same could be said with the GPS keep telling a person to keep left - I find it unnecessary well others may not.
Tim wrote:
The voice telling you that doesn't give you any information that is "actionable".
Keeping left I guess is "actionable" unlike the recalculating prompt unless everyone that hears it makes a U-Turn right away.
I don't see a person riding with you giving either direction usually they are a turning direction.
I would love to see who has been sitting in the car with the engineers who must keep tell them "keep left" at every intersection and recalculating every once in a while
They must have become use to this backseat driver (I mean guide) and designed the GPS around them so we can all enjoy these types of directions
Tim wrote:
The voice could be distracting and make you more stressed out.
Not only that but it causes you to glace at the GPS for a questionable voice prompt in both cases.
I also agree that both are distracting and that is not why there are included in any printed directions.
If they are 100% useful then the beta TomTom online route planner would also need to start giving "Keep Left" directions in a printout so we also don't get confused holding that paper map.
I don't know if Garmin's Mapsource lets you print a route but you can't insert a recalculating message in text directions as easy as a "keep left" directions as it has no idea on where you need to recalculate by yourself so at the bottom of the directions is should add a disclaimer
if you are lost at any point roll down the window and say "recalculating" so others may realize you are lost and hopefully someone will help you
Who knows "recalculating" could become the new S.O.S. so if you ever become a castaway you need to get rocks and spell out "recalculating" so everyone knows you are lost.
Both providers need to realize there are suppose to give directions better than a paper map. The paper map has x amount of directions where the GPS will include a lot of unnecessary ones
We have the GPS so we all don't have to roll down our windows and say "recalculating" so we can get a new route when we deviate and that new route should have x amount of directions just like the paper map would from that start to destination.
Tim wrote:
I'm a bit of a minimalist in that regard... Give me the information I need and can do something with-- and then get out of my way and don't become a distraction.
I hate to keep getting told Keep right around every major intersection I already know my turn off and if I miss it I know the GPS will recalculate and give an alternative.
Go to Changes Preferences/Speech Preference then tick these 2 options:
- Disable early warning instructions
- Disable 'keep to highay lane' instruction
Those Speech Preferences have been discussed before by myself and Shooter
Shooter wrote:
Malouff wrote:
I think they are referring to these options under Speech preferences.
on page Page 2
Disable early warning instructions ('ahead, turn left')
Disable 'keep to highway lane' instructions
They should both have a check mark to disable them
We both agreed that checked and unchecked 'keep to highway lane' instructions did not make a difference.
I also had a mistake in that it mostly says "keep left" as most exits are to the right on a highway.
Does selecting it completely stop your TomTom from telling you to keep to a highway lane?
If not the option should say reduce not disable (if it is even reducing these directions )
Joined: 19 Oct 2008 Posts: 334 Location: California
Sat Mar 21, 2009 3:09 pm
When I miss a turn, there are at least 2 possibilities:
A. It was unintentional, and in most cases, the fastest and shortest way is to turn around when it’s safe to do so.
B. It was an intentional decision. For whatever reason I chose not to make that turn.
The GPS doesn’t know if it’s dealing with A or B. If it did, the best thing for it to do in case B is to keep quiet as you suggested.
But since it doesn’t know, it has to deal with the possibility of A, and in that case it feels “obligated” to let me know so I can turn around if I want to.
I’d prefer that the message is “Missed turn” instead of “Re-calculating,” but that doesn’t bother me much.
But since it doesn’t know, it has to deal with the possibility of A, and in that case it feels “obligated” to let me know so I can turn around if I want to.
I guess my point is that in case A, if you are using the GPS because you don't know how to get there, how do you know that turning around is the best option? If you know that turning around is the best option, then you appear to know the area well enough to know turning around is the best option then you likely don't need to be using a GPS on that route.
If I'm relying on the GPS to get me through an unfamiliar route, I have no idea if turning around is the best option or not. The GPS will make that decision, and adjust accordingly.
Joined: 19 Oct 2008 Posts: 334 Location: California
Sat Mar 21, 2009 3:41 pm
Tim wrote:
I guess my point is that in case A, if you are using the GPS because you don't know how to get there, how do you know that turning around is the best option?
I think that it's a reasonable assumption. I set my GPS to "fastest route" and I suppose that if I turn around immediately after missing a turn, it is still the fastest route. It's unlikely that it can stop being the fastest route so quickly.
Since the GPS can't read minds yet , it has to make some assumptions, and pick what may be the most likely possibility.
And your point is certainly valid... if you can turn around fast then you are not adding much time. Certainly if you can see that there are no turn restrictions, easy access to turn around, etc.
If it said "recalculating" and I was in a rural area I'd probably check to make a quick turn around. In a city environment that might not be as practical.
Joined: 19 Oct 2008 Posts: 334 Location: California
Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:06 pm
I frequently drive in foreign countries (Singapore and Malaysia) where there are not a lot of road options, so if I miss a turn, I know that I'd better try hard to go back. Staying the course very often means a long detour, so I am aware of the value of "Re-calculating," annoying as it may be sometimes.
Hearing "recalculating" too often sounds much like a computer talking. I want to hear something more human and friendly, especially when in a stressful driving situation. I recently changed "recalculating" to "selecting new route" on my 265wt device. If I grow tired of hearing that phrase, I can change it again.
An indication of route change while driving is important for me to understand the announced directions. For example, when I navigate in heavy traffic and see a long line of cars at the freeway exit, I skip that turn. The device will then announce another route and then another, often using local streets. I take one of these alternate routes. This works well to bypass a traffic jam, much less annoying for me than waiting in traffic.
An announcement of a missed turn allows me to take actions that control where I drive, rather than just following new directions from the device.
Quote:
so that I could make a conscious choice how to proceed.
Yes.
Last edited by ifi on Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:45 pm; edited 3 times in total
I'm glad my GO930 does not bother me with saying "Recalculating". I do get a message on the screen, but not an associated voice prompt. Personally, I don't need or want to hear it.
nuvi 850 user - i love the fact that it tells me if i'm off course (recalulating)
ex: recently driving through the D.C. area, on 270 four lanes went to six
lots of signs but nothing to indicate which was 270. my wife-
the navigator- reached for the atlas and any maps she could find,with no luck. i leaned my ear to the nuvi and told her not worry that it didn't tell me it was "recalculating" and we were still on course. sure enough a few miles down the road a road sign showed we were still on 270. she never reached for the atlas or maps for the rest of the trip. i love this thing!!
had all the lanes been marked showing I-270 with express, spur, hov etc. it would have been a little more comforting but as i recall they didn't have I-270 shown just where each would take you, as in, named places. i don't remember what the actual map on the 850 showed just the green bar at the top showed "continue on I-270" so it interests me that your 265wt actually showed on the map 6 lanes marked. it shows i need to learn more to make use of the map. zoom in maybe? i think i'll recreate the route and try to see what info i should have been using at the time. thank-you for the heads up.
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we, er, ah, they! come up with the most inane communications that is understood perfectly at the time...
