If you wanted to go to a certain point on holiday in an unknown big city not so long ago, you sometimes lost a lot of searching time. From that point back out of the city often gave even greater problems because there were indications to a certain point in the center, but the way back was much more unclear. Fortunately, this is a thing of the past if a navigation device is used. Such a device is soon called a TomTom, but that is only one of the brands of navigation devices. Popularly, the brand name TomTom has actually become a generic name.
About navigating
The word navigation comes from the Latin navis that means ship and agere means to move or to steer. Navigating can be understood to mean, among other things, setting out and following a route from one place to another. In many cases, no aids are needed for this, or putting out and taking off is part of a daily routine. In many other situations, the help of a navigation device is very welcome. But navigating once went very differently.
Navigate without GPS
Long ago seafarers were forced to sail close to the coast and determine their position on the basis of striking points on the shore. It should not be foggy and sailing at night was also a problem. It became better when the position of the sun and the stars could be oriented. Another step further was determining the course using the magnetic compass that has existed from the twelfth century. From 1762 onwards the chronometer developed by John Harrison was used. Later, radio beacons appeared with which so-called cross soundings were possible. With the radio signals from two different beacons it was possible to determine where one was.
GPS for cars
But it would take until 1978 before the GPS (Global positioning system) was developed, which is used, among other things, for car navigation. GPS made it possible to navigate almost anywhere. Initially, the system was mainly used in the military world and shipping. Later the system was also used in mobile telephones and in navigation equipment for cars and cyclists.
Separate device or built-in
A navigation device used in a car displays the location, distance and speed on a screen of the device via the GPS. Navigation devices come in a loose form that can be carried in any car or are built into the dashboard. The built-in devices are often combined with the radio and CD player.
Five elements of navigation device
A navigation device must have at least five elements, namely:
- Location: Precise determination of where the vehicle is located.
- Reading system and processing system: This concerns data from, among other things, the infrastructure.
- Route planner: A computer program that determines the route between place A (where the vehicle is located) and B (where the vehicle is going). The choice usually consists of the shortest or fastest route. The route planner also contains a map display, input options by means of a keyboard, buttons or touch screen.
- Display: All the results of the route calculation and the visual instructions can be displayed on a screen.
- Loudspeaker: If required, voice can also be switched on with information about the route.
Aspects for determining the choice of purchasing a navigation device
The speed with which a route can be calculated has increased significantly over the years. Most navigation devices therefore have a fast calculation. When it comes to the spoken texts, there is sometimes a wide choice between different voices. It is a personal preference to activate a particular voice. The on-screen instructions are clear for most devices, but it is recommended to make a comparison between the different devices. In most cases, friends and acquaintances will offer help from the equipment they use.
additional data
In addition to information about the route, there is often also other information available such as the nearest petrol station and restaurant. These points of interest are also referred to in English as POI (Points Of Interest). When using a mobile internet connection, up-to-date information about the weather and traffic may also be available.
Brands
Navigation devices are available in different brands. Some of the best known are:
- Alpine, A-Rival
- Becker, Blaupunkt
- Clarion
- Falk
- Garmin
- Kenwood
- Mio
- Nokia
- Parrot
- Pioneer
- Snooper
- TomTom
- Zenec