Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
h a l f b a k e r y
No serviceable parts inside.

idea: add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, random

meta: news, help, about, links, report a problem

account: browse anonymously, or get an account and write.

user:
pass:
register,


                                         

GPS Glare Avoidance

"Avoid Solar Glare" option
  (+7)
(+7)
  [vote for,
against]

If you happen to have a 40+ mile commute in an East-West direction, driving around Sunrise and Sunset becomes extremely annoying/dangerous.

I wish I could tell my GPS to avoid glare just like I can tell it to avoid tolls, temporary traffic, etc. This would, of course, only apply at times when the sun would be shining in your face or rearview mirror. Since GPS always knows what time it is (it will switch to night mode at the _exact_ time of local sunset, for example), it should be relatively straightforward to implement...

cowtamer, Oct 15 2010

LCD Sunvisor LCD_20Sunvisor
The alternative solution [hippo, Oct 19 2010]


Please log in.
If you're not logged in, you can see what this page looks like, but you will not be able to add anything.



Annotation:







       //it should be relatively straightforward to implement...//   

       With the added bonus that you'd never get to work, heading, say, 90°to the direction of the glare.
Boomershine, Oct 15 2010
  

       Perhaps it will find a route with a lot of switchbacks.   

       I mean, a LOT of switchbacks.   

       Of course, that may add 300 miles to the commute, but what the hey...
Grogster, Oct 15 2010
  

       terribly impractical. (+)
Voice, Oct 16 2010
  

       I actually drive Southwest and Northeast, so I know there are ways. But the stretch that's straight into the sun when it's about 20 degrees over the horizon is annoying (and is usually chosen by my GPS to avoid traffic)...I suppose I could just look at the time and avoid it manually, but I generally like my gadgets to perform and optimize such astronomical calculations...
cowtamer, Oct 16 2010
  

       You could take the tunnel.
Boomershine, Oct 16 2010
  

       [21Q] has a pretty good point. Sounds like you want your GPS to give you your own private, traffic-free, glare-free, short route to work. (And, who wouldn't?)   

       I think you have to settle for one, or maybe two of: traffic, glare, length of commute.
Boomershine, Oct 16 2010
  

       No, he wants to specify the weights of his personalized cost function, and have GPS optimize it for him.
mouseposture, Oct 16 2010
  

       //No, he wants to specify the weights of his personalized cost function, and have GPS optimize it for him.//   

       Well-put, [mouse]. Precisely: A GPS with Options to Optimize Route to Personal Preferences (such options to include, but not limited to: length of commute, traffic, glare, scenery, convenience to enroute stops).   

       Your move, buns guaranteed.   

       edit: The glare option presents the problem of the GPS having weather information.
Boomershine, Oct 16 2010
  

       Many GPS devices already are aware of traffic, how much harder would it be to add weather?   

       There are other reasons to want your GPS to have weather info... for example, there's a particular underpass near home which occasionally floods in heavy rain. I'd rather pick an alternative route if there's a likelihood of that occurring, since temporary closures aren't always reported in the traffic info.   

       And while there are none on my daily commute, I know of several bridges not too far from my home with warning signs, "Bridge freezes before surrounding road." I'd prefer that my GPS pick a route that avoids those bridges, whenever they likely to freeze over.   

       There are surely many other weather related hazards which might not be listed in the traffic report, but which the GPS could route around, if it knew how each road's condition changes with the weather, and if it knew the current weather.
goldbb, Oct 17 2010
  

       //how much harder would it be to add weather? //   

       Not much, I would think. It seems like the obvious next step to me, as well.
Boomershine, Oct 17 2010
  

       Any driver who's had the singularly unpleasant experience of driving North on the M6 at Keele, just past Junction 15 (Trentham) late on a Summer afternoon - when the sun is shining directly into the driver's eyes as they hit the upgrade - will bestow a bun upon this idea.
8th of 7, Oct 18 2010
  

       //driving North on the M6 at Keele//   

       Glare is the least of your problems. You'd be heading straight for Manchester.
MaxwellBuchanan, Oct 18 2010
  

       // straight for Manchester //   

       Not quite - more towards Liverpool, which is - if anything - rather worse ...
8th of 7, Oct 18 2010
  

       //Glare is the least of your problems.//   

       I thought this was true in all of the UK. Glare from what?
Boomershine, Oct 18 2010
  

       In the interests of educating non UK residents:   

       The UK is below the arctic circle and is exposed to direct sunlight in much the same way as north America and Canada. I can see it through my office window right now!   

       The UK also has electricity, running water, radio, television and civilisation in general.   

       Most of us can drive cars with those complex, manual gearboxes. We are aware of auto transmission, but it is generally frowned upon.
Twizz, Oct 19 2010
  

       // The UK also has .. civilisation in general. //   

       <pedant>   

       Correction: England has all these things - but the term "UK" also encompasses Wales (which is deficient in many things, including cuisine, a language with vowels in it, and the ability to be even vaguely pleasant to non-residents) and Scotland (which is also deficient in many things except - unfortunately - the Scots).   

       </pedant>
8th of 7, Oct 19 2010
  

       I'm never sure which term to use when referring to England or the UK..."England" or "The UK." I understand the differences, but they seem to be most important to residents of England or the UK...sometimes, but sometimes not.   

       Just what is it that is "United" about the UK, anyway? (Besides the Queen, which no one in the US understands at all, btw.)
Boomershine, Oct 19 2010
  

       //Just what is it that is "United" about the UK, anyway?// Why, the Kingdom, of course.
pocmloc, Oct 19 2010
  

       //Why, the Kingdom, of course.//   

       The Kingdom, of course. What was I thinking?   

       But, since there is only one (as far as I know), why don't you refer to it as "The Kingdom"? Although, just writing it down, I can sort of see why...
Boomershine, Oct 19 2010
  


 

back: main index

business  computer  culture  fashion  food  halfbakery  home  other  product  public  science  sport  vehicle