undefined | Better HN

0 pointsmichaelbuckbee8y ago0 comments

Pre GPS it was a requirement that cabbies have a massive list of places and routes through London memorized (that guy taking 3.5 years to study and pass the entrance exam is pretty par for the course).

There's a 1996 documentary on the process that's pretty interesting - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvFKh_3evC8

Separately, this is the kind of non robots doing manufacturing automation that I think it's important to think about when we have discussions of future work, etc.

Because on the one hand it's stunningly fantastic that what used to take someone 4 years and a series of examinations to achieve is now included for a negligible cost in the pocket supercomputer (of 1996) that we all carry around in our pocket. But, it's also a huge shift for all these industries.

0 comments

ashark8y ago

I think anyone who’s Ubered much (or driven much, for that matter) can tell you GPS is not nearly as good as knowing the streets. It may be good enough that it’ll take over, but it’s still a lot worse.

dnautics8y ago

GPS is better in that there's accountability. For complex cities, as a driver you can really screw over a passenger by taking a convoluted route. As a passenger, you can watch the driver leave the GPS route (or get a trip report) and know that you've been (or are being) screwed.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse