Google gas pumps: the savior of lost men

Soon, you will never have to admit that you're lost and suffer the humiliation of asking for directions. Google is expected to announce a partnership today with Gilbarco Veeder-Root, to include Google's mapping service on 3,500 Internet enabled gasoline pumps across the US. The maps will be available on the pump's small screen giving motorists the ability to scroll through local landmarks, hotels, restaurants, and hospitals to the bemusement of the guy waiting behind you. The pump will even print directions. The service is said to be ad-free but will offer coupons -- that sounds a lot like advertising to us. Look for the gPumps to arrive courtesy of that Encore S rig pictured above.

[noazark @ Nov 7th 2007 8:04AM]

how about ad-based gas prices??? the longer you watch, the more of a discount you get. ay google?

[eurobloke @ Nov 7th 2007 10:45AM]

How would that work, most of the price at the pump is either the cost of the fuel (N. America) or in tax/duty (Europe). For example in the UK, 85% of the price (US$7.75 per gallon) is either VAT or duty. The retailer takes very little in profit at the pumps, hence self-service.

Plus, we need high duty on fuel to persuade people to out of their cars and onto buses/trains.

[Rohit Kapur @ Nov 7th 2007 8:06AM]

Friggin' brilliant idea

[NPGMBR @ Nov 7th 2007 6:21PM]

I agree too that this is a brilliant idea. But taking into consideration that most American drivers might opt for a NavSys in their next car purchse ... does this really make sense unless Google can manage to profit from it?

[dj-kenpo @ Nov 7th 2007 1:09PM]

until theres a 6 car backup for the pump becuase some ass has been using the map for 12minutes.

that sort of brilliance?

this is gonna cause just as many problems as it solves.

[joe @ Nov 7th 2007 2:03PM]

You could solve the backups by limit the map to only work while you're actually pumping gas plus an extra minute or two - then have it reset.

[Eric Leung @ Nov 8th 2007 12:03AM]

@joe

so if you dont have to fill up then you have to go into the ministore anyways, ask and suffer the humiliation anyways?
that kills the point of it... they should just have separate kiosks between the pumps or off to the side somewhere for people to access

[Nathan @ Nov 8th 2007 2:17PM]

I beg to differ, this isn't a brilliant idea? Why? Simply put, I already don't like crowded stations - it will be much worse waiting for some slow jerks just looking at the screen.

"Duh, this computer screen is beautiful. I just need a little time just to stare at its amazing beauty. Ooh, print directions. Wow, print coupons! D'oh! Printed the wrong one."

[colinspooky @ Nov 7th 2007 8:06AM]

Great - so the car behind has to wait how long while the people in front spend all their time browsing, not counting the time it takes them to learn how to use it first. Sounds like a punch up waiting to happen.

Pet hate? People parking on a pump, then not using it and going straight into the shop.
Possibly why bullbars were invented.

[Electromodo @ Nov 7th 2007 9:56AM]

Also, the cheap GPS units are getting widespread, and many cars have GPS as an option. Not to mention cell phones with GPS feature. I think in the nearest future the majority of drivers will use their own GPS of some sort and those pretty screens would collect the dust and display advertisements only.

Wouldn't it be better to put a Google LCD kiosk or two on every gas station for those computer-literate occasional drivers? That will be cheaper, I guess.

I strongly believe the initial idea behind those screens is advertisement (including Google itself). They included maps functionality just to disguise the ads.

[joey @ Nov 7th 2007 10:21AM]

@Electomodo

DUH! thats what I don't understand, Why would google do something like this for free? It just doesn't make sense. Plus who cares about some ads? Thats how life is, everything is out to get money. Hell, even church is a business these days( actually its been like that for ever)

[BigD @ Nov 7th 2007 8:11AM]

I'm glad you changed the picture...the new one is better.

I'd like to wager that these will be a novelty that will bring in new customers for a while, but might cut into turnover.

I can imagine just completely avoiding the place with these pumps if I was in a hurry, or during rush hour. I'd just ride down the street, where I know that nachos and a pack of smokes would be the only thing slowing the people in front of me. Not some stoned freshman, doing a google search for "hot teens."

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 7th 2007 11:01AM]

Great... thanks. Now I want to see the old photo.

[Jesse @ Nov 7th 2007 8:16AM]

this is great for people like me with no sense of direction

[David @ Nov 7th 2007 8:21AM]

Right..come on now.... the people at the stations cant even keep paper in the receipt printer..much less paper for printing maps and coupons !

david

[David Clark @ Nov 7th 2007 8:47AM]

Not to mention half the time the pseudo-monochrome screen is half busted.

I think advertising at the pump has been tried before, and it didn't really work all that well. (With those plastic little signs zip-tied to the hose)

[TVGenius @ Nov 7th 2007 9:53AM]

Actually, our Sam's Club's pumps use LCD screens, and they've held up quite well with our 115-degree summers, even the ones that get blasted by the afternoon sun on the west side of the station. I always find it funny when it's cycling through their promo graphics and every once in a while one just loads as the Internet Explorer 'missing image' red-X icon. Must not be running Windows, though, since I've yet to see a BSOD.

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 7th 2007 11:02AM]

At the BP stations around here, they have annoying little "ad boxes" that play a song and tell you to come in and buy something from the "cafe".

[tastybytes @ Nov 7th 2007 8:21AM]

the kiosks will not work after a few months because of all the people using their keys to punch buttons.. i can barely get the yes/no key to work on the pumps i use now.. how about just one or two in the store.. wouldnt that bring in more business for the shop?

[icepop4who @ Nov 7th 2007 8:33AM]

There is a TV on every pump in my local Shell station. I thought those were just gimicks to distract you and make you buy more gas when you don't want to fill her up.

Somehow I suspect the same thing.

[samson @ Nov 7th 2007 8:43AM]

we have a similiar shell station here and after the first year none of them work.

perhaps the application will only work while you are pumping gas. this is a smart concept but based on what we currently know, it will not succeed.

[Jimmy Jones @ Nov 7th 2007 8:47AM]

I believe gps prices are getting cheaper to the point that almost everyone can afford one now. So this idea of google trying to take over the world isn't going to work for a while. Google phone, google gas pumps with maps, google this google that. Yeah...don't be evil but also don't delay others who just want to buy guy and are not lost lookin for hot chicks pretending to be lost out of their minds. If this is a race btw M$, then just go to Redmond and stay at the start line and race rather than race to google everything.

[Mrmean @ Nov 7th 2007 8:54AM]

LOL, horrible idea. Just wait till the clueless idiots browse or even try to figure out how to use the thing...10 minutes after they're done filling up...they're still messing with it... meanwhile people are waiting in line to simply fill up.

[Shaun @ Nov 7th 2007 9:34AM]

So I swipe my credit card, then lift the handle, then press start, then begin pumping? Wait...no...lift the handle, swipe the card, then the lever, then press start, then begin pumping, then Google Maps?

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 7th 2007 11:04AM]

Card first, otherwise it defaults to cash payment.

[Samantha T @ Nov 7th 2007 9:41AM]

Coupons are good! But would I get charged for all that paper in printing the map? Maybe they'll somehow charge it to the credit card. This is a great idea to include on http://www.what-sells-online.com

[steedums @ Nov 7th 2007 10:17AM]

how will this work in jersey where people are too dumb to even pump their own gas?

[nayajhen @ Nov 8th 2007 5:14PM]

they are not too dumb. they are smart. why the world do you want to get out of your car to fill it with gas... that's just crazy talk.

[Splatcat @ Nov 7th 2007 6:11PM]

Arrrgghhh!! I know. I got SCREAMED at by the little man running the place. Sorry, but for the last 6 years I've been pumping my own gas don't need to tip you to do it for me.

[andrew @ Nov 7th 2007 10:18AM]

Just remember to turn off your cell phone before you ask the pump for directions.

[peternj @ Nov 7th 2007 10:21AM]

When I go to a friggin gas station it's to fill up and get out. The last thing I want is some retard wasting my time looking for directions while blocking the pump.
Really bad idea and there will be fights and even homicides.
Seriously y'all going to sit tight while some old git puts his glasses on then fumbles with the controls to find the local pharmacy to buy his Depends?

The map service should be like an ATM or a bank of them by the checkout counter.

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 7th 2007 11:06AM]

Ooh, ATM at the pump... I'll have to get right on that idea.

[Student Driver @ Nov 7th 2007 10:28AM]

Yeah Apple, who's laughing now; the gPump is here! Hah! Now Apple can create the iPump, but only after they steal the name from some p0rn toy...

[Dextro @ Nov 7th 2007 10:39AM]

Can you hear me sighing?
Boy Apple-fanboys are a pain in the ass, but anti-apple-fanboys are even worse.

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 7th 2007 11:07AM]

.. by pain in the ass do you mean.. no, nevermind. I think I'm going to go throw up.

[Student Driver @ Nov 7th 2007 11:17AM]

@Dextro

Awwww punkin, you don't know a damn thing about me so you can shove that right where the "pain" you allude to is.

Hugs and kisses...

[lanejasper69 @ Nov 7th 2007 10:47AM]

F**K This!!!! If people are too stupid to not read a map in car or get a gps for their car, F-em...

Sorry, but if I was in line to get Gas and some assh**e was standing there mapping out his trip to Disney World with his 7 children in the mini-van, and I needed Gas. I'd be damned tempted to plow right over him!!!! Great idea, put it inside the store or away from the pumps!!!! We have enough morons out there talking on their cell phones whie shopping, driving, ordering fast food etc...bunch of idiots!!, and they can't even do that right!!!!...we do not need anymore driving or vehicle distractions....And while I'm on the topic, if you are in a grocery store and"browsing" with you big a** in the way talking on the phone, you better watch out, cause I just may tell you what to do with the cell phone and it won't be pretty. We don't need any more automobile hang-ups, or distractions! please put the damn thing in the store, they'll gain a sale maybe from the coupon it prints. And if the guy with the 7 kids can't afford a cheap GPS, then he's got issues anyway....Quit Breeding!

[MARSHAK @ Nov 7th 2007 9:43PM]

i'd hate to see this guy behind the wheel.

[majortom @ Nov 7th 2007 11:01AM]

old grit??? I am not young, but at least I did not grow up in front of a TV screen thinking that games were mommy. I go to a gas station to get gas for the car. Not to watch some "tech savvy" 20 something showing his gaming skills with a gas pump. Jesus. Buy the gas, get out. Now, besides having to run the gantlet of panhandlers, broken pumps, and fat women in SUV's trying to back into a too small spot, I must wait for Skippy the gamer playing with the pump head. Yeah, this is going to work. Just wait until the weather gets hot...... This is America. Home of 70 million handguns.....

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 7th 2007 11:10AM]

Do you have a few dollars? I just need enough gas to get to the next exit.

[randy @ Nov 7th 2007 11:44AM]

GPS will be in a majority of dashboards –– even the cheapest American ones –– LONG before a majority of gas station owners have managed to scrounge their deposit together to lease these new mezzanines.

[Matt @ Nov 7th 2007 11:47AM]

How long until Google adds a special "AdWords for Pumping" site?

[huggles @ Nov 7th 2007 11:59AM]

it's nice of them to put these google maps in. Now you can more efficiently find and rob the next gas station.

[HektikLyfe @ Nov 7th 2007 12:19PM]

These will last a whole 48 hours before they are unusable do to all the ignorant taggers and vandals. I don't mean to be negative. I think this could work well in a perfect world but sometimes the real world gets lost in the world of fantastic ideas.

[Andrew Blasy @ Nov 7th 2007 1:02PM]

Look familiar? if anyone with any type of technical or intellectual properties software hardware engineering background with like to review this patent I obtained with my business partner Im all ears feel free to respond with your comments. I would also love to hear from Google or their partner on this venture and see what they think.

Oh and I have contacted my own people to review this matter and our patent's claims regarding the "Savior of lost men"

Thanks,
Andrew Blasy & my associate
Longview Sourcing and Consulting LLC
215-820-7652

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=3&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=blasy&OS=blasy&RS=blasy

[nickroz @ Nov 7th 2007 4:06PM]

You just ruined this thread. Die.

[gjp303 @ Nov 7th 2007 6:10PM]

Fuck off Andrew. I hate you.

[chopstickhero @ Nov 7th 2007 3:51PM]

Now you can locate the closest Denny's restaurant to get some gut rot. Awesome!

[Sirocco @ Nov 7th 2007 5:02PM]

Put the google map device in the station.

[Benson @ Nov 7th 2007 7:00PM]

I'd much rather have free 802.11[bg]; I'll use my own device. That puts the connection to much better use, as I can then e.g. fetch email, or better yet download pr0n vids, to view while I am driving!
Seriously, I'd like wireless, both at the pump and at the convenience store. And I'd not be likely to overuse, either; I'm usually on my way somewhere, and while I'd probably get something done while waiting, when that tank's full, I'm done.
(Then again, Google maps is about the last thing I'd be doing, as I can do that with no internet, and moreover got directions _before_ I left!)