Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[GPS coordinates lead demolition crew to destroy wrong house]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/13/gps-coordinates-lead-demolition-crew-to-destroy-wrong-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/13/gps-coordinates-lead-demolition-crew-to-destroy-wrong-house/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/13/gps-coordinates-lead-demolition-crew-to-destroy-wrong-house/#comments
Tired of blaming GPS on petty mishaps like the destruction of cars, a demolition crew in Georgia has managed to accidentally destroy an entirely wrong house based on GPS coordinates. Oddly enough, it wasn't even the first time they'd been by: the man who cuts the grass noticed that the power box was missing from the home and holes were punched into the walls about a month ago -- it was suspected as vandalism, but it now seems that the stealthy, directionless demolition company was to blame. The demolition company says it had "paperwork" authorizing the destruction, complete with the coordinates and a description of the home, which the owner's father had built with his own hands "brick by brick."

[Thanks, Leonard]

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GPS coordinates lead demolition crew to destroy wrong house originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's a meme that never gets old, wouldn't you agree? As the world gathers 'round again to chuckle at an all-too-faithful GPS user in the UK, we're looking this time at a man who literally drove his BMW to the brink of disaster while following his sat nav down a skinny, steep lane on the way to imminent death Todmorden. As the story goes, his navigation system apparently told him to drive directly into a fence just before the road fell off of a cliff, and considering that the 43 year old bloke uses the GPS for his job, you'd think he would have the whole "follow the leader" thing down pat. At any rate, the poor fellow did manage to survive, though he won't soon shake the "driving without due care and attention" charge. Nor the embarrassment.

[Via Switched, thanks Alan]

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Another UK driver nearly dies from following GPS instructions originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dumpgpsgps accidentGpsAccidentnavnavinavigationstupidThu, 26 Mar 2009 02:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Welsh village under attack by GPS-blind drivers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/welsh-village-under-attack-by-gps-blind-drivers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/welsh-village-under-attack-by-gps-blind-drivers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/welsh-village-under-attack-by-gps-blind-drivers/#commentsWe tend to shed a tear or two for humanity each time one of these stories crosses our radar, and unfortunately, this one had us bawling. Apparently, residents in Llangadog have been frustrated time and time again as drivers of large trucks came rumbling through blindly following directions spat out by navigation systems. Wide vehicles have now failed to successfully traverse a very narrow road and not destroy any property in the process not once, not even twice, but three times, leaving a previously restored building in the community damaged (thrice) by recklessness. Reportedly, around £1.5 million ($3.12 million) is being spent to beautify landmark properties in Llangadog and Llandovery, but there's mounting concern that GPS-reliant motorists could reverse any progress by striking buildings as they attempt to squeeze through. It sounds as if signs are being erected to inform drivers of their navigator's cluelessness, but who knows if folks will actually take their eyes off of the LCD long enough to notice.

[Thanks, Josh]

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Welsh village under attack by GPS-blind drivers originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Nov 2007 06:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In another example of the evils of computer navigation, a 37-year-old trucker followed his GPS directions to their totally illogical conclusion when he drove his truck down a pedestrian walkway and wedged the delivery vehicle into a cherry tree. The driver, who was looking for a factory to drop off his cargo, blindly followed the female voice of his navigation system, apparently ignoring several no-entry signs and turning onto the walkway in broad daylight. The motorist then attempted to reverse out, damaging two lamp posts, a hedge, and of course the cherry tree, which Swiss workers later had to take a chainsaw to. The tucker was fined 650 Swiss francs (about $540), and his GPS was given a firmware update and a copy of Google Maps.

[Thanks, pork_musket]

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Driver follows GPS onto pedestrian walkway, into cherry tree originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jul 2007 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[Via The Register]

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Faith in GPS sends Mercedes downstream originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2007 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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