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Retro computing and gaming, sci-fi books, tv and movies and other geeky stuff.Cadillac Seville trip computer from 1978
https://www.megalextoria.com/forum2/index.php?t=rview&goto=388503&th=104804#msg_388503
first cars ever had one.
At the beginning of this TV ad are computers explained. You know with
huge reels for loading and saving data and punched cards. But then also
the only two or three available home computers that year. I think I
spotted an Apple ][ and Tandy TRS-80.
My random thoughts and comments https://news-commentaries.blogspot.com/]]>Andreas Kohlbach2019-11-08T16:04:44-00:00Re: Cadillac Seville trip computer from 1978
https://www.megalextoria.com/forum2/index.php?t=rview&goto=388504&th=104804#msg_388504
Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> wrote:
> There is a 1978 TV ad for the Cadillac Seville trip computer. One of the
> first cars ever had one.
Modern ones are almost identical apart from not having the 'enter
estimated distance' feature, which I suspect was dropped for lack of use
and having fewer buttons.
--
Steve O'Hara-Smith | Directable Mirror Arrays
C:\>WIN | A better way to focus the sun
The computer obeys and wins. | licences available see
You lose and Bill collects. | http://www.sohara.org/]]>Ahem A Rivet's Shot2019-11-08T16:57:17-00:00Re: Cadillac Seville trip computer from 1978
https://www.megalextoria.com/forum2/index.php?t=rview&goto=388523&th=104804#msg_388523
steveo@eircom.net> wrote:
> On Fri, 08 Nov 2019 11:04:44 -0500
> Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> wrote:
>
>> There is a 1978 TV ad for the Cadillac Seville trip computer. One of the
>> first cars ever had one.
>
> Modern ones are almost identical apart from not having the 'enter
> estimated distance' feature, which I suspect was dropped for lack of use
> and having fewer buttons.
>
You don’t need it with GPS, when you enter your destination it calculates
the distance and time.
--
Pete]]>Peter Flass2019-11-08T21:15:10-00:00Re: Cadillac Seville trip computer from 1978
https://www.megalextoria.com/forum2/index.php?t=rview&goto=388532&th=104804#msg_388532
Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Ahem A Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> wrote:
>> On Fri, 08 Nov 2019 11:04:44 -0500
>> Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> wrote:
>>
>>> There is a 1978 TV ad for the Cadillac Seville trip computer. One of
>>> the first cars ever had one.
>>
>> Modern ones are almost identical apart from not having the
>> 'enter estimated distance' feature, which I suspect was dropped for
>> lack of use and having fewer buttons.
>>
>
> You don’t need it with GPS, when you enter your destination it calculates
> the distance and time.
Sure, but that feature went away long before GPS was popular (or
even available).
--
Steve O'Hara-Smith | Directable Mirror Arrays
C:\>WIN | A better way to focus the sun
The computer obeys and wins. | licences available see
You lose and Bill collects. | http://www.sohara.org/]]>Ahem A Rivet's Shot2019-11-09T04:33:46-00:00Re: Cadillac Seville trip computer from 1978
https://www.megalextoria.com/forum2/index.php?t=rview&goto=388538&th=104804#msg_388538
>> On Fri, 8 Nov 2019 14:15:10 -0700
>> Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> wrote:
....
>>> You don’t need it with GPS, when you enter your destination it calculates
>>> the distance and time.
>
> No it doesn't. GPS just tells you where you are.
>
> (The American habit of referring to satellite navigation as "GPS"
> pisses me off.)
I don't mind that.
More annoying IMO is the habit of calling centralized position
tracking "GPS" -- as if the satellites receive information about where
your car, or child, or convincted criminal, is.
/Jorgen
--
// Jorgen Grahn <grahn@ Oo o. . .
\X/ snipabacken.se> O o .]]>Jorgen Grahn2019-11-09T11:46:26-00:00Re: Cadillac Seville trip computer from 1978
https://www.megalextoria.com/forum2/index.php?t=rview&goto=388539&th=104804#msg_388539
Jorgen Grahn <grahn+nntp@snipabacken.se> wrote:
> More annoying IMO is the habit of calling centralized position
> tracking "GPS" -- as if the satellites receive information about where
> your car, or child, or convincted criminal, is.
I have encountered people who believe that GPS works by the
satellites tracking the devices and sending the location information to
them because they can 'see' where they are.
--
Steve O'Hara-Smith | Directable Mirror Arrays
C:\>WIN | A better way to focus the sun
The computer obeys and wins. | licences available see
You lose and Bill collects. | http://www.sohara.org/]]>Ahem A Rivet's Shot2019-11-09T12:18:06-00:00Re: Cadillac Seville trip computer from 1978
https://www.megalextoria.com/forum2/index.php?t=rview&goto=388541&th=104804#msg_388541
Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> wrote:
>> On Fri, 8 Nov 2019 14:15:10 -0700
>> Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Ahem A Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> wrote:
>>>> On Fri, 08 Nov 2019 11:04:44 -0500
>>>> Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> > There is a 1978 TV ad for the Cadillac Seville trip computer. One of
>>>> > the first cars ever had one.
>>>>
>>>> Modern ones are almost identical apart from not having the
>>>> 'enter estimated distance' feature, which I suspect was dropped for
>>>> lack of use and having fewer buttons.
>>>>
>>>
>>> You don’t need it with GPS, when you enter your destination it calculates
>>> the distance and time.
>
> No it doesn't. GPS just tells you where you are.
>
> (The American habit of referring to satellite navigation as "GPS"
> pisses me off.)
>
>
GPS _is_ satellite navigation.
--
Pete]]>Peter Flass2019-11-09T14:19:04-00:00Re: Cadillac Seville trip computer from 1978
https://www.megalextoria.com/forum2/index.php?t=rview&goto=388543&th=104804#msg_388543
Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> wrote:
> GPS _is_ satellite navigation.
Nope, it's one component of navigation namely positioning, it needs
to be coupled with mapping and route finding to make a navigation system.
There is also GLONASS so satellite navigation covers more than GPS -
besides you can pronounce it splat-nav when irritated :)
All that being said my ears are not unduly offended by GPS being
used as an abbreviation for "GPS navigation system" - there are far greater
irritants in this world such as hearing an American pronounce van Gogh and
I'm not even Dutch!
--
Steve O'Hara-Smith | Directable Mirror Arrays
C:\>WIN | A better way to focus the sun
The computer obeys and wins. | licences available see
You lose and Bill collects. | http://www.sohara.org/]]>Ahem A Rivet's Shot2019-11-09T14:40:54-00:00Re: Cadillac Seville trip computer from 1978
https://www.megalextoria.com/forum2/index.php?t=rview&goto=388542&th=104804#msg_388542
peter_flass@yahoo.com> writes:
> Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> wrote:
>>> On Fri, 8 Nov 2019 14:15:10 -0700
>>> Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Ahem A Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> wrote:
>>>> > On Fri, 08 Nov 2019 11:04:44 -0500
>>>> > Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> >> There is a 1978 TV ad for the Cadillac Seville trip computer. One of
>>>> >> the first cars ever had one.
>>>> >
>>>> > Modern ones are almost identical apart from not having the
>>>> > 'enter estimated distance' feature, which I suspect was dropped for
>>>> > lack of use and having fewer buttons.
>>>> >
>>>>
>>>> You don’t need it with GPS, when you enter your destination it calculates
>>>> the distance and time.
>>
>> No it doesn't. GPS just tells you where you are.
>>
>> (The American habit of referring to satellite navigation as "GPS"
>> pisses me off.)
>
> GPS _is_ satellite navigation.
Well, you certainly _navigate_ using signals from _satellites_.
So searching for the definition, I find:
A satellite navigation or satnav system is a system that uses satellites
to provide autonomous geo-spatial positioning. It allows small
electronic receivers to determine their location to high precision using
time signals transmitted along a line of sight by radio from satellites.
And then we have:
The Global Positioning System, originally NAVSTAR GPS, is a
satellite-based radionavigation system owned by the United States
government and operated by the United States Air Force.
What do you know, those "Americans" appear to have something right.
I suppose cell towers could be used but the tower would have to
broadcast it's location. I did a quick search and I get the impression
that the cell tower locators use maps from the providers.
--
Dan Espen]]>Dan Espen2019-11-09T14:44:04-00:00Re: Cadillac Seville trip computer from 1978
https://www.megalextoria.com/forum2/index.php?t=rview&goto=388546&th=104804#msg_388546
> On Sat, 9 Nov 2019 07:19:04 -0700
> Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> GPS _is_ satellite navigation.
> Nope, it's one component of navigation namely positioning, it needs
> to be coupled with mapping and route finding to make a navigation system.
> There is also GLONASS so satellite navigation covers more than GPS -
> besides you can pronounce it splat-nav when irritated :)
In general, most satellite navigation system used by people in the Western
industrialized world will obtain its position information from the Global
Positioning System, although some have the ability to use other services, such
as GLONASS, Galileo, or Beidou as well.
John Savard]]>Quadibloc2019-11-09T15:50:27-00:00Re: Cadillac Seville trip computer from 1978
https://www.megalextoria.com/forum2/index.php?t=rview&goto=388548&th=104804#msg_388548
Originally posted by: nobody
>> On Fri, 8 Nov 2019 14:15:10 -0700
>> Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Ahem A Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> wrote:
>>>> On Fri, 08 Nov 2019 11:04:44 -0500
>>>> Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> > There is a 1978 TV ad for the Cadillac Seville trip computer. One of
>>>> > the first cars ever had one.
>>>>
>>>> Modern ones are almost identical apart from not having the
>>>> 'enter estimated distance' feature, which I suspect was dropped for
>>>> lack of use and having fewer buttons.
>>>>
>>>
>>> You don’t need it with GPS, when you enter your destination it calculates
>>> the distance and time.
>
> No it doesn't. GPS just tells you where you are.
>
> (The American habit of referring to satellite navigation as "GPS"
> pisses me off.)
Also the difference of doing automatic routing and navigation without
GPS inputs. The map app on my phone is utterly worthless without both
GPS and a network connection. (Show of hands if you can read a paper
map...and know how to fold it back up.)
I had (still have, but it's out of date) a road map application where
you manually tell it where you are, where you're going, how many hours
a day you want to drive, how far you could go between stops, etc., and
it would give you a route and itinerary for fuel stops and layovers.
It even had cost estimating for food, fuel, and lodging. "Modern"
satnav is better in a way, but the ones I've seen don't handle
multi-day trip planning at all.
That program amazed me for one reason - it was written to run on an
80486 PC of the day (say 66MHz and 4Mb RAM), but it could find good
solutions to the traveling salesman problem for up to 43 stops in
about fifteen seconds. (I found the limit experimentally when I tried
to plan a lower-48 capital city tour. So close....)]]>2019-11-09T17:16:09-00:00Re: Cadillac Seville trip computer from 1978
https://www.megalextoria.com/forum2/index.php?t=rview&goto=388549&th=104804#msg_388549
Originally posted by: J. Clarke
On Sat, 9 Nov 2019 07:50:27 -0800 (PST), Quadibloc <jsavard@ecn.ab.ca>
wrote:
> On Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 8:00:02 AM UTC-7, Ahem A Rivet's Shot wrote:
>> On Sat, 9 Nov 2019 07:19:04 -0700
>> Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>>> GPS _is_ satellite navigation.
>
>> Nope, it's one component of navigation namely positioning, it needs
>> to be coupled with mapping and route finding to make a navigation system.
>> There is also GLONASS so satellite navigation covers more than GPS -
>> besides you can pronounce it splat-nav when irritated :)
>
> In general, most satellite navigation system used by people in the Western
> industrialized world will obtain its position information from the Global
> Positioning System, although some have the ability to use other services, such
> as GLONASS, Galileo, or Beidou as well.
It will tell you a latitude, longitude, and altitude. Without a map
or chart that is not terribly useful information.]]>2019-11-09T17:27:19-00:00Re: Cadillac Seville trip computer from 1978
https://www.megalextoria.com/forum2/index.php?t=rview&goto=388556&th=104804#msg_388556
Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> wrote:
> [Holds hand in air]But then, I'm old. Indeed, I prefer paper maps for
> large scale navigation. Trying to look at a 200 mile route on a tiny
> screen is a PITA.
Yep paper maps are much better for planning, splat-navs are for
when you want to delegate the route planning to code. I find them most
useful for navigating *out* of unfamiliar cities and finding places where
the nearest road sign is miles away.
--
Steve O'Hara-Smith | Directable Mirror Arrays
C:\>WIN | A better way to focus the sun
The computer obeys and wins. | licences available see
You lose and Bill collects. | http://www.sohara.org/]]>Ahem A Rivet's Shot2019-11-09T18:40:36-00:00Re: Cadillac Seville trip computer from 1978
https://www.megalextoria.com/forum2/index.php?t=rview&goto=388555&th=104804#msg_388555
Originally posted by: drb
> [Holds hand in air]But then, I'm old. Indeed, I prefer paper maps for
> large scale navigation. Trying to look at a 200 mile route on a tiny
> screen is a PITA.
The so-called cartography in gmaps and the like is abysmal. Bad font
size choices. Bad quantity-of-detail choices. No contrast. Missing
scale half the time. No key. Etc.
>> [Holds hand in air]But then, I'm old. Indeed, I prefer paper maps for
>> large scale navigation. Trying to look at a 200 mile route on a tiny
>> screen is a PITA.
>
> The so-called cartography in gmaps and the like is abysmal. Bad font
> size choices. Bad quantity-of-detail choices. No contrast. Missing
> scale half the time. No key. Etc.
You can add to that a complete lack of clue as to the logical
arrangement of the roads which makes the voice directions very iffy.
Sometimes when driving on minor roads a junction crossing a major road will
not be mentioned at all, and the poor cartography means that the map shows
the major road as nearly invisible line, pretty clearly the map has the
priorities wrong. Other times there will be an instruction to turn when
what is meant is "follow the road past the junction on the bend". I have
learned that the word slight preceding left or right means pay very
careful attention because the map software is probably confused.
Still all of this is simply a modern incarnation of a problem
familiar to anyone who spends enough time using maps - they're always
wrong.
--
Steve O'Hara-Smith | Directable Mirror Arrays
C:\>WIN | A better way to focus the sun
The computer obeys and wins. | licences available see
You lose and Bill collects. | http://www.sohara.org/]]>Ahem A Rivet's Shot2019-11-09T20:04:06-00:00Re: Cadillac Seville trip computer from 1978
https://www.megalextoria.com/forum2/index.php?t=rview&goto=388568&th=104804#msg_388568
steveo@eircom.net> wrote:
> On Sat, 9 Nov 2019 07:19:04 -0700
> Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> GPS _is_ satellite navigation.
>
> Nope, it's one component of navigation namely positioning, it needs
> to be coupled with mapping and route finding to make a navigation system.
> There is also GLONASS so satellite navigation covers more than GPS -
> besides you can pronounce it splat-nav when irritated :)
>
> All that being said my ears are not unduly offended by GPS being
> used as an abbreviation for "GPS navigation system" - there are far greater
> irritants in this world such as hearing an American pronounce van Gogh and
> I'm not even Dutch!
>
Oh, you mean Vinnie Van Go?
--
Pete]]>Peter Flass2019-11-09T22:02:40-00:00Re: Cadillac Seville trip computer from 1978
https://www.megalextoria.com/forum2/index.php?t=rview&goto=388569&th=104804#msg_388569
dave.garland@wizinfo.com> wrote:
> On 11/8/2019 11:13 PM, Huge wrote:
>
>> (The American habit of referring to satellite navigation as "GPS"
>> pisses me off.)
>
> "Global Positioning System" is an accurate generic, but too much of a
> mouthful. We tend to think of "GPS" as a generic that includes all the
> systems ("New and Improved!! Now With Added GLONASS!"), like calling
> all vacuum cleaners "hoovers".
>
And Monica Lewinsky.
--
Pete]]>Peter Flass2019-11-09T22:02:46-00:00Re: Cadillac Seville trip computer from 1978
https://www.megalextoria.com/forum2/index.php?t=rview&goto=388570&th=104804#msg_388570
Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> wrote:
> On 2019-11-09, Scott <nobody@example.org> wrote:
>> On 9 Nov 2019 05:13:49 GMT, Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> wrote:
>>
>>>> On Fri, 8 Nov 2019 14:15:10 -0700
>>>> Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> > Ahem A Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> wrote:
>>>> >> On Fri, 08 Nov 2019 11:04:44 -0500
>>>> >> Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> wrote:
>>>> >>
>>>> >>> There is a 1978 TV ad for the Cadillac Seville trip computer. One of
>>>> >>> the first cars ever had one.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Modern ones are almost identical apart from not having the
>>>> >> 'enter estimated distance' feature, which I suspect was dropped for
>>>> >> lack of use and having fewer buttons.
>>>> >>
>>>> >
>>>> > You don’t need it with GPS, when you enter your destination it calculates
>>>> > the distance and time.
>>>
>>> No it doesn't. GPS just tells you where you are.
>>>
>>> (The American habit of referring to satellite navigation as "GPS"
>>> pisses me off.)
>>
>> Also the difference of doing automatic routing and navigation without
>> GPS inputs. The map app on my phone is utterly worthless without both
>> GPS and a network connection. (Show of hands if you can read a paper
>> map...and know how to fold it back up.)
>
> [Holds hand in air]But then, I'm old. Indeed, I prefer paper maps for
> large scale navigation. Trying to look at a 200 mile route on a tiny
> screen is a PITA.
>
+1
--
Pete]]>Peter Flass2019-11-09T22:02:47-00:00Re: Cadillac Seville trip computer from 1978
https://www.megalextoria.com/forum2/index.php?t=rview&goto=388573&th=104804#msg_388573
Originally posted by: J. Clarke
> Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> wrote:
>> On 2019-11-09, Scott <nobody@example.org> wrote:
>>> On 9 Nov 2019 05:13:49 GMT, Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> wrote:
>>>
>>>> > On Fri, 8 Nov 2019 14:15:10 -0700
>>>> > Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> >> Ahem A Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> wrote:
>>>> >>> On Fri, 08 Nov 2019 11:04:44 -0500
>>>> >>> Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> wrote:
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>> There is a 1978 TV ad for the Cadillac Seville trip computer. One of
>>>> >>>> the first cars ever had one.
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> Modern ones are almost identical apart from not having the
>>>> >>> 'enter estimated distance' feature, which I suspect was dropped for
>>>> >>> lack of use and having fewer buttons.
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> You dont need it with GPS, when you enter your destination it calculates
>>>> >> the distance and time.
>>>>
>>>> No it doesn't. GPS just tells you where you are.
>>>>
>>>> (The American habit of referring to satellite navigation as "GPS"
>>>> pisses me off.)
>>>
>>> Also the difference of doing automatic routing and navigation without
>>> GPS inputs. The map app on my phone is utterly worthless without both
>>> GPS and a network connection. (Show of hands if you can read a paper
>>> map...and know how to fold it back up.)
>>
>> [Holds hand in air]But then, I'm old. Indeed, I prefer paper maps for
>> large scale navigation. Trying to look at a 200 mile route on a tiny
>> screen is a PITA.
>>
>
> +1
For trip planning I've got a 4 foot screen. The tiny screen is the
one I carry with me--it's not as useful as a topo map for figuring out
what scenery I'm looking at but it does just fine for getting around
most of the time.
And it's exceptionally nice under inclement conditions.
A few years ago there was a snowstorm in October when the leaves were
still out that killed the power in most of Connecticut and a major
part of MA, and knocked down a very large number of trees (I was on
the road when the power failed, and it was one of the the two
spookiest experiences of my life, I wish I'd thought to put the phone
on the dash and record). Anyway, some time after a friend of mine who
doesn't drive asked me to check up on a friend of his whose phone was
out. I asked him for her address. He started giving directions. I
told him that I needed the _address_, directions were just going to
take me to the first tree across the road. Finally he got it through
his head that I really needed the address and he looked it up. So I
plugged it into Google Maps and told it to take me there. So, got to
a dead tree--told it the street was blocked, find me another route. So
it did. Half a dozen or so dead trees later I got to where she lived.
She was fine, but no power and her cell phone battery had died.]]>2019-11-09T22:32:57-00:00Re: Cadillac Seville trip computer from 1978
https://www.megalextoria.com/forum2/index.php?t=rview&goto=388574&th=104804#msg_388574
Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> writes:
> On 2019-11-09, Scott <nobody@example.org> wrote:
>> On 9 Nov 2019 05:13:49 GMT, Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> wrote:
>>
>>>> On Fri, 8 Nov 2019 14:15:10 -0700
>>>> Peter Flass <peter_flass@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> > Ahem A Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> wrote:
>>>> > > On Fri, 08 Nov 2019 11:04:44 -0500
>>>> > > Andreas Kohlbach <ank@spamfence.net> wrote:
>>>> > >
>>>> > >> There is a 1978 TV ad for the Cadillac Seville trip computer. One of
>>>> > >> the first cars ever had one.
>>>> > >
>>>> > > Modern ones are almost identical apart from not having the
>>>> > > 'enter estimated distance' feature, which I suspect was dropped for
>>>> > > lack of use and having fewer buttons.
>>>> > >
>>>> >
>>>> > You don’t need it with GPS, when you enter your destination it calculates
>>>> > the distance and time.
>>>
>>> No it doesn't. GPS just tells you where you are.
>>>
>>> (The American habit of referring to satellite navigation as "GPS"
>>> pisses me off.)
>>
>> Also the difference of doing automatic routing and navigation without
>> GPS inputs. The map app on my phone is utterly worthless without both
>> GPS and a network connection. (Show of hands if you can read a paper
>> map...and know how to fold it back up.)
>
> [Holds hand in air]But then, I'm old. Indeed, I prefer paper maps for
> large scale navigation. Trying to look at a 200 mile route on a tiny
> screen is a PITA.
I do my "large scale navigation" at home.
On my large monitor.
27" 3840x2160. All the paper maps are recycled.
I prefer my maps up to date and telling me about traffic and which turn
to take next. On the road, zoom out works fine.