Joe has just purchased a new vehicle. His new vehicle came equipped with an in- dash navigation system. Joe is new to navigation systems and has quickly realized he is a bit overwhelmed with all of the features and hidden menus. The dealership that he bought his vehicle from gave a very brief demonstration, but Joe needs more instructions to use his navigation system effectively. Joe is not alone. However, there are some basic instructions that can help anyone get to their destination effectively and without wasting too much of their time.
For first time users, navigation systems can be an overwhelming. With all of the hidden menus the user can find them selfs confused and frustrated. However, with some basic instructions, a user can learn to use their navigation system effectively. Anyone who has traveled with a road atlas will say that if traveling alone, an atlas can be a challenge to use while driving. It is also not the safest plan. The advice that I will give will let the user get from their current location to any destination without the worry of getting lost in an unfamiliar location.
It should be stated that using a navigation system does not substitute for keeping an eye on the road and driving safely. It is merely a guide to follow. There are occasions when using a navigation system will not match the real world driving conditions. In this case the user should always use common sense to avoid a possible accident. As a tip for first time users, try to avoid using the navigation system in busy city areas where there are a lot of turns and traffic. Using the navigation system in a rural area will allow the user to become more familiar with driving a vehicle under navigation assistance.
Before the user attempts to drive under navigation guidance, the user should take some time to become familiar with some of the basic functions. A function often overlooked by first time users is the route preference options. Route preference options allow the user to choose if he or she wants to drive on the freeway or take secondary roads. Sometimes this selection will make a considerable mileage difference in the route and should be taken in to consideration on each route that is programmed. The same goes for allowing ferry routes and time restricted roads. Time restricted roads are roads that have different paths of direction depending on the time of day. For example, Main Street in downtown Pontiac, Michigan has a one way restriction between the hours of 7 AM and 9 AM. Careful planning before driving a route can help the user avoid confusion while driving the route.
One of the key functions of a navigation system is to enter a route. Entering a route can be accomplished in one of several ways. If the user has an address, he or she can enter it by street name, street number and city. In some situations the user will only need to input a portion of the street name. For example if the user wants to enter the street name of Telegraph road, they will only need to input Tele and the system will automatically generate a list of street names that start with Tele. At this time the user can select the proper name based on their information. Another way to enter a destination is by point of interest. A point of interest location could be one of many places. Usually points of interest are business facilities. Points of interest can be divided into categories. If the user wants to go out for dinner, the user can select restaurants and the navigation system will generate a specified area of usually 25 miles or less. Also a point of interest can be entered manually by using a keyboard. The user can type in the name of a point of interest and get a list of all the points of interest that share the name they input. The list will begin with the closest location to the vehicles current location. If the user agrees that the location is correct, then he or she can select start guidance and the navigation system will begin giving route guidance to the location entered.
To begin route guidance the user must select “start guidance”. This can be accomplished by touching a tab on the map screen that states “guide” or “start guidance”. Once selected the navigation system will begin to give audio guidance as well as a highlighted route that is displayed in a color selected by the manufacture. Once driving the user will follow the highlighted route until he or she gets to their selected destination. Another thing to consider is that when driving with navigation assistance, the system will not always clear the route once the destination is reached. If this occurs the system will continue to give route guidance to the last inputted destination. The problem can be solved by simply deleting the last route entered.
Joe is now at ease. He has learned some of the basic steps that will allow him to use his new navigation system effectively. Now if Joe wants to plan a trip to New York City, he can drive with confidence that he will arrive at his destination without getting lost or confused. Although there are many different navigation systems on the market, these tips will assist all first time users.