h a l f b a k e r yI didn't say you were onto something, I said you were on something.
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I see no reason why it shouldn't be possible to fit a small, low power directional transmitter in street signs, to assist with driver navigation.
As you near the sign it transmits, on a standard radio frequency towards oncoming traffic, instructions as to the consequences of turning left or right
or continuing ahead. It would also notify the name of the street ahead of you and the suburb/area through which you are travelling. The only equipment you need is a car radio.
This would be a very viable alternative to expensive satellite nav. systems. It would also obviate the need for software upgrades and installs.
"MPX96 PLL SYNTHESIZED LOW POWER FM STEREO TRANSMITTER"
http://www.northcou...io.com/mpx96int.htm
"The MPX96 can be used with our Voice Messenger and Identifier to make a "talking sign" for sales purposes, such as real estate, entertainment, flea markets, etc. A sign can be posted instructing one to tune their radio to an FM channel that the MPX96 is set to, and hear the message." [angel, Mar 07 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]
GPS in Car Street Pilot
http://www.advanced...rs/streetpilot3.asp
With Voice Prompts [Helium, Mar 07 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]
[link]
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right turn - in the Clyde, whoops, splash. |
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Thanks angel. Can it be collimated, to make it truly directional? Otherwise, it will give wrong info to the other three sides of the intersection. |
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I'm not sure I quite understand. Would this device give you the information that traffic signs already give visually except in spoken format?
I think you can take in a lot more information by glancing at a road sign than receiving spoken instructions. At complex junctions surely the speaking road sign would still be chatting away when you were already a mile down the road.
I remember in Sydney being able to check what suburb I was in by having it displayed on my mobile phone, so I guess that information must already be broadcast in some form.
How about if you could tell your car where you wanted to go, and although you would have complete control over the driving, the car would be able to make helpful suggestions based on information received from such transmittors. |
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It seems that someone may be thinking in a similar way. (linky)
(I was interrupted between posting the link and posting this disclaimer, and may have given the impression that I was crying 'Baked'.) |
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angel, I've witnessed that device (or one similar) in use at an 'open house' put on by one of the local realtors recently. You could park out front and listen to a description of the property, embellished with much sales talk to get you in the door, of course. So I went in and asked about the transmitter. |
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I'm intrigued by this idea, UB, but I'm not sure exactly what sort of information you want the sign to broadcast. It would need to be a continuous looping program, short enough in duration to be usable for someone driving through, yet long enough to give useful details. It may be adequate to have broadcasts originate only from major intersections as well. This could allow a longer range, giving more time to hear the looped message, and allowing for more detail. |
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Do you mean something like this?
"Approaching Elm Street intersection. Turn Left to Fairview via Elm south, turn right to Main St via Elm north. Continue straight on Broad St to freeway. Now travelling through Hillside. (boop) "<repeat> |
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Or: Left to Fairview, Eastmoor mall, I-64, Cleveland, Chicago, and California, right to Main Street, City Hall, Lofton Beach, Boston, and Nova Scotia. |
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I was hoping it was going to be more like "STOP! FULL STOP I SAY!" |
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And ALL the signs in Redmond would say, "Where do you want to go today?" |
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Haha.
I was hoping this was an evil plan to terrify and confuse people staggering home after a heavy night on the sauce. Would go hand in hand with the sniggering litter bin, the whispering lamp post and the occasionally shouty-sweary traffic lights. |
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Slick, but easier (and cheaper) to implement with GPS and a car-based CPU, no? Close (or open) a road and you'll have to modify the recordings for blocks around. |
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What phoenix said. I'm pretty sure there are already gps sytems in cars that can give you directions by voice. You punch in the address you're looking for and it will guide you there, naming the street names and warning you when they're approaching. |
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And for that you need a GPS fitted. This is the poor man's version, feeding info to the radio. |
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Too often I find there are not enough directional signs to tell you where you are actually going. beauxeault is onto the idea. Try getting out of Launceston, Tasmania. Poor signage, confusing streets looping back upon themselves, frustration, "Look kids, House of Parliament, Big Ben". |
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These would tell you details like, "Left: Wellington Road, Kangaroo Point 2 km, Brisbane CBD 3km, Sunshine Coast 96km, Northern Queensland 1470km"; "Right: Deshon St, Coorparoo 1km, Cleveland and bayside suburbs 19km" "Straight ahead: Juliet St, Moorooka 2km, Ipswich 41km, Gold Coast 87km, Sydney 1002km" |
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Next intersection:
"Left: Wallace St, No through road," "Right: No right turns to Wallace St., proceed to Cavendish to turn right", "Straight ahead: Juliet St, Moorooka 2km, Ipswich 41km, Gold Coast 87km, Sydney 1002km" |
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Next intersection:
"Left: No left turns 4-7pm into Cavendish Road, Camp Hill 1km, Morningside 3km, Wynnum/Murarrie 11km" "Right: Cavendish Rd, right turns for Wallace St, French St and Cavendish Road, Greenslopes 1km, Mt Gravatt 6 km, Cleveland & bayside suburbs 18km via Deshon St", "Straight ahead: Juliet St, Moorooka 1km, Ipswich 40km, Gold Coast 86km, Sydney 1001km" |
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No need to have it turned on all of the time, but having navigator's notes read to you as you drive through unfamiliar territory would be a help. You could select turning lanes early, etc. |
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Okay, let me see if I understand this idea. You're saying a GPS (a radio reciever and a CPU) is too expensive, but a radio TRANSMITTER located at every intersection is cheap. By the time every intersection has been outfitted with a radio transmitter, the cost of a GPS radio will have dropped to the price of a digital wristwatch. Not to mention the car's radio. If every transmitter is broadcasting on the same frequency, the interference will make it impossible to use. If you broadcast on different frequencies, then you'll need a special frequency hopping radio, which is going to cost more than consumer GPS navigation devices. |
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