Charles, your explanation makes perfect sense, and I have no objection to anything you said. What I objected to was the sentence that I quoted in my original response, which outlines an entirely different "reason" for not having the roundabout matter addressed. It was more of a philosophical approach, not a practical one as you outlined so well in this last message. Keep up all the great work, but take a break now for Christmas and New Year's, OK?
Alice alicedh@xxxxxxxxxxx----- Original Message ----- From: "Charles LaPierre" <charles@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 8:11 AM Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Help understanding roundabouts
Hi Alice,I agree with you, and I never said this roundabout request was any different than any other request. All I said is this is a very complex section of code which is shared between pedestrian navigation and vehicle navigation and will take a lot of development time in order to do correctly. If this was a slam dunk item it would have been done in 4.2, its not, it is very complicated with a lot of ramifications, which will require a lot of testing over many different kinds of roundabouts and rotaries, both here in the USA, UK and in Australia. To make this even more complicated feature we have the issue of counter clockwise roundabouts in the USA, and clockwise roundabouts in other countries.Sendero is a small company, I am the only developer which works on this, so again thank you all for your understanding in this matter.Charles At 04:11 AM 12/20/2007, you wrote:Charles, You wrote: "I can't for example spend all my time working on just thing that may only help out a select few people or when we release we would get hammered by those users who don't need such an enhancement and will scream why are we forcing them to pay for this upgrade when it only helps out some users. "Quite frankly, IMO it would be better to pay attention to those requesting, even pleading for a feature that is vital to their everyday navigation and ignore those who scream if some feature added is not necessary to them. No matter what you do, there are going to be some who like it, need it, can't live without it and some who never use it. So why is this roundabout matter any different from any other? I live in Boston, and we have tons of these roundabouts all over the place.Alice alicedh@xxxxxxxxxxx----- Original Message ----- From: "Charles LaPierre" <charles@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:00 AM Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Help understanding roundaboutsHi Carol,I do understand there is a difference here between a "would be nice cool feature" and one that makes the system more usable for people. Its a fine balancing act I must perform to try and satisfy all users. Rest assured once I set my mind to the task it will be done and done right, but at this point its a huge unknown how much work that will involve. I can't for example spend all my time working on just thing that may only help out a select few people or when we release we would get hammered by those users who don't need such an enhancement and will scream why are we forcing them to pay for this upgrade when it only helps out some users. I seem to recall an issue Humanware had with this very issue. That being said, I know how important navigating Roundabouts is especially outside the US and Canada where they are more common and Sendero will seriously consider this moving forward.Respectfully Charles. At 07:42 AM 12/19/2007, you wrote:Charles,Whilst I truthfully do understand that people are asking for other good and exciting things, I think we need to be realistic here - we're not just asking for this because it would be "cool", it just doesn't work well for us here in the UK otherwise. In fact, for some of us it just doesn't work ... so the whole system therefore is very much under-used as a result.I repeat, this is not just a "fun thing", it is a necessity!I personally was a little disappointed with what I saw coming into 4.2 because I'd hardly call these "essentials". Perhaps when I try them for myself very soon I'll be pleased with what I see; but, however leased I am, these things won't make the roundabouts more understandable and/or workable for me. ...Please, please Charles, try to understand where we're coming from. Many of us are hampered enough with roundabouts because of our lack of visual concept, so we need it to be made as easy as possible for us to know what to tell our drivers. We know it's a big undertaking and want to be as patient as we can, but patience runs out if there appears to be less than 100 percent commitment to our needs here. I am sure that isn't the case, so look forward to your making more headway soon.-- Carol carol.pearson@xxxxxxxxxxxx----- Original Message ----- From: "Charles LaPierre" <charles@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 2:37 PM Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Help understanding roundaboutsHi Peter,Glad you are excited about GPS 4.2 (even if it doesn't have roundabout exits).Truthfully I have no idea of when this will be addressed, all I can tell you it is high on our priority list, but so are a lot of other REALLY cool things others have been asking for us for years.Happy Holidays everyone! Charles. At 06:24 AM 12/19/2007, you wrote:Hi Charles, and All,Since switching from Trekker a few months back , I've grown to love Sendero GPS for ppedestrian use, and I'm excited about the 4.2 upgrade. However, when I need to help with navigation for a car journey, which is quite often, then I have to use Wayfinder. Do you know just how many roundabouts there are in this country? the way-point method you mention truly isn't workable. By the time you figure out one roundabout, you will already have arrived at the next one.I truly do understand tthat it's complex, and that you are working on it. I am just wondering whether you could give us an idea of when you'll be able to address it, and in hopes that it keeps this high on your priority list.From an otherwise happy and appreciative user. Respect, Peter At 11:32 PM 12/17/07, you wrote: >Hi Catherine, > >You are correct that most mainstream products do tell you the exitnumber for roundabouts but this is something not yet available for the Sendero GPS. It is high on our priority list especially for the UK and Australia, but as of GPS 4.2 this has not yet been implemented.> >The only option right now is you could explore the roundabout bymoving forward waypoint by waypoint around the roundabout and count the number of intersections between the entrance and exit, but this may not be always 100% accurate as it may stop at an overpass crossing this roundabout, but as long as you are aware of that, this may help you navigate the roundabouts.> >The command to move forward along your route waypoint by waypoint is Read Up arrow on a QT or dots 2356 on a BT. > >Hope this helps >Charles. > >At 03:15 PM 12/17/2007, you wrote: >>Hi, >> >>I think this has been discussed here before but I didn't havemuch reason to take it in then, and I can't remember what the conclusion was. But I'm having trouble understanding the instructions Sendero GPS gives in a vehicle route when it comes to roundabouts. It seems to say take the exit leading northwest or whatever - giving a compass direction, and saying the name of the road. But in my experience both from people's written/verbal instructions and from other (mainstream so to speak) GPS systems, the number of the exit is usually given. Like "take the second exit from the roundabout".>> >>Is there any way I can tell from the instructions currentlygiven, what number the exit will be? Or must I rely on looking for the name of the road? (If I'm in a car with a sighted driver I mean). Because finding road names doesn't always seem possible/easy, whether because the signage is rubbish or people don't use their eyes I don't know - but it doesn't always work whatever the reason.>> >>So I'm just wondering if anyone has any tips for understanding the roundabout instructions... >> >>Catherine > >Charles M. La Pierre CTO >Sendero Group, LLC > >Lat. 37 15' 25" N Lon: 121 53' 04" W > > > > >-- >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.17.4/1188 - Release Date: 12/17/07 02:13 -- ******* Peter Bosher, Email: peter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.soundlinks.com/ Tel': (+44) (0) 1494 794 797 Fax: (+44) (0) 1494 583 146 snail:// SoundLinks Limited, 43 Broadlands Avenue, Chesham, Bucks. HP5 1AL England.Charles M. La Pierre CTO Sendero Group, LLC Lat. 37 15' 25" N Lon: 121 53' 04" WCharles M. La Pierre CTO Sendero Group, LLC Lat. 37 15' 25" N Lon: 121 53' 04" W -- No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.17.4/1188 - Release Date: 12/17/2007 2:13 PMCharles M. La Pierre CTO Sendero Group, LLC Lat. 37 15' 25" N Lon: 121 53' 04" W -- No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.17.5/1190 - Release Date: 12/19/2007 7:37 PM
