We know all about human error & GPS Problems!
In fact, we half expert for future robots to constantly remind us about how many of the mistakes we make are due to "human error." But when you use your GPS in your car and get frustrated over not finding the place you were looking for, is that really due to human error, or is the GPS also capable of making mistakes? As you'll find out, the mistake might lie with either of you - or even both of you.
With that in mind, let's take a look at a few scenarios and consider whether or not they were due to human error, GPS error - or both.
When you drive down a road that's not on your GPS.
This is actually the GPS' fault in many cases, but here's something to think about. If you're driving down a road that's not on the GPS, it's really the fault of the maps that you have: they're insufficient. The GPS device is actually still doing a decent job of tracking you in some cases; it just doesn't have a place on the map to put you own. And if you're driving down a road that's not on your GPS, you should be very careful, because this can quickly turn into a mistake you've made. You don't want to get too far off the beaten path, even if your GPS maps don't seem to be perfectly up-to-date. Verdict: Map error with possible human error.
Following the GPS blindly when it leads you down the wrong way.
This can lead to mistakes both in your GPS and in your driving. That's right: take a look at this couple that got lost because they placed too much trust in their GPS. The GPS led them astray, but the fault was with both machine and human: the humans, in this case, should have exercised a little critical thinking and not let their GPS drive them too far off a recognizable path. You don't want to follow your GPS blindly, because you never know if it's a case of the blind leading the blind. Verdict: Both GPS and human error.
By the way, do you want to know how to exercise this kind of critical thinking? Be sure that you don't use the GPS as your sole source of navigation. Instead, use it as a way to supplement your own navigation. Use your own mind in conjunction with the GPS and you'll have far better results: in fact, you may even find ways to "use" the GPS better than it knows how to use itself. Don't let your GPS become a substitute for your critical thinking. If that's what you do, you'll be lost without it.
Going accurately to the wrong destination.
If you enter in a street name instead of a specific address in your GPS, for example, you may find that the GPS is giving you the right directions...to the wrong location. In this case, it's your fault for not being specific enough to help the GPS understand where you truly want to go. You may find this has happened if you're looking for a specific house but realized that you only entered in the street. The GPS will get you to that street, sure, but it may take you in the wrong direction when you finally get close to your actual destination. If you're exercising that critical thinking, don't be afraid to take over for the GPS when you recognize how to get to that specific house from where you are. But don't get mad at the GPS: the GPS may just be following bad orders. Verdict: human error.