-------- Original Message --------
Subject:        NPR reports on web directions
Date:   Tue, 10 Jan 2006 12:44:30 -0500 (EST)
From:   Ken Grabach <[log in to unmask]>
To:     [log in to unmask]

Greetings, everyone.

This morning on National Public Radio's Morning Edition, David Kestenbaum
reported on driving directions from the web services of MapQuest, Yahoo
Maps and Google Map.  This included the example of a man in Los Angeles
who wants to have visitors get their directions from these services
because the neighborhood has a complex street pattern.  The problem is
that the web directions include a turn onto Loma Vista Place, which is a
sidewalk with steps up a hill!  Mr. Kestenbaum talks to programmers about
the algorithms used to determine routes, and to Navteq, the provider of
maps to all of these services.  One person says the problems are
"one-tenth of one percent" of the many directions requested regularly.
My guess is that the number is larger because of un-reported errors.

here is the url for the story:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5140674

Ken
___________________________
Ken Grabach                           <[log in to unmask]>
Maps Librarian                         Phone: 513-529-1726
Miami University Libraries
Oxford, Ohio  45056  USA


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