GPS use and the brain

RedRoxx44 · Post by **RedRoxx44** » Apr 17 2012 5:14 pm

http://www.dailytech.com/Study+GPS+Unit ... e20169.htm

Hey, don't shoot the messenger. I have a GPS although it mostly sits in a drawer.
And of course we know everything we read on the internet is true ;)

azbackpackr · Post by **azbackpackr** » Apr 17 2012 5:45 pm

Most people assume, when talking about a GPS, that it's the kind that a lot of people have in the car.

outdoor_lover · Post by **outdoor_lover** » Apr 17 2012 5:49 pm

Well I guess I'm ok, since I don't have one. And I don't have a brain, so couldn't use one anyway.

PLC92084 · Post by **PLC92084** » Apr 17 2012 5:56 pm

I deliberately use a low-tech unit just to make sure I don't get spoiled (and allow my hippocampus to turn to mush...). That may change if Liz sells me her defective unit when she get backs to the States. ;)

big_load · Post by **big_load** » Apr 17 2012 11:47 pm

I noticed right away that when I use a GPS on the road, I learn the route much more slowly. That doesn't stop me from using one altogether, but I prefer to find my own way if possible.

joebartels · Post by **joebartels** » Apr 18 2012 12:14 am

People that live in small towns and have never traveled seem to be the ones that live healthy and sharp as tack into their nineties. Perhaps cause their hippocampus isn't bursting at the seams!

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Apr 18 2012 6:20 am

joe bartels wrote:People that live in small towns and have never traveled seem to be the ones that live healthy and sharp as tack into their nineties. Perhaps cause their hippocampus isn't bursting at the seams!

Uh, have you been to Kayenta?

joebartels · Post by **joebartels** » Apr 18 2012 10:30 am

good point

azbackpackr · Post by **azbackpackr** » Apr 18 2012 11:41 am

Looking on ebay to figure out how much I can gouge Paul for my 60CX, I noticed that you can buy a Garmin Etrex Vista for about $4 on there. I am thinking it must be an older model, and that it must be similar to my old Garmin 12 (which I still have and it still works.)

The Etrex Vista must have very few functions. Of course, on Ebay you can find all manner of GPSes.

Alston_Neal · Post by **Alston_Neal** » Apr 18 2012 12:03 pm

Interesting read, it seems to make some sense. But since we have no GPS I can't say how dependent we are on the device.
I do believe though that after many years of observing people with their devices driving and in social situations, that they aren't using a part of their brain.
So could it be that spending a large amount of time on an electronic device shuts down some part of the brain?

As I sit here typing this on my laptop and not working..

DarthStiller · Post by **DarthStiller** » Apr 18 2012 12:43 pm

I think that GPS use is only one of several techological advances that might be having an atrophy effect on our brains, as covered in this blog...

http://blog.b92.net/text/20032/Dumbing%20It%20Down/

GPS use and the brain

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