On GPS

I've a cell phone with GPS receiver built in. Some time ago I started using it. The program I am using is freeware and community based. The idea behind it is that at any time you can send a traffic report (say, of traffic jam) via 3G internet that will be received by all other drivers. The program takes into account these reports when plotting a route. It works marvelously. Two things struck me as fascinating about this piece of modern tech.

1. My average speed (as reported by yet another computer, this time on board of my car) has went up from 33 km/h to 40 km/h. Yes, really, Tel Aviv area traffic moves with the average speed of 33 km/h. Additionally I learned of few more ways to get from home to work and back again. Given that I make this commute for close to 10 years now, this is good. And yes, it also makes you think I've a conservative character, which is also true.

2. It did change my perception of time while driving. In fact, when stuck in jam I often feel that I loose much time. It turns out I am wrong. When GPS says I'll be home in 10 mins, it is actually quite right (with 10% precision). So today I was driving to work in some medium to heavy stream of cars and (surprise, surprise) I realized I did not have to change lanes, pass slow truck in front of me, etc. I was going to be arriving to my destination in 5 minutes so that whatever I would have tried to do wouldn't bring me any significant gain. Some nerve cells lived to see the other day...

Your mileage may of course vary.