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I'm basically helpless without GPS apps
(lemmy.world)
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/24266485
I am unobservant
I used to be just as bad but something that helped me out a lot was making the map always oriented with north as "up" on the gps. It takes some getting used to and I don't recommend it for complicated drives off the bat but it's been a game changer. Now I actually know which streets go east/west vs north/south and have a general "map" of the city in my head since it always looks the same on gps now.
isn't this the standard mode for maps?
North orientation is the standard for when just browsing a map, but when in navigation mode applications usually rotate the map to match your direction of travel. If your car has a Android Auto/Carplay head unit or one otherwise capable of displaying maps it will also likely default to autorotating the map when driving even without a destination input.
This behaviour does make it easier to distinguish relative directions to your position (roads on your left as you drive will be on the left on the map and so forth) but also takes away an easy way to orient yourself on a scale broader than the limited section on the screen.