Left and Right Markers on Position Indicator

I hope my partner never reads this but I have to be blunt, she has a big problem with left and right.

She looks at the map, sees that the next turn is on the driver's side of the car (in Europe and N America) and says "At the next corner turn right".

She gets upset, as if it's my fault, when I point out that it should be left.

Things have got a bit better since I turned on "Rotate map to follow travel direction" but she still gets it wrong.

Occasionally, I have foolishly said to her "Can't you double check before you tell me which way to turn. If it's on my side of the car it's a left turn. If it's on your side of the car it's a right turn." but that only makes things worse.

Women can be a little touchy at times (voice of experience: mother, sister, past girlfriends, present partner).

Other satnav software have an option to change the position indicator. It's of no interest to me but I have seen many posts on other fora asking how to use a car or a boat or a plane as the position indicator.

What I would like to have is a position indicator that has an arrow indicating travel direction with short lines coming out of the sides with L and R on the ends. See sketch below, ignoring the underscores on second line because I don't know how to insert spaces into the HTML.

L-^-R
__|

or this one ignoring underscores on first line:

__^
LR


Andrew Watson

Andrew, we all used to do the same mistake like your SO does before Microsoft instroduced the "Rotate map to follow travel direction" feature (I believe in Streets & Trips 2005/AutoRoute 2005).

For what it's worth, other nav programs have a banner at the top of the nav screen or pop a window that has the words "Turn RIGHT on 17th Street".

...ken...

Good point, Ken. Streets & Trips also has the arrow, and the text in the navigation pane should read something like: "...turn right on Whatever Street..."

I just got out the trusty old embossed plastic Dymo TapeWriter and made two labels; LEFT and RIGHT.

I've stuck them on the appropriate top corners of the bezel of the laptop screen.

We'll see how that's received. Probably something like "I don't need that." If I'm sensible I'll avoid pouring petrol on the flames and won't say " Oh yes you do."

I'll say "Just try using them. It may make things easier for you."

Hopefully, my attempts at walking on eggshells will be successful.

---

I'm sure there are many people, not just one's with dyslexic partners, who would like to have the ability to use alternative position indicators, both built-in ones and import your own.


Andrew Watson

Yes, people love the ability to customize things!

I've been married for over 38 years. This is not a good thing to say. As you said, it will likely be like pouring gas on the fire.

The dymo tape labels are good but you should seriously consider changing a couple of words in your planned comment. Try this instead:

"Just try using them. It will make things easier for me."

I have found if you wear the problem instead of making it her problem it's a lot more effective.

...ken...

...alternatively, you may ask her to read to you the text from the navigation pane (... turn right on Main Street ...)