GPS means there will never be any more movies of ppl getting lost
and having wrong directions or misreading maps.
This movie had some good suspense but ya, some silly things could have solved this movie's problems like having GPS.
Couple stranded 3 days in rural Oregon after GPS leads them astray
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/12/couple_stranded_3_day s_in_east.html
Missing Canadian couple: Experts say always pair GPS with paper map, realize technology not infallible
http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2011/05/mis sing_canadian_couple_experts_say_always_pair_gps_with_paper_map_realiz e_technology_not_infallible.html
Couple gets lost in Cascade Range using GPS
http://www.heraldandnews.com/breaking/article_ea780435-4e3a-5d7c-bff3- b5e4e38a7b8f.html#vmix_media_id=103574561
http://www.cubicleprisonerfilms.com
You take Google's instructions to get to my parents', and you'll end up driving onto a dirt road, and about three seconds after the road turns to dirt, you'll smash into a massive fence that's only opened for fire and emergency crews.
Unless you drive slowly, of course, then you can avoid the fence, but you still won't be able to get to my parents unless you know the real way (and it means an extra 30 minutes driving). Just goes to show.
http://tinyurl.com/ripjobss
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In addition to the above, there was a case where tourists in Brazil got robbed as GPS took them to the place where the robbers lurked. After this incident got flak for the makers of the software, you'll see a disclaimer on all such software.
I myself have been led astray using GPS even in cities. Thankfully, I didn't run into any troublemakers.
Not every area has service though.
shareAll a writer would have to do in this case is have the GPS do as others have stated above, or malfunction and write it in.
Remember, not all cars have it. I bought a sports car only eighteen months ago, new. It doesn't have GPS...it was an option, but for another £1000...no way I was paying that.
Writer will find an easy way to put people in danger. The couple in this situation were off the highway because of a problem with their car mechanically anyway.
You might as well say "cell phones = no more scary movies." And yet, they keep making them.
As another post says, writers can always find a way. No cell phone service is a popular way around that issue. Malfunctioning or misleading GPS or an older car solves your problem.
Besides, people don't need to be lost to end up in a scary situation like the one from Vacancy. All they have to do is take an unfamiliar, isolated road; just because you know where you are doesn't mean you're not in danger. I've been on plenty of rural roads out in the middle of nowhere. I knew exactly where I was because I always have a map with me and I know how to read it. That wouldn't have helped if my car had broken down and I had had to check into the Pinewood Motel. :-)