Comments on: Garmin gets in the social-networking groove

A partnership with Where.com means that owners of select Garmin navigators can use the devices to tell their Facebook friends where they are.

[davemc500hats]

probably worth mentioning Dash (http://Dash.net) in this article... afaik, they seem to be the first company pioneering the combination of auto-based GPS with social networking. i've been using their device for the past few months and enjoy it quite a bit. in particular, the ability to send an address from a home PC direct to the device is very cool....

[Shepherd-2020]

Your coverage suggests skepticism about the degree to which people want to share their whereabouts with friends and family.

The ULocate service could provide a significant additional measure of security for people with cognitive limitations. If they get lost, they might be more easily located using such a service. Of course, just having a cell phone could be useful. But one could imagine situations in which the cell phone may not be effective (poor signal or general confusion on the part of the individual).

I work with the Wireless Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC), which is funded by the U.S. Department of Education to promote accessibility to wireless communications and to develop wireless-based assistive technology for people with disabilities. Seventy percent of the respondents to our Survey of User Needs said that one of the reasons why their wireless device was important was because it makes them feel more secure. And, 78 percent said it was important because they could get emergency help.

Check out our survey at: http://www.wirelessrerc.org/for-consumers/survey-of-user-needs.html, and view our community pages at: http://www.mywirelessreview.com/.

[wahyz]

if it is really only about getting the cheapest gas price, i recommend you to buy https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=134&pID=8580. Garmin c580 has live gas price features from msn. CNet author should have knew this.

[Harrison912]

As a web site owner for safety and security products, I agree with Shepherd-2020. I think it could be helpful in an emergency situation like an abduction.

[Renegade Knight]

I don't know if this is a solution but it does mean Garmin is catching a clue that GPS is becoming commonplace and that the standalone GPS business by itself won't be enough to keep them viable.