I never miss a chance to bash Microsoft… this morning I was looking up directions to JC Penney, where a sale is going on. And on JC Penney’s website, they use Microsoft Map Point to give detailed directions to stores. Here’s what Microsoft gives as directions to my local Penney’s:
1 Depart Start on Local road(s) (South) and go 0.1 miles
2 Turn LEFT (East) onto Hyde Park Dr and go 0.1 miles
3 Turn LEFT (North) onto Vistapark Dr and go 0.8 miles
4 Turn RIGHT (East) onto (W) Capitol Expy and go 4.8 miles
5 Turn LEFT (West) onto Local road(s) and go 0.0 miles
6 Turn LEFT (South) onto Local road(s) and go 0.1 miles
7 Turn RIGHT (North-West) onto Local road(s) and go 0.1 miles
8 Turn LEFT (South-West) onto Local road(s) and go 0.1 miles
9 Turn RIGHT (North-West) onto Local road(s) and go 0.0 miles
This would hilarious to watch, wouldn’t it? Set aside the fact that they don’t seem to know the names of the roads — probably a necessity if you’re creating mapping software — and instead, concentrate on the image of someone driving 0 miles, turning left, going .1 miles, turning right, going .1 miles, turning left, going .1 miles, turning right, going 0 miles… like St. Vitus’ dance in a Toyota.
I’m off to explore our Local road(s).
