If you think canals are about getting away from the modern world, then you'd probably better read no further. If on the other hand you like gadgets, this might be for you. Because this is a kind of SatNav for boats - and for now it's free.rnYou might have heard hair-raising stories of hapless motorists slavishly following their Tomtom as it directs them down a footpath or into a river, but don't worry: we haven't yet reached the point where a disembodied voice tells you which way to turn out of Limehouse Basin...rnNawygator - note the spelling if you're googling for it - is the latest feature of Water Explorer, "a web application designed to assist boaters navigating the UK's inland waterways". Already the website allows users to log journeys, look at maps with the canals superimposed, and spot points of interest. Nawygator is a standalone application, downloaded from the Water Explorer website, which takes this idea one stage further. Working with a GPS receiver, it monitors where you are on the network, logs your journeys, tells you which direction and how fast you're travelling, and how far to the next lock, junction, winding hole and other navigation features.
展开▼