When wandering around in the world or towns, use the following trick to get an early heads up on enemies, encounters, or learn who is nearby. Keep tapping [V.A.T.S.] while searching at all angles. If there is something out there, you will get the V.A.T.S. zoom in with a low score. You will at least know what is there and can figure out a plan of attack or how best to sneak around it.