[Electronics-talk] Accessible GPS for the blind.

[Jim Barbour]

Hey Andy,

Nice writeup!  thank you for putting it together.

I agree with everything in this message.  My personal favorite, if you
can afford it, is the Sendero running on a Braillenote PK.  I haven't
run it on the apex, but I'd consider that as well.

iPhone GPS systems are reasonably priced, low to moderately featured
solutions for happy iPhone users.  I agree with the recommendation
that you not switch to an iPhone just to get GPS.

Jim

On Wed, Jul 28, 2010 at 11:01:49AM -0700, Baracco, Andrew W wrote:
> The answer to this question changes almost day by day.  If you are
> asking about GPS systems designed especially for the blind, there are
> basically two players.  Humanware makes the trekker Breeze.  This is the
> simplest and least expensive of the blindness oriented systems.  It is a
> one piece self contained unit that is easy to learn to use and provides
> basic GPS orientation.  You will get info about your current location,
> and surrounding points of interest, i. e. restaurants, banks, etc.  You
> can walk or drive a route that you intend to travel with a sighted
> person, and record it for future use.  You can reverse routes for return
> to home, and if you get lost, the device will offer you a route that
> will take you back to your starting point.  I believe the price is $850.
> 
> Sendero offers a more sophisticated system that operates on several
> devices, such as the Braillenote and Voicenote, Braillesense and
> Voicesense, the Pacmate, and on Windows based smart cell phones.
> Sendero products offer many more features, such as being able to create
> routes by means of entering text for addresses, etc. You can also browse
> virtually, which means that you can explore an area without actually
> having to physically be there.  The Sendero products are more expensive,
> and if you do not already have the devices on which they run, you will
> need to also factor in the cost of purchasing the device in addition to
> the software and maps.  All of these systems use maps that are loaded
> onto the device and both the software and maps are periodically updated.
> Traditionally, Humanware has not charged for software and map updates,
> but Sendero does charge.  
> 
> The Iphone is changing the game now.  Many blind persons are using GPS
> apps such as Navigon on the iPhone.  The Iphone GPS apps are similar to
> the GPS systems in cars, and do not provide all of the info that the
> blind oriented systems do, but many blind persons feel that they do not
> need all of that information.  Navigon, in particular, does have a
> pedestrian mode, and many blind persons have given input to them about
> their interest in using the product.  I believe that Navigon for the
> iPhone costs about $80, obviously the cheapest of the lot, but you also
> must factor in the cost of the iPhone, but you most likely wouldn't get
> the iPhone just for GPS.  There is also a device developed in Europe
> called the kapten, which can be purchased from Independent Living Aids.
> I believe it costs about $500. It is a small, one piece device that I
> believe was actually designed for bicyclists and runners, who have to
> keep their eyes on the road.  It is also a talking GPS device, but I do
> not know much about it.
> 
> It's kind of like any other technology.  You first must decide why you
> think you need such a solution, and exactly what you will be using it
> for.  Do you mostly take walks around the neighborhood.  Do you usually
> go to the same places. Or, do you often do a combination of walking and
> traveling on trains, buses , taxis, etc? is your main interest to keep
> cab drivers honest?  Remember that the most feature rich products are
> usually the most difficult to learn to use, and require the most skill
> and savvy. If you generally travel in familiar areas, you may not need
> any GPS device, or the Trekker Breeze, with its ease of  use, may be all
> you need.  But if you are employed and are often required to travel to
> different places with little advanced notice, and perhaps even travel to
> other cities and even countries, and you often have a need to seek out a
> restaurant or ATM in an unfamiliar area, the feature rich Sendero
> products may fill the bill, especially if you already have one of the
> hardware devices that it runs on.
> 
> Take care,
> Andy
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of George Cassell
> Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 11:31 PM
> To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
> Subject: [Electronics-talk] Accessible GPS for the blind.
> 
> 
>     Is there a truly accessible talking GPS system out there?  And if
> more 
> than one exists, which one is the best for a blind person to use?
> 
> 
> 
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