[Electronics-talk] Accessible GPS for the blind.

Wed Jul 28 18:33:02 UTC 2010

what do you mean by a look around feature?

> Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:27:21 -0700
> From: jbar at barcore.com
> To: electronics-talk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Accessible GPS for the blind.
> 
> Just to be clear, the free/low cost option from Sendero is for the
> iPhone. So, it's only free/low cost if you have and like an iPhone.
> 
> Jim
> 
> On Wed, Jul 28, 2010 at 11:20:20AM -0700, Tom Evans wrote:
> > Thanks for the good answer. I believe it is sendaro coming out shortly with
> > a free or cheap option, that is a blind friendly not true gps, yet look
> > around feature. When I tried it at the summer blind conf, it was not ready
> > nor very complete, yet ok for free or cheap.
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
> > [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Baracco, Andrew W
> > Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 11:02 AM
> > To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
> > Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Accessible GPS for the blind.
> > 
> > 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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