[Electronics-talk] GPS in the Big City

Thu Apr 11 16:04:17 UTC 2013

hi

thanks, i've only had my phone for about 3 months.
Bryan Schulz

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Barbour" <jbar at barcore.com>
To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances" 
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 10:48 AM
Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] GPS in the Big City

> Hey Bryan,
>
> I would say blind square is a really good place to start.
>
> Jim
>
> On Thu, Apr 11, 2013 at 10:44:37AM -0500, Bryan Schulz wrote:
>> hi,
>>
>> exactly, which one  is better for knowing what stores are close or what
>> street you are close to?
>> Bryan Schulz
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Christopher Chaltain"
>> <chaltain at gmail.com>
>> To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances"
>> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 9:53 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] GPS in the Big City
>>
>>
>> >I don't think there's a consensus on the best GPS app. I'd suggest 
>> >giving
>> >the built in Maps app, Google Maps and MapQuest a try. They're all free.
>> >Navigon, which is not free, also gets mentioned quite a bit. It allows 
>> >you
>> >to download and store maps on your phone, so if you're worried about 
>> >data
>> >costs, this is a good option.
>> >
>> >There are also half a dozen apps or more that give you additional
>> >information, such as points of interest around you, nearby cross 
>> >streets,
>> >information on public transportation and so on. Maybe you could provide 
>> >a
>> >better idea of what you're looking for or take a look at applevis.com 
>> >for
>> >more information on navigation apps and reviews and opinions by blind
>> >users.
>> >
>> >On 04/11/2013 09:37 AM, Osman Koroma wrote:
>> >>Hello all,
>> >>Whats the best GPS app to use?
>> >>
>> >>Sent from my iPhone
>> >>
>> >>On Apr 11, 2013, at 10:32, Jim Barbour <jbar at barcore.com> wrote:
>> >>
>> >>>I don't think anybody's map information includes information such as
>> >>>if there's a sidewalk.  This problem is compounded by a lack of
>> >>>information about contruction zones, etc.
>> >>>
>> >>>Apps such as Google Maps will give you pedestrian routes to a
>> >>>destination.
>> >>>It is then up to us, as it is with a sighted pedestrian, to be aware
>> >>>of the route and any barriers pedestrians face while getting there.
>> >>>
>> >>>Jim
>> >>>
>> >>>On Thu, Apr 11, 2013 at 08:51:32AM -0400, Gerald Levy wrote:
>> >>>>
>> >>>>The problem with all these GPS apps and devices is that they are
>> >>>>designed to
>> >>>>simply give you directions for the shortest route between two
>> >>>>points, not
>> >>>>necessarily the safest route.  If these devices were truly designed
>> >>>>with
>> >>>>blind pedestrians in mind, their primary route  suggestion,
>> >>>>regardless of
>> >>>>length, should include only streets with sidewals or walkways that 
>> >>>>are
>> >>>>isolated from traffic.    If no such route is available, then they
>> >>>>should
>> >>>>alert you to this fact.  When you use Google Maps to get directions
>> >>>>between
>> >>>>two points, the walking directions include a warning, if
>> >>>>appropriate, that
>> >>>>some parts of the trip may involve walking on highways or other
>> >>>>areas that
>> >>>>might be hazardous.  GPS devices designed for the blind should do
>> >>>>the same.
>> >>>>After all, when you work with an O&M instructor, he will usually
>> >>>>recommend
>> >>>>the safest route between two points even if it means walking out of
>> >>>>your way
>> >>>>to get to your destination.
>> >>>>
>> >>>>Gerald
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Tracy Carcione"
>> >>>><carcione at access.net>
>> >>>>To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances"
>> >>>><electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> >>>>Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 8:16 AM
>> >>>>Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] GPS in the Big City
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>>Occasionally, I have asked Sendero GPS to create a pedestrian route,
>> >>>>>hoping it would give me a non-highway way to get somewhere, and it 
>> >>>>>has
>> >>>>>told me to walk on the highway.  NOT!
>> >>>>>Tracy
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Kaye" <kayezimpher at comcast.net>
>> >>>>>To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances"
>> >>>>><electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> >>>>>Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 5:01 PM
>> >>>>>Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] GPS in the Big City
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>>I am from Atlanta, and while that is no Manhattan, I know many 
>> >>>>>>blind
>> >>>>>>people who successfully use various gps apps on their Iphones. I 
>> >>>>>>have
>> >>>>>>only heard of one time that the gps advised a person to turn on
>> >>>>>>to the
>> >>>>>>highway, even though the app was in pedestrian mode. That might
>> >>>>>>not have
>> >>>>>>ended well if he had not know where he was going.
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>>-----Original Message----- From: David Andrews
>> >>>>>>Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 12:37 PM
>> >>>>>>To: Tracy Carcione ; Discussion of accessible electronics and
>> >>>>>>appliances
>> >>>>>>Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] GPS in the Big City
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>>I have used Street Talk on a Pac Mate, in the distant past, and in
>> >>>>>>Philadelphia, I had the same problems with tall buildings.\
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>>Dave
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>>At 10:49 AM 4/10/2013, you wrote:
>> >>>>>>>I work in midtown Manhattan.  I have Sendero GPS, running on a
>> >>>>>>>Braillenote PK.  I find it pretty unreliable in New York City,
>> >>>>>>>probably because of the many tall buildings.  It frequently
>> >>>>>>>says I'm 2
>> >>>>>>>blocks away from where I know I am, and heading in a different
>> >>>>>>>direction than I'm heading.  My question is, does this happen
>> >>>>>>>with all
>> >>>>>>>GPS in big cities, or is it because the GPS is running on a PK, 
>> >>>>>>>not
>> >>>>>>>the most powerful system in the world? Would, say, IPhone GPS
>> >>>>>>>be more
>> >>>>>>>reliable in the big city?
>> >>>>>>>I am only interested in the big city aspect.  At home, in north
>> >>>>>>>Jersey, the Sendero and PK work reasonably well.
>> >>>>>>>Thanks.
>> >>>>>>>Tracy
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>>
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>> >
>> >-- 
>> >Christopher (CJ)
>> >chaltain at Gmail
>> >
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