[Electronics-Talk] Apps that deliver alerts and vibrations when you get to where you want to be.
Jim McCarthy
jmccarthy at mdtap.org
Thu Jun 8 15:11:24 UTC 2017
Kendra, it keeps onboard maps on the device so you should not have that
problem. Having said that, they take up a good amount of space so that's the
tradeoff.
Jim
-----Original Message-----
From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Kendra Schaber via Electronics-Talk
Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2017 8:36 PM
To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
Cc: Kendra Schaber
Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Apps that deliver alerts and vibrations when
you get to where you want to be.
Hi all!
I'm more fermiliar with BlindSquare since I use that app. I'll have to go
check it out since it sounds like a good GPS app. Does anyone know if it can
work with maps that can go off line? Every time I go to the Oregon country
side to visit family for Christmas, my pore boyfriend and I get lost, every
single time with BlindSquare. I always have to call my family explaining
that we got lost and have to pick their brains for directions. Most of the
time, I lose the cell signal as I go which causes a lot of navigation
problems when I'm using BlindSquare especially during the holidays because
we have to go through the mountains and through places that don't have as
many cell towers.
Blessed be!!!
Kendra Schaber
National Federation of the Blind
"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear" Author Unknown
Sent From My GMail EMail account On My IPhone SE. Typed to you with my Keys
To Go blue tooth Keyboard, the only keyboard I know to work with an IPhone
SE.
> On Jun 7, 2017, at 17:14, Lori Motis via Electronics-Talk
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> I recently read about a new GPS app in the AppleVis newsletter.
> I copied and pasted the info below. The price is high, but it sounds
> really good. If anyone has used this app, I would appreciate your
> feedback on it.
> Lori AKA Food Lady
> Nearby Explorer (iOS, US$79.99)
>
> Nearby Explorer is a full featured GPS app designed for use by people
> who are blind. Instead of just providing directions, it describes the
> environment in ways comparable to reading signage or observing road
> characteristics.
>
> It uses onboard maps, so a data connection is not required, but if
> you have one, Nearby Explorer supplements the on board map data with
> crowd collected locations from Foursquare or Google Places. It
> includes complete maps for the United States and Canada which contain
> millions of points of interest. The onboard maps are over 4GB in size,
> so be sure the device you plan to use has enough available space
> before purchasing.
>
> Nearby Explorer works by letting you select from several different
> location related options about what to announce as you move. These
> include both typical items like street name and address and
> specialized options like approaching streets, intersection
> configurations, and nearby places and the distance and direction to
> them. (All announcements are optional.) All of this information is
> shown on the home screen and is available at any time, but typical use
> is to adjust the level of announcements, then lock the screen and put
> the device away. This keeps both hands free and let's your preferred
> voice speak the characteristics of the environment as you move.
>
> You may also use the devices position and orientation to obtain
> additional targeted details such as pointing the end of the device to
> scan for businesses, even in a moving vehicle, or tilting it
> vertically to function as a compass, including a listing of streets in
> the indicated direction. This all works with the device locked, so one
> need not fuss with the touch screen while moving. You may even mark a
> point, then use the position of the device to get haptic feedback
> about that point's location.
>
> Nearby Explorer includes a transit feature that provides detailed
> mass transit schedules for over 60 metropolitan areas in the U. S. and
> Canada. It treats transit stops just like favorites and points of
> interest by announcing their name and relative position as you move,
> but in addition, transit stops add next vehicle stop time, direction
> of travel, and route name to the announcements. You can use the
> transit schedules to look up times or even follow a route.
>
> You may virtually move to any area in the U.S. or Canada and explore
> the road network, search, or use the transit maps for that area.
>
> Current Version: 1.05.00 (May 3, 2017)
>
> Changes in Version 1.05.00
>
> Updates the onboard maps to the first quarter of 2017.
> Splits the onboard map into two separate maps -- one for the United
> States and one for Canada. The combined map may still be used if
> desired.
> Adds map download progress to the report you get when shaking the device.
> Improves support for roundabouts. The street name on which to exit is
> now given, and when walking, the direction the exit street heads is
> also given . The exit announcement should also trigger earlier in small
roundabouts.
> Adds a setting to set the turn-by-turn destination as the Watch when
> selecting a new destination.
> Adds the Neighborhood item to the Home screen. This item is always
> empty when using onboard maps in the US, but other address providers will
use it.
> As a result of this addition, all Home screen items will be unhidden.
> You will need to hide items again which you do not want to see.
> Uses the correct vehicle type for transit stops.
> Adds clock face support to the Watch point.
> Fixes an issue where the states of certain options were reported
> incorrectly in Settings.
> Fixes a bug where contacts with no type displayed "null" for the type.
> Geobeam, Compass mode, and Shake to Repeat all now default to off.
> Read Nearby Explorer's AppleVis iOS App Directory entry for more
> information https://www.applevis.com/
>
>
>
> On 6/7/17, Jim McCarthy via Electronics-Talk
> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Jenny,
>> I am quite uncomfortable with using the word exactly because GPS is
>> not exact. Also, I imagine there are several on this list who use
>> Google Maps or Apple Maps with walking directions and who feel like
>> those work for them. I do not think either of those has a feature
>> that would let me mark the door I mentioned with the steps here. I
>> think there are some other features they do not have for me also but
>> the flipside is that they are free; I am sure some on this list think
>> they work just fine and great for the cost.
>> Jim
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>> On Behalf Of Jenny Keller via Electronics-Talk
>> Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2017 6:25 PM
>> To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
>> Cc: Jenny Keller
>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Apps that deliver alerts and
>> vibrations when you get to where you want to be.
>>
>> OK, I missed one part right didn't understand it. Like Google maps or
>> whatever, you can put in an address and it will verbally give you
>> directions. So the other apps will do the same thing and then tell
>> you exactly where doors are in stock. That's really cool if it does that.
>> Because I don't know necessarily how to get to a route. I just like
>> the ability to say like go left on such and such street or you have
>> reached the street turn left. Do you like I love apps that help as much
as possible.
>>
>>
>> Jenny
>>
>>> On Jun 7, 2017, at 5:04 PM, Jim McCarthy via Electronics-Talk
>> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> Jenny,
>>> You can create roots and the app will give you turn by turn directions.
>>> There may be situations when one wants to find a gazebo in a park
>>> and there are not trails but instead is just a vast open space; in a
>>> situation like that, one may prefer to think of a clock face for the
>>> directions or one app calls this "getting warmer." The root
>>> suggested may not be the one you would prefer, which means that the
>>> user needs some travel skills and to use the app as an additional
>>> tool. There may be sidewalk construction on the suggested root;
>>> there may be no sidewalks at all so the traveler needs to use
>>> trailing techniques along roads. In the wide open spaces example,
>>> there may be drop offs or who knows what. In my earlier post, I said
>>> the door might not be where the app directs a person. I can give a
>>> good example so you know how that would work. My office is in the
>>> building that is the headquarters for Maryland's rehabilitation
>>> agency. This is a large, three-story building with several doors. I
>>> have its address marked as a favorite and can root to it easily.
>>> The address is a main door and is where paratransit drops people off
>>> or where a cab would drop one off. The building is almost a block
>>> long. My office is toward the far west of the building and the main
>>> door is probably 50 yards east of my office. Walking east on the
>>> street where this building is located, there is a set of steps that
>>> goes up to a door on the west end of the building closest to my
>>> office. I will not be told that I have reached my
>> destination that is marked as a favorite at those steps because they
>> are several yards west of the official address.
>>> They lead to a door though that is closest to my office. I know they
>>> are there as does my dog guide, so I use them. If I wanted to be
>>> sure to get them located by the app, I could mark them. That would
>>> improve the GPS ability to inform me of them, but there is the
>>> imperfect accuracy issue of earlier so it might not be exact.
>>> Jim McCarthy
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>>> On Behalf Of Jenny Keller via Electronics-Talk
>>> Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2017 5:02 PM
>>> To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
>>> Cc: Jenny Keller
>>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Apps that deliver alerts and
>>> vibrations when you get to where you want to be.
>>>
>>> Hi Jim, question, hey, how's dark. Also, wanted to know about these
apps.
>>> Does it give you directions and then let you know where you're
>>> supposed to be like by the doors. Or, do they just tell you where
>>> you are at but let you find it yourself. I don't know about these apps.
>>>
>>>
>>> Jenny
>>>
>>>> On Jun 7, 2017, at 3:27 PM, Jim McCarthy via Electronics-Talk
>>> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> All of the blindness specific apps, Blind Square as mentioned,
>>>> Seeing Eye GPS, and Nearby Explorer alert for location arrival. For
>>>> those not familiar with GPS, it should be noted that this alert may
>>>> be close but not exact to the desired location because of the in
>>>> perfect accuracy of GPS. All the 3 apps I mentioned have a cost and
>>>> for phone based apps, it is somewhat high, I think at least $30.
>>>> The other item I think relevant here is that the address in the
>>>> maps is not always equivalent to the door of the place one seeks;
>>>> some shopping centers or apartment complexes may only have one
>>>> address for several buildings, stores, or doors; also, the actual
>>>> point of entry may not be where the desired address is located on
>>>> the map. Apps allow one to
>>> modify this for commonly used places though.
>>>> Jim McCarthy
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>>>> On Behalf Of Lori Motis via Electronics-Talk
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2017 11:50 AM
>>>> To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
>>>> Cc: Lori Motis
>>>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Apps that deliver alerts and
>>>> vibrations when you get to where you want to be.
>>>>
>>>> I have that feature on Blind Square. I have it set to alert me when
>>>> I arrive at the destination that I am tracking. I am not sure of
>>>> its current price, since I bought it several years ago. They have
>>>> added a lot of features, and I use it whenever I am out walking and
>>>> looking for a particular place. Apple vis gives a lot of info on it
>>>> and other similar apps on their website which is applevis.com I
>>>> think since I am writing this from memory, and mine is getting old,
LOL.
>>>> Lori AKA Food Lady
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>
>>>>> On Jun 7, 2017, at 6:39 AM, Philip Blackmer via Electronics-Talk
>>>> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> I am looking for a GPS app that can play some kind of alert sound
>>>>> or
>>>> vibrate my phone when I get to a selected location. Does anybody know
>> of
>>>> an app that has that feature?
>>>>>
>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Electronics-Talk mailing list
>>>>> Electronics-Talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>> for
>>>> Electronics-Talk:
>>>>>
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org/ljm25
>>>> 61
>>>> %
>>>> 40gmai
>>>> l.com
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Electronics-Talk mailing list
>>>> Electronics-Talk at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>> for
>>>> Electronics-Talk:
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org/jmcca
>>>> rt
>>>> h
>>>> y%40md
>>>> tap.org
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Electronics-Talk mailing list
>>>> Electronics-Talk at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>> for
>>> Electronics-Talk:
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org/jlper
>>>> du
>>>> e
>>>> 3%40gmail.com
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Electronics-Talk mailing list
>>> Electronics-Talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>> for
>>> Electronics-Talk:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org/jmccar
>>> th
>>> y%40md
>>> tap.org
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Electronics-Talk mailing list
>>> Electronics-Talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>> for
>> Electronics-Talk:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org/jlperd
>>> ue
>>> 3%40gmail.com
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Electronics-Talk mailing list
>> Electronics-Talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> Electronics-Talk:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org/jmccart
>> hy%40md
>> tap.org
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Electronics-Talk mailing list
>> Electronics-Talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> Electronics-Talk:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org/ljm2561
>> %40gmail.com
>>
>
>
> --
> Lori Motis
> Publisher & Editor of The Blind Post
> www.theblindpost.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> Electronics-Talk mailing list
> Electronics-Talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Electronics-Talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org/redwing7
> 31%40gmail.com
_______________________________________________
Electronics-Talk mailing list
Electronics-Talk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Electronics-Talk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org/jmccarthy%40md
tap.org
More information about the Electronics-Talk
mailing list