[nabs-l] blindsquare vs seeing eye gps

Tue Jul 12 18:56:34 UTC 2016

I have the seeing eye gps, but have not used blindsquare. I bought seeing eye for $130 for 3 years, about 6 months after it first came out. I don't like how it takes a while to load, but I like how it tells me the upcoming street as I'm walking. When I'm inside a building or in an downtown area with a lot of buildings around, sometimes it does not retrieve my accurate location right away. For some reason, I think it works better when wi-fi and bluetooth are turned on, even when I'm not connected to a wireless network or bluetooth device. The problem with blindsquare is that foursquare pois are not always accurate, but they often times pretty accurate in large indoor locations, like malls and airports. Botton line, you can not depend or rely on the accuracy of a gps app all the time, and good cane skills, orientation, and people skills for retrieving information are still essential to have, and I don't think I would recommend using a gps until theese skills are developed. It's just like the importance of a sighted driver obeying the rules of the road and knowing how to drive safely. A gps won't tell a blind traveler when to cross the street, and it won't tell a sighted driver when to stop at a red light. APH is coming out with an app called narby explorer within the next six months or so I believe. From my understanding, it's going to be a one time $100 purchase, and it's going to kind of combine blindsquare and seeing eye.

> On Jul 12, 2016, at 8:13 AM, Justin Williams via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Does blind squared have turn by turn directions?
> Justin
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NABS-L [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Brice via NABS-L
> Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2016 12:05 AM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Brice <brice.smith319 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] blindsquare vs seeing eye gps
> 
> IMO, The Seeing Eye GPS has two advantages: intersection analysis and Google Places integration. BlindSquare only pulls data from Foursquare, and BlindSquare does not give detailed information about intersections.
> 
> But BlindSquare offers plenty of advantages, too. You can create and manage favorites. You can simulate locations and virtually explore an area anywhere in the world that Foursquare and Open Street Maps has data. There’s a handy “sleep” button in the lower right corner. You can set an Uber directly from the app. These are just a few of many features that make BlindSquare a joy to use, and demonstrate how committed the developer is to user requests and feedback.
> 
> I didn’t include turn-by-turn directions as an advantage for The Seeing Eye. Why? I find that the directions are often unreliable, and the app has no traffic information or rerouting whatsoever.
> 
> I like that BlindSquare integrates with Google and Apple Maps because Google and Apple maps are quickly becoming the gold standard in GPS for everyone, everywhere. Google Maps is spot on with ETAs and traffic data, and Apple Maps has several built-in accessibility features. You can explore the layout of streets with your finger, turn tracking on and hear upcoming intersections and points of interest, and swipe and hear your current location which continuously updates. Google and especially Apple maps will do in a pinch if someone can't pay for BlindSquare or The Seeing Eye.
> 
> So, you decide: do the advantages of The Seeing Eye app justify purchase?
> 
> 
> 
>> On 7/11/16, Joe Orozco via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Hi, I hadn't really seen anyone speak up in favor of the Seeing Eye 
>> GPS app. That kind of bums me out, because I was hoping someone could 
>> justify the cost. Honestly, I feel like the only blind guy who missed 
>> the memo on the wow factor with BlindSquare. I find the app more 
>> annoying than helpful and fully confess this could be user idiocy.
>> Like, I just want the damn thing to tell me the next cross street. I 
>> would like it to give some sort of audible indication when I'm 
>> pointing the phone in the right direction of my intended destination 
>> as is true of apps like WhereTo and Ariadne. As things stand, I get 
>> more information than I need, and even after configuring the settings 
>> to what I think I want, I feel as though the app picks and chooses 
>> when to actually be helpful. Again, this could just be me being a 
>> moron, so if any current users have suggestions on how to make the app 
>> more beneficial, I'd love to hear from you. The Seeing Eye app seems 
>> more streamlined, but I hesitate to throw down seventy on what I can 
>> currently accomplish with two apps. Still, I'm willing to be persuaded 
>> if for no other reason than to keep things straighter in my navigation 
>> needs.
>> 
>> Thanks in advance,
>> 
>> Joe
>> 
>> 
>>> On 7/9/16, petras via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> Hi, I've been interested in buying the Blind square app, but I would 
>>> like to know the difference between both apps.  Which one is better? 
>>> I had  jaws training  almost a month ago and discussed about the app.
>>> 
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