[NABS-L] Compass

[Karl Martin Adam]

Hi Bhavia, there used to be two kinds of accessible 
compass--tactile and talking--but I think now they only make the 
talking ones.  I still have an old tactile compass and find it 
very helpful.  Another thing I do is use Blind Square on my 
phone.  As long as your moving, it will tell you your compass 
heading along with your current location whenever you shake the 
phone (this does require keeping your phone out in your free 
hand, but you don't have to unlock your phone since when the app 
is open your phone doesn't automatically lock, and you don't have 
to touch the screen or use more than one hand).

Best,
Karl

 ----- Original Message -----
From: Bhavya shah via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Fri, 11 Feb 2022 03:31:29 -0800
Subject: [NABS-L] Compass

Dear all,

I am a non-advanced cane traveller and my campus has a lot of 
curves
and diagonals which  can throw off my direction. As such, I have 
found
my phone's compass app to be indispensable, giving me confidence 
when
the direction I think I am facing matches its reading and helping 
me
correct when I am off. However, this is somewhat cumbersome to 
do. I
have a cane in my hand, and I need to stop, whip out my iPhone on
which the compass app is open, touch the correct part of the 
screen to
hear my direction, and then put it back in my pocket. This is a 
simple
set of steps, but considering that I am on-the-go and am needing 
to
repeatedly take my phone out of my pocket and bring it somewhat 
close
to my ear so as to hear VoiceOver announce the cardinal direction 
(and
the repetitive instruction to hold my phone flat), it is doable 
but
non-ideal. I was wondering if you have found alternative SOPs to 
use a
compass. I am thinking of the following ideas:
* A simple physical compass that is tactually accessible
* Mapping a gesture or button combination on iOS to announcement 
of
cardinal directions

I would truly appreciate any recommendations for products, 
strategies,
or otherwise. Hope y'all have a lovely weekend!

Best Regards,
Bhavya Shah
Stanford University | Class of 2024
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhavyashah125/

_______________________________________________
NABS-L mailing list
NABS-L at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
for NABS-L:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/kmaent1%40gma
il.com