[NFBCS] Advice on giving talk about GPS

[Buddy Brannan]

Tracy, it *is* totally wonderful, except when it isn’t, and when keeping in mind its limitations…which a lot of people (blind and sighted alike) do not. Remember, the only thing the GPS itself does is provide an approximate location on the earth by receiving a signal from a satellite. It’s some clever software tha t then puts that position on a map. So what you get is only as good as the map data that the software has to work with. Naturally, you know this, and so do a lot of people, but a lot more really don’t…like they don’t understand that a cellphone is just a little radio transceiver. It’ll just magic, right? 


Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Email: buddy at brannan.name
Mobile: (814) 431-0962



> On Aug 6, 2019, at 11:16 AM, Tracy Carcione via NFBCS <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> My GPS has sometimes advised me to walk along the highway, which is a
> pretty sure way to commit suicide.  It also seems to have no idea about
> whether or not a street has sidewalks, or where there are traffic signals.
> It's also not very reliable in places like midtown Manhattan, with lots
> of tall buildings.
> I think it's a good idea to remind people of its limitations, as many
> people seem to think it's totally wonderful.
> Tracy
> 
> 
>> Do you really think that is a problem though? Maybe you have seen things
>> I haven't. But I don't want to tell people not to poke themselves in the
>> eye with a sharp stick. I would guess they already know not to do that.
>> 
>> 
>> On 8/5/19 5:19 PM, Curtis Chong via NFBCS wrote:
>>> Greetings:
>>> 
>>> It mighty also be helpful to talk about how GPS, as a technology, should
>>> never be regarded as the end all and the be all for independent travel
>>> by
>>> the blind. The key is to know when a GPS solution is working for you and
>>> when it is not so that you can then resort to something else. Like
>>> anything
>>> else, GPS is neither good nor bad. It's a tool which requires proper use
>>> in
>>> order to be truly effective.
>>> 
>>> Cordially,
>>> 
>>> Curtis Chong
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: NFBCS <nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Brian Buhrow via
>>> NFBCS
>>> Sent: Monday, August 05, 2019 3:24 PM
>>> To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>>> Cc: Brian Buhrow <buhrow at nfbcal.org>
>>> Subject: Re: [NFBCS] Advice on giving talk about GPS
>>> 
>>> 	hello.  Are you giving the talk in the context of using a GPS
>>> outside
>>> of a smart phone environment?  If so, the only portable accessible units
>>> I'm aware of are the Trekker Breeze from  VFO and the Victor GPS from
>>> Humanware.  I guess the Braille Note Touch and its successor have GPS,
>>> but
>>> they're pretty bulky.
>>> 	If you're talking about GPS technology, including smart phone
>>> environments, then I'd definitely cover the myriad of apps on iOS,
>>> including Google Maps, which doubles as a white and yellow pages for all
>>> users.  Google Maps is my main goto for directions, addresses, phone
>>> numbers, hours of operation, etc.  Other apps I like, but don't use as
>>> frequently: Blind Square, OverThere.  I've not played with GPS Explorer
>>> from APH, but it has the advantage that it can store a bunch of maps in
>>> your phone, meaning you can potentially still navigate with GPS data
>>> even
>>> when cell service isn't available.  Using an iPod Touch as a GPS device
>>> with GPS Explorer from APH anyone?
>>> 	Anyway, my point is that there is a lot of ground to cover, so to
>>> speak, and it would be helpful if you could give us a notion of who your
>>> audience is and what you're trying to convey to them.  That will help
>>> our
>>> comments be more directed and potentially helpful.
>>> 
>>> -thanks
>>> -Brian
>>> 
>>> On Aug 5,  4:06pm, Jack Heim via NFBCS wrote:
>>> } Subject: [NFBCS] Advice on giving talk about GPS
>>> } I am giving a talk about GPS for the blind at a convention fro blind
>>> } people. I want to make sure my talk is complete. If you were giving
>>> such
>>> } a talk, what items would you cover? Hardware? Software?
>>> }
>>> 
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> 
> 
> 
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