[Sportsandrec] Accessible equipment for blind athletes

Wed Aug 3 10:07:56 UTC 2016

Since most of my running is done on trails rather than on pavement, I have to grab my guide’s elbow. This is due to the trails not being constant, or even, we have to make small corrections constantly and very fast.

I also use my cane in a hovering stile, just so that it doesn’t get stuck on any rocks, sticks, etc.

> On 2 Aug 2016, at 11:37 PM, Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via SportsandRec <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> When not running with my partner, I run with my cane.
> 
> Bridgit
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: SportsandRec [mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org <mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org>] On Behalf Of Erika Wolf via SportsandRec
> Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2016 7:24 AM
> To: Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org <mailto:sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>>
> Cc: Erika Wolf <wolf.erika102 at att.net <mailto:wolf.erika102 at att.net>>
> Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] Accessible equipment for blind athletes
> 
> Hi Santee:
> If you don't  have  a tether, how do you run with your partner? Do you just go by auditory clues that your guide is  giving and just trust the description, or do  you use some type of    holding device to know  where your guide  is? Thanks for your input.
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Aug 2, 2016, at 6:37 AM, Santiago Velasquez via SportsandRec <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi Erika, I usually just put my phone on my pocket. My running shorts have a zipper, so I don’t have to worry about the phone flying away when running.
>> 
>> With regards to bluetooth Earphones I thought about bone conduction technology since it doesn’t block any of your surroundings, as such you would still be able to communicate with your guide. The issue is that you would still need to take your phone, or what ever GPS device out of your pocket for reading the stats that are being collected. I don’t know of how to control what and when stats are read without having direct contact with your phone.
>> 
>> I have found that if I use a tether, my running speed decreases just because the lack of precise feedback from my guide diminishes.
>> 
>> Hope this helps.
>> 
>> Kind regards
>> Santi
>> 
>>> On 31 Jul 2016, at 10:56 PM, Erika Wolf via SportsandRec <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hello fellow blind  runners:
>>> I have done a little bit of running with the guide using a rope as a tether, but I haven't really found a good solution as far as wearing a pack on my back where I could keep my phone  on me while  using a Bluetooth ear piece. How do you go about wearing an ear piece   and keeping your phone on  your person while running?  Hence, being able to have any type a GPS device on you as well. Thanks for any tips.
>>> Erika Wolf
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
>>>> On Jul 30, 2016, at 11:49 AM, Jessica Beecham via SportsandRec <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> I am looking for the same thing and have not found a good solution. Apple Watch also does not have built in gps so even if you could figure out a water proof casting it still does not provide the kind of stats you want. One solution that I currently use is to have my guide read out stats and send me details after the workout. This doesn't help at all with heart rate. If you don't mind carting your phone with you on runs, run keeper, strava, and map my run all work fairly well with voice over. They probably pair with the hr monitor as well. This is not a swimming solution but maybe it is a start.
>>>> 
>>>> Best Wishes
>>>> 
>>>> Jessica Beecham
>>>> 
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>> 
>>>>> On Jul 30, 2016, at 3:07 AM, Santiago Velasquez via SportsandRec <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> Good Day to you all. My name is Santiago Velasquez and I live in Australia.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I enjoy participating on sporting activities, but there are some things that I have not been able to find the answers for online.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I run with a guide, and I also swim.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Some of you might be aware of devices like the Garmin forerunner 920 or the Garmin Fenix. These are GPS watches design for sports people in mind.
>>>>> 
>>>>> These and other similar devices are able to present great statistics to the user to help with their workout. However, as far as I am concerned, they are not accessible.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Are there any devices out there that are as capable and reliable as the watches mentioned above that are accessible?
>>>>> 
>>>>> Some of the stats that are provided by those products are:
>>>>> Heart rate monitoring
>>>>> Speed, distance and time
>>>>> Ground contact (vertical oscillations) lap count for Swimming And 
>>>>> much much more.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I would like a device that I am  able to access while I am working out (running, tandem biking or swimming) if it exist. 
>>>>> 
>>>>> To make the selection even smaller, it has to be a device that is able to provide auditory feedback like a screen reader software since my visual acuity is not great.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I know the apple watch has Voice Over, but I cannot swim with it.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I thought of the Casio WXD-f10 smart android Wear watch, but I haven’t been able to find much about if android Wear has screen reader abilities.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I am also planning to upgrade my Chest strap Heart rate monitor, so something that is able to interact with a Chest strap would be nice.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Sorry for such a lengthy email, but I would like to gather better stats so that I can improve my workouts.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Thanks for everything
>>>>> 
>>>>> Kind regards
>>>>> Santi
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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