GPS systems?

Category: accessible Devices

Post 1 by bea (I just keep on posting!) on Sunday, 22-Mar-2009 7:10:58

I wondered if anybody uses a GPS system for a mobility aid. My mobility was never good and I am a senior citizen but wondered if the GPS rumors about it being wonderful for the blind are true.

Post 2 by Thunderstorm (HotIndian!) on Sunday, 22-Mar-2009 11:33:45

yeah. I heard there are 2 softwares to my knowledge but I'm not using any of them since my country is not yet providing us the feature.

one is way finder and I've forgotten the other one which is for free.

But I prefer my cane rather than these things.

Raaj.

Post 3 by Skyla (move over school!) on Sunday, 22-Mar-2009 20:40:25

If you have a cell phone that supports it, wayfinder has had really good reviews. I know it can be installed on the n82, but I'm not sure about other models.

Post 4 by WillieTheWoof (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Monday, 23-Mar-2009 22:25:26

Remember there is also mobile geo from codefactory. It runs on windows smartphones as well as pocket pc phones. Unfortunatley, they don't make a versoin for simbian.

Post 5 by V.I. p (Zone BBS Addict) on Tuesday, 24-Mar-2009 18:08:54

There is also the trekker by humanware. It also has gotten great reviews. For people that don't like to use computers, there is the trekker breeze.

Post 6 by blindjoe (Newborn Zoner) on Saturday, 04-Apr-2009 12:08:53

I use the trekker. It is great when it works but crashes pretty often

Post 7 by DixieGirl (I can't call it a day til I enter the zone BBS) on Sunday, 05-Apr-2009 3:58:50

The other software for Symbian phones is Loadstone. It's free or was last I knew.
I use and love MobileGeo!
HTH,
Shanda

Post 8 by motifated (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 05-Apr-2009 7:53:25

The only problem I have with GPS is that the user can't afford to let it distract him or her from his or her immediate environment. I know this probably over simplifying the issue, but you don't want to be concentrating so hard on the GPS that you don't pay attention to what your cane or dog guide is telling you about curbs, steps, obstacles, etc. Don't get me wrong, I think that GPS is great technology, but when all is said and done, its just another tool to have in your arsenal as a traveller.


Lou

Post 9 by V.I. p (Zone BBS Addict) on Sunday, 12-Apr-2009 8:13:41

Is the trekker worth buying if it crashes so often? Do the pros outway the cons?

Post 10 by WillieTheWoof (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Sunday, 12-Apr-2009 23:54:27

Pay attention to what Lou is saying here. It is so easy to get distracted by the GPS and neglect the information your dog guide or cane is giving you. I've used trekker and it's excellent. It seems like the newer units that use windows mobile 5 were more prown to crashing. It's worth trying one to see if this has gotten better. NOte that an update hasn't ben available for quite a while and I wonder if the trekker is still going to be kept current.

Post 11 by The Roman Battle Mask (Making great use of my Employer's time.) on Monday, 13-Apr-2009 22:54:52

I use the gps and this is why I always stop walking when I want to check something on it. That way I don't go off a curb or something.

Post 12 by faithful angel (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Tuesday, 14-Apr-2009 17:22:21

I have a question. Apparently, Verizon is rereleasing the Moto Q 9c with talks installed on it, but if that is true, and it works, which GPS software would one buy?

Post 13 by Siriusly Severus (The ESTJ 1w9 3w4 6w7 The Taskmaste) on Sunday, 11-Oct-2009 11:37:56

I Agree with Raaj. Really, the GPS is just an additive and shouldn't be depended on as often as we do. Hell, It's not a person it's a machine with a bunch of numbers on it!

I also prefer the cane and shouting, "Hey, excuse me!" and exploiting others services like everyone use to do in the Ole days. In fact exploiting people is almost a hobby of mine.

Post 14 by singingsensation (I just keep on posting!) on Sunday, 22-Nov-2009 22:26:45

Hello.
I like exploring new areas and going new places. My orientation is not very good, but I am working on that (don't worry!). I'm thinking about getting a GPS. I might get the GPS for the BrailleNote, or the Trekker. The only thing I don't like about the BrailleNote GPS is that I would have to stop every so often, read my braille display, then keep walking. And I don't like using speech. And the strap digs into my shoulder, and since I have a 32 cell display, it's kind of heavy around my neck. LOL.
Macy

Post 15 by Miss Prism (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Thursday, 26-Nov-2009 21:28:43

The Trekker Breeze often gets location wrong! I regret buying this piece of expensive garbage. Maybe with updates it will improve, but Humanware never makes it easy to *get* updates!

Post 16 by monkeypusher69 (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Monday, 07-Dec-2009 3:40:32

to rachael .. a cane and asking people where you live may work but you'll be shouting for a while before someone stops where i live, so i wouldn't mind getting one of these .. most likely on my phone, but they aren't perfect for sure, but but ones i have tried atleast gets you in the right direction and lets you know where you are usually.

Post 17 by blindndangerous (the blind and dangerous one) on Monday, 07-Dec-2009 9:26:09

What about the iphones GPS system? Is it accessible with voice over? I'd like to try it out, but really don't want to spend $85 if it doesn't even work correctly.

Post 18 by monkeypusher69 (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Monday, 07-Dec-2009 19:02:44

i think some of them are... the www.icanworkthis.com or whatever the site is called i think has a list of all the 3rd party apps that work with voice over for the iphone.

Post 19 by blindndangerous (the blind and dangerous one) on Monday, 07-Dec-2009 21:07:32

Theirs another one, I just search accessible voice over applications on google when I'm looking for it. I can't remember the sites name off of the otp of my head right now.