[Blindtlk] Fwd: A Unique Travel Experience for the Visually Impaired with Traveleyes and Trekker Talking GPS System

[David Andrews]

>A UNIQUE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED WITH TRAVELEYES
>AND TREKKER TALKING GPS SYSTEM
>
>Version française disponible à l'adresse suivante :
>http://www.humanware.ca/web/fr/NewsGetFile.asp?file=20070221.html
>
>A web version is available at the following address :
>http://www.humanware.ca/web/en/NewsGetFile.asp?file=20070221.html
>
>Leeds, UK, and Longueuil, Canada, February 21, 2007
>
>Traveleyes, a company that specializes in 
>organizing overseas trips for the visually 
>impaired, now provides its clients with 
>HumanWare's Trekker Talking GPS system. 
>Recognized internationally for helping blind 
>people move around, Trekker will offer more 
>autonomy and independence to travellers using 
>Traveleyes by enabling them to enjoy the places they visit even more.
>
>The mission of Traveleyes, founded in 2005 by 
>Amar Latif, who is himself visually impaired, is 
>to offer people with visual impairment a 
>wonderful travel experience without the usual
>restrictions and limitations. Before the 
>emergence of Traveleyes, very few customized 
>holidays were available for visually impaired 
>people. Those that did exist were generally 
>restrictive in terms of destinations, and often 
>tended to be inflexible and very expensive. With 
>Traveleyes, the visually impaired world 
>traveller is no longer required to "tag along" 
>as either a welcome or tolerated appendage to the peer-group holiday.
>
>"I strongly believe that blind people do not 
>just have to follow in the wake of the sighted, 
>but that they can indeed be trailblazers," Amar Latif said.
>
>The GPS Trekker system seamlessly integrates 
>into Traveleyes' services, offering more than 
>just a simple tour, but rather allowing blind 
>tourists to actively and independently 
>participate.  Thus, with Trekker, Traveleyes 
>globetrotters will have even more freedom and 
>autonomy when visiting tourist sites. For 
>example, they can make their way from their 
>hotel to a museum by relying on the information provided by Trekker.
>
>Introduced by HumanWare in 2003, Trekker is a 
>talking GPS system that uses digital maps to 
>help blind persons find their way everywhere in 
>the world. The users can pinpoint exactly where 
>they are, learn about area attractions, and find 
>out in real time how to get to specific 
>destinations. Fitting in the palm of the hand, 
>Trekker offers the visually impaired greater 
>freedom, raising their confidence in their 
>ability to travel. It also helps them access and 
>enjoy the most valuable and interesting 
>opportunities their surroundings have to offer.
>
>"Accessible travel guides, GPS technology and 
>electronic tactile maps can now open up new 
>horizons to the visually impaired traveller," Latif said.
>
>
>About Traveleyes
>Traveleyes (www.traveleyes.co.uk) is a 
>revolutionary service, arranging independent 
>world travel for visually impaired and sighted 
>travellers. Based in the UK, Traveleyes offers 
>holidays to many destinations, including 
>America, Africa and Europe, all with quality of 
>experience as the central ingredient and at 
>affordable prices. With Traveleyes, the needs, 
>desires and fulfilment of the blind traveller are at centre stage.
>
>
>About HumanWare
>HumanWare (www.humanware.com) is the global 
>leader in assistive technologies for vision. 
>HumanWare provides products to blind and low 
>vision people and students with learning 
>disabilities. HumanWare's many innovative 
>products include BrailleNote, the leading 
>productivity device for blind people in 
>education, in business and in their personal 
>lives; the Victor Reader product line, the 
>world's leading digital audiobook players; and 
>SmartView Xtend, the first fully modular and 
>upgradeable CCTV-based video magnifier.
>
>
>
>For more information
>
>Traveleyes
>Amar Latif
>Phone: +44 (0) 8709 220221
>Email:  amar at traveleyes.co.uk
>Web: http://www.traveleyes.co.uk
>
>
>HumanWare
>Nicolas Lagace
>Phone: (450) 463-1717
>Email: nicolas.lagace at humanware.com
>Web: http://www.humanware.ca
>

David Andrews and white cane Harry.