[gui-talk] Fwd: Article: GPS For Blind "Not a Gimmick"

[Steve Pattison]

>From: Susan Thompson susan at sthompson.net
>To: vip-l at softspeak.com.au
>
>Sat-nav for blind 'not a gimmick'
>By Malcolm Moore in Rome
>Last Updated: 7:11am GMT 19/12/2006
>
>Blind residents of Turin have been equipped with GPS trackers so that they
>can be directed around the northern Italian city by satellite.
>
>When wearing the device, a blind user can be tracked by call-centre workers
>on a map of the city. If he needs help, he can press a special button on a
>mobile phone to ring in and be guided towards his destination.
>
>Another button can alert staff in case of an attack, or another emergency.
>
>The trial scheme, named Easy Walk, started last week.
>
>It will be extended to 30 users in January and is expected to last three to
>four months before being rolled out to all of Piedmont's 3,000 blind people.
>
>It will be free to users, but its cost to the regional government has not
>been revealed. The service runs 24 hours a day and can work across Italy and
>even France.
>
>Federico Borgna, one of those involved in the trial, said his device had not
>so far given him any of the directional headaches that satellite navigation
>is notorious for.
>
>"At first, the level of precision was dramatically off, but they have worked
>hard to correct it. The best thing about the service is the call-centre,
>because the person gives me instructions and then watches me as I go," he
>said.
>
>Mercedes Bresso, who came up with the idea and who is also the head of the
>regional government, said the initiative was not "a gimmick," but "the start
>of a wider project to use new technologies to help people.
>
>A blind person might not feel well and forget where the nearest pharmacy is.
>This service will solve that, and give them more autonomy."
>
>The head of the Blind Association of Piedmont, Angelo Dalbano, said having a
>GPS tracker would give blind people the confidence to travel to new places.
>
>malcolm.moore at telegraph.co.uk

Regards Steve
Email:  srp at internode.on.net
Skype:  steve1963
MSN Messenger:  internetuser383 at hotmail.com