[Mt-blind] GPS for the Blind

Wed May 7 21:36:19 CDT 2008

Are you talking about the Sendero GPS with the Voice Sense?  I hear it's
nearly as good as what I have.  Just kidding.  Sendero consists of a GPS
receiver and the software maps.  It can be run on either the Braille Note
family from Humanware or the Voice Sense from GW Micro.  The Braille Sense
will be able to do the same soon.  Freedom Scientific's PacMate has its own
GPS, but I understand it is not nearly as developed as the Sendero system
is.  The Trekker comes in a couple of flavors, too, but I'm told it does
less things than the Sendero system can, too.  The cell phone stuff is very
interesting, but it won't work outside of cell phone service.  I realize
that being off the grid might not be a huge problem for many blind people,
but I'm one of those who wouldn't mind being able to use the technology to
find the out house if necessary.  Really, this GPS technology is a huge
amount of fun.  I'm not sure it's absolutely necessary for getting around
though.  I would not think of it as a savior, but rather as something that
enriches one's life.  We get more information, and more information is
power.  So, I will never go without it from here on out.

-------
Jim Marks
blind.grizzly at gmail.com

-----Original Message-----
From: dmgina [mailto:dmgina at qwest.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 8:17 PM
To: blind.grizzly at gmail.com; Montana Association for the Blind List
Subject: Re: [Mt-blind] GPS for the Blind

Hi there,
I know I wanted to walk with many who have one, and I got blown off.
I want one from GW Micro.
I like that better than the Trekker.

Some day I will get my pretty hands on one.

--Dar
www.mypowermall.com/biz/home/5779
Every Saint has a past
Every Sinner has a future

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Marks" <blind.grizzly at gmail.com>
To: "Montana Association for the Blind List" <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 7:33 PM
Subject: [Mt-blind] GPS for the Blind

>I use the Sendero GPS for the blind with my Humanware Braille Note PK.
> Thought others might be interested in how it works.
>
> For more information, go to this link:
>
> http://www.senderogroup.com/
>
> The system tells me where I am.  For instance, it will tell me if I am
> standing outside a favorite restaurant or on a certain road.  Accuracy
> varies a bit since the technology is using GPS satellites and maps.  When
> it's working well, it's accurate to within just a few feet, say five to
> thirty feet.  When it's off, it can be off by a hundred feet or so. 
> Mostly,
> it's spot on.
>
> There are other types of GPS, which, BTW, stands for Global Positioning
> System.  The Sendero product is widely regarded as the most feature rich,
> but there are others that are far less complicated that do most of the 
> same
> things.  For example, the new Trekker Breeze is a low cost GPS system that
> is very simple to operate.  And there are more and more talking GPS 
> options
> for cell phones these days.
>
> The thing I like about my system is that I can serve as the family car
> navigator.  The system permits me to set a route, tell the driver when and
> where to turn, and such.  It helps me become a full partner in the car
> travel experience.  As a former driver, I hate being passive in the car.
> This GPS lets me participate once again on equal footing with others.  I 
> can
> also point out landmarks to my family.  The GPS might tell me about a 
> ghost
> town a few miles off the beaten path.  Or it might tell me about a famous
> mountain peak.  In addition, I can pick a place to eat.  In some 
> instances,
> I can not only find the phone number of the restaurant to set 
> reservations,
> I can also read the menu.
>
> There's much more to say about this stuff, and I've only begun to tap the
> possibilities of the technology.  One thing I have not done a lot of is
> using the device for pedestrian travel.  It works very well for this, but 
> I
> tend to rely on more traditional orientation and mobility techniques to 
> get
> around.  Even so, I keep the machine handy to help learn more about what's
> around me.  And I have used it to get... How do you say this?... Un-lost?
>
> I can say more if folks are interested.  The Missoula Chapter is going to
> demo this technology at our next meeting this month.
>
> Thanks!
>
>
> -------
> Jim Marks
> blind.grizzly at gmail.com
>
>
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