[Promotion-technology] DBT google maps

[David Andrews]

>
>The Official Google Blog
>
>Tuesday, December 26, 2006
>
>Speech-friendly textual directions from Google Maps
>
>By T.V. Raman, Research Scientist
>
>12/26/2006 08:31:00 AM
>
> >From time to time, our own T.V. Raman shares his tips on how to use
>Google from his perspective as a technologist who cannot see -- tips that
>sighted people,
>among others, may also find useful. - Ed.
>
>Google Maps and its associated local search is a quick and easy means of
>locating businesses and obtaining directions. Most people who use it
>already seem
>to enjoy the graphical interface with its extremely reactive GUI. But
>when using spoken output, this visual richness can get in the way of
>quickly listening
>to the results of a maps query.
>
>As an alternative, Google Maps also provides a simple to use a textual
>interface that serves up directions very efficiently when working with a
>screenreader
>or a Braille display. This alternative view into Google Maps is here, at
>the Textual Maps UI.
>
>LINK:
>
><http://maps.google.com/?output=html>http://maps.google.com/?output=html
>
>It's extremely useful for blind and visually impaired users, as well as
>an effective solution for those times when you're at a non-graphical
>display and
>need to quickly look up a location.
>
>Just type a simple English query of the form start address to end address
>and quickly get the information you're looking for. Though we added this
>option
>to enhance the accessibility of Google Maps for blind and low-vision
>users, perhaps others will find this alternative view a useful addition
>to their maps
>arsenal.
>
>LINK TO T V Raman
>
><http://emacspeak.sourceforge.net/raman/>http://emacspeak.sourceforge.net/raman/
>
>(Source URL and permalink below)
>
><http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/12/speech-friendly-textual-directions>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/12/speech-friendly-textual-directions.html




David Andrews and white cane Harry.