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[gps-talkusers] Re: laptops versus note takers for the blind

From: Michael May <MikeMay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Mon, 06 Sep 2004 17:06:13 -0700
There have been pretty small notebook computers for several years and they 
just get cheaper. Size really hasn't been an obstacle. It is great to see 
the battery life improving.

Three other challenges for GPS laptop users:

1. Small keyboards aren't bad once you get used to them. However, how do 
you access that keyboard when you have the unit around your neck or 
shoulder? On Strider-GPSTalk, we used a numeric keypad for primary commands 
and that worked reasonably well. The worse part was the extra cable to the 
keypad and the fact that it could come unplugged. Bluetooth keypads? 
perhaps. Voice input? Not very dependable outdoors but a thought.

2. The output on a laptop required an external speaker. This means one more 
battery and one more cable. We see Bluetooth ear pieces but it is not wise 
to cover your ears when walking. Bluetooth speakers? perhaps. Braille 
displays on the laptop? possible but not convenient or cost effective.

3. GPS operation necessitates quick access to the application. You come out 
of a building and you need to turn it on immediately to start acquiring. 
Laptops can take a minute or two to boot up. Resume mode doesn't always 
bring up all the previously running applications reliably. Instant on and 
off is paramount for a GPS device. This is why 90% of consumer GPS 
applications are on PDAs or handhelds.

I dare say that I have hauled around a laptop with GPS as much or more than 
anyone. The fact, is that a handful of inconveniences are worth the 
information one gets from any accessible GPS. There are trade offs no 
matter what unit you choose. Given the plethora of trade offs, the 
BrailleNote and VoiceNote happen to be one of the best options going and a 
huge improvement over the laptop GPS I used to carry.

We would love to have our GPS applications running on a variety of 
platforms. I think we have done a pretty good job of positioning ourselves 
as the Cadillac of accessible GPS applications. The good news for consumers 
is that there are other options evolving so if you don't need a Cadillac, 
there are other brands from which to choose.

Mike

At 03:15 PM 9/6/2004, you wrote:
>Are there laptops out there that provide the battery life one would need =
>for
>something like that (i.e. eight to ten hours) and the portability?  If =
>there
>are such things, count me in as voting for the reintroduction of =
>Strider.
>Heck, I'd even help WRITE the blasted thing.
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > [mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of=20
> > Fernando Botelho
> > Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 2:54 PM
> > To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: [gps-talkusers] laptops versus note takers for the blind
> >=20
> >=20
> > You guys are right on that one; you can add me to the list of=20
> > people not happy with machines designed exclusively for the=20
> > blind. I rather have a GPS system on the smaller, faster,=20
> > more powerful, more versatile, and much cheaper Fujitsu P1120=20
> > laptop than on any blind-specific notetaker out there--which=20
> > explains why I don't have a GPS system right now.
> >=20
> > Fernando
> >=20
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > [mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Mary=20
> > Ellen Earls
> > Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 9:07 AM
> > To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Out dated pois
> >=20
> >=20
> > I actually would like to see the strider brought back in a=20
> > windows version because I am becoming more and more=20
> > disalusioned with the field of blindness technology as a whole.
> >=20
> > Mary Ellen Earls
> > Remember! Today is the Tomorrow you thought about yesterday.
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "vincent" <vinnroc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2004 4:39 PM
> > Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Out dated pois
> >=20
> >=20
> > > Go Charles there is a bunch of us who can't wait.  I think=20
> > there is a
> > bunch
> > > of laptop lurkers. ---- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Charles La Pierre" <lapierre@xxxxxxxxx>
> > > To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2004 7:18 PM
> > > Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Out dated pois
> > >
> > >
> > > > I am always looking at ways to create an Atlas Speaks and Strider=20
> > > > again. Charles.
> > > >
> > > > At 10:36 AM 9/5/2004, you wrote:
> > > > >Could this be a consideration sometime down the road?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > >----- Original Message -----
> > > > >From: "Michael May" <MikeMay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > > >To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > > >Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2004 12:35 PM
> > > > >Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Out dated pois
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > > Rich,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The maps were discontinued for that format. We could=20
> > get updated
> > POIs
> > > but
> > > > > > not maps. There were also licensing and insurance=20
> > issues, which
> > makes
> > > the
> > > > > > annual cost about $20,000 before you sell one copy, crazy but=20
> > > > > > true.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The better solution is to port our current software=20
> > to a laptop
> > > platform
> > > > > > but that too isn't inexpensive in terms of time and=20
> > priorities.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Mike
> > > > > > At 03:18 PM 9/3/2004, you wrote:
> > > > > > >Mike:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >I still have version 1.85 of Atlas and GPS Talks on=20
> > my laptop=20
> > > > > > >and
> > it
> > > > >works
> > > > > > >great.  True, the maps are somewhat out of date. =20
> > How difficult
> > would
> > > it
> > > > >be
> > > > > > >to resurrect that with new maps.  Are the new maps addressed=20
> > > > > > >quite differently?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >Rich Irwin
> > > > > > >rich.irwin@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:rich.irwin@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >-----Original Message-----
> > > > > > >From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > > >[mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf=20
> > Of Michael=20
> > > > > > >May
> > > > > > >Sent: Friday, September 03, 2004 2:26 PM
> > > > > > >To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > > >Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Out dated pois
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >Chip,
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >It is a matter of time and money to port the software to a=20
> > > > > > >laptop
> > > > >platform.
> > > > > > >All the map licenses remain the same as for the BrailleNote.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >However, we also have requests for GPS on the PK, GPS on=20
> > > > > > >Keysoft
> > 6.1
> > > and
> > > > > > >GPS on generic Windows CE PDAs. I wish we had the=20
> > funding to do=20
> > > > > > >all
> > > these
> > > > > > >things.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >Mike
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >At 01:19 PM 9/3/2004, you wrote:
> > > > > > > >It may not be possible via the software.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >As I have mentioned before I was trying to develop=20
> > a similar
> > > product
> > > > >for
> > > > > > > >laptop users, and I was using MapPoint for it's=20
> > mapping data=20
> > > > > > > >and
> > > POIs.
> > > > > > > >MapPoint does not allow you to delete or edit any of it's=20
> > > > > > > >list of
> > > POIs,
> > > > > > > >so all I can do is essentially ask it to give me a list of=20
> > > > > > > >its
> > POIs
> > > > > > > >within a defined radius of a defined point.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >I also added a user POI database, and in that I=20
> > was planning=20
> > > > > > > >to
> > > allow
> > > > > > > >edits and deletions, but I too (if I ever could=20
> > complete the
> > > project,
> > > > > > > >which isn't looking likely), would face the same=20
> > restriction=20
> > > > > > > >on commercial POIs.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >I suppose I could add a second database of known POIs that=20
> > > > > > > >are in MapPoint that the user doesn't want=20
> > reported, and then=20
> > > > > > > >search it
> > > each
> > > > > > > >time MapPoint gave me a list of POIs, but that=20
> > sounds like a=20
> > > > > > > >lot
> > of
> > > > > > > >extra work and extra processing for a relatively=20
> > small amount=20
> > > > > > > >of
> > > gain.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >Unfortunately, my paying job has taken up much more of my=20
> > > > > > > >time,
> > and
> > > > >will
> > > > > > > >continue to do so, so it may be that someone else=20
> > will have=20
> > > > > > > >to do
> > > this
> > > > > > > >project.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >What about it Mike?  With all that experience you=20
> > have, could=20
> > > > > > > >you
> > > > >modify
> > > > > > > >your program to work in a laptop environment?
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >Chip
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > > > > > From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx=3D20
> > > > > > > > > [mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On=20
> > Behalf Of=20
> > > > > > > > > Todd
> > > Patkus
> > > > > > > > > Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2004 4:23 AM
> > > > > > > > > To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > > > > > Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Out dated pois
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > > Mike et al,
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > > If you, Mike, say no about commercial POIs, then, what=20
> > > > > > > > >is=3D20  your reason for denying that?  Makes no=20
> > sense!  Kim=20
> > > > > > > > >is=3D20  correct, so please think twice before saying=20
> > > > > > > > >something. =3D20
> > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > > > > > >From: Michael May <MikeMay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > > > > > >To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > > > > > >Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2004 19:30:27 -0700
> > > > > > > > > >Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Out dated pois
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >You cannot update commercial POIs, only your user POIs.
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >Mike
> > > > > > > > > >At 06:09 PM 8/20/2004, you wrote:
> > > > > > > > > >>Better yet, Can we update an existing poi, or=20
> > atleast=3D20
> > > > > > > > > rename the poi=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>if need be in the case of a closing or changing=20
> > > > > > > > > >>business?
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>----- Original Message -----
> > > > > > > > > >>From: "Kim Lookingbill" <seadolphink@xxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > > > > > >>To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > > > > > >>Sent: Friday, August 20, 2004 4:16 PM
> > > > > > > > > >>Subject: [gps-talkusers] Out dated pois
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>> Hi: - Living in a competitive area for businesses,=20
> > > > > > > > > >>> where
> > > new=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>> businesses
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>>are opening up almost weekly, while others=20
> > are closing
> > their
> > > > >doors=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>>for a
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>>final time.  What would be the procedure of notifying
> > the=3D20
> > > > > > > > > map folks=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>>of a
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>>no longer existent business designated at a=20
> > particular
> > POI=3D20
> > > > > > > > > setting,=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>>so
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>>these updates, and adjustments can be made=20
> > for future=20
> > > > > > > > > >>>map
> > > > >editions..
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>>Thanks, and all the best.  - Kim
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>>P.S.: I am aware that Pois can be edited/deleted=20
> > > > > > > > > >>>within=3D20
> > > > > > > > > your personal
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>>settings on your own BN, but I'm thinking=20
> > more on the=20
> > > > > > > > > >>>line
> > > of=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>>informing
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>>the proper persons in charge of the master=20
> > map copies=20
> > > > > > > > > >>>so
> > > outdated
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>>information is not included on future map updates.
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>> Kim Lookingbill
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>>kim@xxxxxxxxxxxx (email or MSN Messenger)
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>>Blast From The Past
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>>Sundays, 16 to 19 UTC
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>>Back Stage Pass
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>>Thursdays from 0 to 1 UTC
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > > >>>http://interactive.acbradio.org
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > >
> > > > Charles M. La Pierre CTO
> > > > Sendero Group, LLC
> > > >
> > > > Lat. 37 15' 25" N  Lon: 121 53' 04" W
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >=20
> >=20
> >=20
> >=20
> >=20
> >=20
Follow-Ups:

[gps-talkusers] Re: laptops versus note takers for the blind
From: lazzaro
References:
- [gps-talkusers] laptops versus note takers for the blind
  - From: Fernando Botelho
- [gps-talkusers] Re: laptops versus note takers for the blind
  - From: Chris Meredith
[gps-talkusers] Re: laptops versus note takers for the blind

Other related posts:
