I wondered whether this might happen! Let me bring a different perspective to this. I am very interested in the potential of GPS orientation and like many people am put off by the high prices and the uncertainty about how useful it will be at a practical , every-day level to a totally blind person. About three years ago, I played with the original Wayfinder Navigator (not Wayfinder Access, which wasn't yet available) on my Nokia 6630. Overall, it was disappointing, some of its main disadvantages including the fact that navigation instructions were often quite vague, the fact that intersections weren't announced and the lack of any ability to identify your current position. I also looked at Trekker, but even with a Bluetooth receiver the whole package seemed rather too cumbersome to be taking around with you everywhere you went, and then there was also the concern about having to make sure that three different components of the system are all charged and ready to go, not to mention the price.
As someone who has never successfully used a GPS orientation product to get anywhere, my mobility has mainly been based on remembering routes, asking directions from passers-by and all the other methods we know and love. It takes quite a leap of faith to go from that kind of mobility to putting all your trust in a map-based route generated by a computer. To me, the Trekker Breeze looks like a useful introduction to GPS orientation which will enable me to build on my existing set of skills and to develop a greater familiarity with my surroundings. I particularly like the ability to "record" an existing route, rather than being forced to use a route calculated by the system, irrespective of whether this is in fact the safest or best route for a blind pedestrian. I am hoping that the Breeze will allow me to learn new routes more quickly - which will be especially important as I have moved house eight times in six years and am just about to move again - and enable me to become more confident in my mobility.
If it works and I find that I want/need to do more routes completely independently a few years down the line, I dare say I'll be shelling out for the full Trekker or giving WF Access a try, depending on the situation. But I still see the Breeze as a useful bridge between not using GPS at all and relying more extensively on it.
James----- Original Message ----- From: "will lomas" <lomaswilliam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2008 8:22 AM Subject: [access-uk] Re: trekker breeze walk podcast
hi but it is designed for routes you already knowi think if the regular trekker was that price, more people would buy it but a thousand pounds? that's a joke but if people keep paying a thousand pounds for a GPS it will never come down. people should refuse to buy it and then the price will have to dropbut the breeze has a specific market On 19 Jul 2008, at 17:23, Terry Clasper wrote:Hi.as I say in todays episode oc the podcast don't right it off just yet, and if you subscribe to Infotech listen to the detailed interview with the product manager from Humanware as he is very clear about the way the breeze works and the needs its trying to address.By the way can I just thank everyone for the nice things you have all been saying about the podcast, if you want a touch of Aus and a touch of technical creativity and in total a good laugh the current episode is worth a listen.Cheers everyone! Terry Clasper. MSM: terry.clasper@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Skype: terryclasper Private E-Mail: terry.clasper@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Work E-Mail: terry.clasper@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx----- Original Message ----- From: "john coley" <johncoley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2008 1:59 PM Subject: [access-uk] Re: trekker breeze walk podcastHi Ray, it really was farcical. When I first heard about them I'd been very interested in getting one, but not now. When you get a minute have a listen. I'm sure you'll aggree. The link to the podcast ishttp://www.tandt-consultancy.com/sounds/podcast/july08/12-treckerbreezewalk.mp3 John.----- Original Message ----- From: "Rays Home" <rays-home@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2008 6:42 AM Subject: [access-uk] Re: trekker breeze walk podcastJohn, had to smile at these thoughts of yours. I can tell you of at least two points of interest, the Thisle Hotel or maybe Straf- Allan, and the Garden House pub across the road. Of course there are many hotels around that area too. You mean to say none of this came up?Folks, save your four or five hundred quid and get something better! Cheers, Ray.----- Original Message ----- From: "john coley" <johncoley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [access-uk] trekker breeze walk podcastHi everybody, I'm awaiting with interest peoples' comments now we've had opportunity to hear the Trekker Breeze. Judging by the comments of those on the walk they were less than impressed with its performance. It only announced one road junction, and that was it. Noannouncements of surrounding features, pubs, theatres, etc, as Humanware claim in their blerb it will announce. The only ttwo things that were announced were a trash bin and the sight village gates, both of which had been manually entered as landmarks. A lady asked the question if she was going to the hospital by taxi and then walking back would the trekker breeze take her home. The guy from Humanware said it would, but the taxi would have to take the exact route she'd walk. In another part of the podcast someone asked about announcements of surrounding features, and one of the items consisted of a snatch of conversation between walkers, which the unit said was 400 feet from a road junction. Over the whole walk there were very few announcements. I take it the Humanware rep was sighted. The best test of it would have been for the walk to have been done with the blind party, without the sighted guy, just using the trekker breeze. Given how little it would seem to be able to do without being told I think the price is excessive.John.** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq __________ NOD32 3281 (20080718) Information __________ This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. http://www.eset.com** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq
** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq
