Hi John,as soon as you switch the Breeze on and as soon as it has located sufficient satellites, it will provide you with information about your current location. You do not need to be with anyone to use it and obtain useful information about your surroundings and the Breeze has the facility to immediately take you back to where you started from at the press of a button. One can set as many landmarks as one likes and the Breeze can make a route to any of these landmarks. The Breeze is a fairly straight forward device to be able to learn and use and is aimed at people who have lost their sight , perhaps with poor mobility skills and have little technical knowledge. Sighted assistance can be used to help them make useful routes to assist them to be able to manage to get around more independently. The making of useful landmarks along the route can immediately assist them to know where they are and location information can be obtained at the press of a button. Such information will hopefully provide the confidence that people require in order to get around independently. The device can be use effectively by people straight out of the box so as to say but does not have the functionality that perhaps you and I require. If it had more functionality, such as being able to set routes to Points Of Interest rather than just personal POI's, then the market for the product could have been even greater. The podcast as limited value in one sense, because of the limitations of the area that the device was used in for the demonstration. It would have been nice if we could have had a podcast indemonstrating the device in a more demanding environment to demonstrate the wider functionality of the Breeze..
regards David Quarmby quarmby@xxxxxxxxxxxx 07736 087019Inclusive Design means that all products, services, environments etc., should be accessible and usable by the majority of people to the greatest extent without the need for any adaptation or specialist design. ----- Original Message ----- From: "john coley" <johncoley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2008 9:15 PM Subject: [access-uk] Re: trekker breeze walk podcast
Hi David, a point I forgot to put in my previous post was that most of us don't have someone to guide us about. In order for the Trekker Breeze to be any use whatsoever you'd need someone surely who knew where to go? The Breeze wouldn't be of any use. If your answer to that question is that a guide wouldn't be necessary why would the Breeze be needed at all, since if the blind user was able to get to the places on their own in order to insert the necessary markers he/she would know the way anyway.John.----- Original Message ----- From: "David Quarmby" <quarmby@xxxxxxxxxxxx>To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2008 8:25 PM Subject: [access-uk] Re: trekker breeze walk podcastJohn,I think your criticism's of the Trekker Breeze are bordering on being unfair about this piece of equipment. I think Humanware have developed a product that can meet a gap in the market for a great number of visually impaired people who know very little about computers and either perhaps don't want or could manage the sophistication of other more complex GPS products. I do think that there is a market out there for this kind of product although I think the market would have been greater if one could make a route to any point of interest rather than solely to a landmark that the person has previously visited and created. When one considers the price of £485, this is for the hardware and the software and when one sees the price of Wayfinder Access at £208 plus the cost of a phone, possible GPS receiver and either Talks or Mobile Speak, then the price is not too extortionate. If one wants perhaps the best GPS solution for the visually impaired at present, provided by the Sendero Group, then you would be paying in the region of £900 for the software alone.The Code Factory & Sendero Group partnership that is due to bring out the Mobile Geo by October may be a good all round solution but the cost of the software alone is likely to be around £400 and this is still to be developed further. In regard to the Trekker Breeze podcast, I also went and did the same route. I was impressed with how quick the Breeze picked up the signal and how easy it was to pick it up and use it in a productive way. Yes, it might not have picked up the Points Of Interest of the pubs and hotels, but the walk took you away from Hagley Road down a quiet suburban street and there was very little to test it on other than POI's that had been put in on previous walks because you did not pass any. In doing this, the Breeze was accurate. I must admit, it would have been nice to test out the Breeze in a busy city centre to see how it performed but for everything,hardware and software in a little unit, I think some people will be highly delighted with the product. It's difficult at times to get the right balance between simplicity and functionality, and for me, I would have liked to have seen some more functionality as I have previously mentioned but I still think it is a great little product that some people will find invaluable and at the present time, it won't be me.Perhaps as we have seen in the recent past, a battle of the note takers', we might see something on similar lines for some of the VIP GPS systems.By the way, at the Access IT award ceremony that was held in London yesterday, the European funded GPS guidance system that is being piloted in Greece known as "Smart Eyes"won an innovation award. I just wonder whether we will ever see this system available commercially.regards David Quarmby quarmby@xxxxxxxxxxxx 07736 087019Inclusive Design means that all products, services, environments etc., should be accessible and usable by the majority of people to the greatest extent without the need for any adaptation or specialist design. ----- Original Message ----- From: "john coley" <johncoley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2008 7:28 PM Subject: [access-uk] Re: trekker breeze walk podcastHi Terry, for those of us who aren't subscribed to infotech could you, if you can, post to the list a positive case made for the Breeze. I think you're going to be hard pushed. As I said in my previous post the excessive price tag allows no room for ifs and buts. Am I wrong then when I say that the Breeze is at best only any good if a route is walked previously and the markers manually inserted? If that's the case, and it only does what someone's memory and perhaps a memo note of some discription, braille or audio giving directions can do what justifies its price? What justifies the Breeze costing twice the price of Wayfinder Access, costing half the price and that will do much much more? Is it just that the breeze is a stand alone unit and Wayfinder Access is software?Given the little it will do to whom would it be of use? I look forward to your comments. John.----- Original Message ----- From: "Terry Clasper" <terry.clasper@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2008 5:23 PM Subject: [access-uk] Re: trekker breeze walk podcastHi.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 __________ 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 __________ NOD32 3282 (20080719) Information __________ This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. http://www.eset.com
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