[gps-talkusers] GPS on a laptop
- From: Michael May <MikeMay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 07 Jun 2004 16:22:17 -0700
Chip,
We used a USB keypad with a Radio Shack belt clip. It worked reasonably
well. We also tried a few outboard joy stick arrangements which could
easily fit in a pocket and give you access to 5 or 10 primary commands.
Mike
At 02:04 PM 6/7/2004, you wrote:
>Yes, it's getting more and more common for service folks to have a
>laptop with gps receiver. They can have very high quality maps on cd,
>and they often have some sort of wireless link back to the home office
>so they receive job instructions as well as automatic routing on the
>laptop, and are able to communicate current location and status back to
>the home office.
>
>One of my "wouldn't it be cool" ideas for this project of mine (which I
>call TIPS for Travel Information Position System) would be for you to
>have a wireless link, and a defined group of friends, so that you all
>could know where each other were at any time. It's not at the top of
>the list, but maybe someday ...
>
>Another idea of mine is not just to allow the defining of locations of
>points of interest, but categories, and free-form text descriptions (so
>that you could type a note to yourself for instance that says to get to
>sportswear, go up the eskilator and turn left). And of course, to allow
>some web-based system for all users of this system to upload their files
>of points of interest to create an ever-growing database that all can
>download.
>
>Controlling it while wearing it in a backpack is my biggest worry at the
>moment. I have heard that the Sendaro product used an external keypad,
>but unless I can find one with a belt clip or something I don't like the
>idea of tying up your hands (which are often busy), so I think I'm going
>to look into the voice command option first.
>
>Oh well, got to get the basic one out there so I can hopefully get some
>bright ideas from others interested in this approach as well.
>
>Chip
>
>=20
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx=20
> > [mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Mary=20
> > Ellen Earls
> > Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 6:09 PM
> > To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: A really interesting observation:
> >=20
> > I have an ibm think pad T. series which we won't get into but=20
> > I am fascinated by this because the guy who came to put in a=20
> > new hard drive on this pc got here because of gps on his=20
> > laptop and an Earthmate receiver.
> > .
> > I had one of the original Atlas Gps-talks on a laptop and=20
> > probably would still have ithad it not for something=20
> > happening to the laptop computer itself. I had loads of=20
> > trouble with the thing and we were using the Magellan 310 on=20
> > it. I wonder what using an earthmate on it might have been=20
> > like. I do recall being told I was in a different city than I=20
> > actually was by it.
> > There was one section or road where I got absolutely no=20
> > signal and the program just quit and it was one of the little=20
> > lanes which opened off the streets in our village. Now, of=20
> > course, I go back there with the bn and earthmate and=20
> > sometimes the trekker and know where I am just fine with very=20
> > little loss of any kind of signal.
> > Interesting concept.
> > By the way, you were the one who told me about the laptops=20
> > with bays in them where you could remove components and=20
> > replace them with different ones.
> > Thanks.
> > Mary Ellen Earls
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Chip Orange" <Corange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 9:03 AM
> > Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: A really interesting observation:
> >=20
> >=20
> > > Mary Ellen,
> > >
> > > Yah, it's meant specifically for the blind who have laptops=20
> > rather than
> > > notetakers or pdas. The idea is that I put the software I write out
> > > there for free, but you (the end user) still need to buy a mapping
> > > program with data and a gps receiver to make it all work. =20
> > Then you run
> > > it on your laptop (which must have a screen reader and=20
> > windows 2000 or
> > > xp) much like you do on the BN.
> > >
> > > The mapping software I'm currently using is MapPoint from MS, and it
> > > sells for about $300 retail, a little less if you find the right
> > > discounter. The earthmate which can be used with laptops (the USB
> > > version without batteries and a special serial cable needed=20
> > by the BN)
> > > sells for around $100, so if you already own a laptop you'd=20
> > only be out
> > > about $400.
> > >
> > > Lot's of planned limitations to this approach that I can't do much
> > > about. You'll probably have to wear a backpack to carry=20
> > the laptop, and
> > > use an ear-plug or external speaker to hear the verbal=20
> > reports. And it
> > > will be verbal only, no plans for any braille support.
> > >
> > > I'm trying to design it so that you configure it once at=20
> > startup as to
> > > where you're going and what you want to hear along the way, then it
> > > shouldn't need much in the way of input from you after=20
> > that. My only
> > > thought for providing input if you're wearing a backpack is=20
> > a headset
> > > and voice control, which I will explore someday, but=20
> > certainly not on
> > > the first release.
> > >
> > > Laptops tend to have relatively short battery life, so=20
> > you'll have to
> > > make efforts to conserve the batteries, buy and carry extra, or make
> > > some other arrangements if you want to use it over a full day of
> > > traveling.
> > >
> > > I'm thinking that something like the IBM thinkpad X series=20
> > (which only
> > > weighs 2.7 pounds, and I think gets 8 hours from a battery=20
> > charge) would
> > > be the perfect laptop for this experiment.
> > >
> > > That's the other thing, this is an experiment, done in my=20
> > spare time, so
> > > there wouldn't mbe much in the way of support. This is=20
> > definitely for
> > > your more adventurous types, or for those who already have=20
> > a laptop, or
> > > for those who feel a laptop is more useful to them than a
> > > special-purpose notetaker or pda.
> > >
> > > I've written a prototype in a language that's interpreted, and it's
> > > caused me to run up against some problems that I think can only be
> > > solved by starting over in a different language, so I'll be=20
> > rewriting in
> > > vb.net.
> > >
> > > Would have started sooner, but, bad news at work about 9=20
> > months ago; we
> > > got hit with a mandate that we (the I.T. department) will work a lot
> > > harder to get projects out a lot sooner or we'll be=20
> > outsourced. Doesn't
> > > make me want to do much with my pc when I'm finally at home. :(
> > >
> > > If I do get it rewritten in vb.net, I've had some offers of help for
> > > support and future development from folks like Debee Norling, and so
> > > I'll probably take a reasonably working version and turn it=20
> > into an open
> > > source project so anyone who wants can tinker with it.
> > >
> > > Not having done this before, I suspect that's a lot easier=20
> > to do after
> > > we've got something on the table to talk about than from=20
> > the beginning.
> > >
> > > I'd be interested to hear any opinions good or bad as to=20
> > advantages or
> > > problems with the idea so far.
> > >
> > > Chip
> > >
> > > =3D20
> > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx=3D20
> > > > [mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Mary=3D20
> > > > Ellen Earls
> > > > Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 2:39 PM
> > > > To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: A really interesting observation:
> > > >=3D20
> > > > Chip this is exactly the kind of road I live on.
> > > > We call it Wooster Pike the state route is S. R. 50 and the=3D20
> > > > bus rout is r.
> > > > 128 and then you go about 3 miles from here and it changes to=3D20
> > > > wooster road and another 2 miles from that it changes to=3D20
> > > > Columbia Parkway and after you run through downtown=3D20
> > > > Cincinnati and get to third street the route changes to=20
> > Old rout 50.
> > > > So in your program is this going to be something for the=3D20
> > > > blind and visually impaired and what sort of device will it go on?
> > > > Mary Ellen Earls who gets curiouser and curioser by the hour.
> > > >=3D20
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: "Chip Orange" <Corange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > > To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > > Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 7:40 AM
> > > > Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: A really interesting observation:
> > > >=3D20
> > > >=3D20
> > > > > Mary Ellen,
> > > > >
> > > > > The term you're looking for is "reverse geocoding" and is a=3D20
> > > > function of
> > > > > the software and maps from Sendaro, not the receiver.
> > > > >
> > > > > To complicate the issue, most communities have stretches of=3D20
> > > > roads that
> > > > > are often known by more than one name (I travel one to work=3D20
> > > > that has 3
> > > > > names associated with it (or is it 4)), and so the one the=3D20
> > > > map reports
> > > > > to you may not be the one that the locals use to refer to it.
> > > > >
> > > > > In my gps navigation program I'm writing my maps give=3D20
> > > > several names to
> > > > > choose from for a road/address (in my example it's reported=3D20
> > > > as U.S. 319,
> > > > > Capitol Circle S.E., and if I remember right (S.R. 263=3D20
> > > > (S.R. for state
> > > > > road)), and it changes as you drive along. I've written my=3D20
> > > > program to
> > > > > find street names which are comprised of numbers and known=3D20
> > > > abbreviations
> > > > > (such as U.S. or S.R. or many others), which a map may=3D20
> > > > list, but which
> > > > > the locals don't usually use, and I move these names down=3D20
> > > > to the bottom
> > > > > of my preferred name list for a road so that when I report=3D20
> > > > an address I
> > > > > try to use the street name that the locals use (if the map=3D20
> > > > data has it).
> > > > >
> > > > > Aside from this confusing multiple name issue, your map=20
> > data may not
> > > > > have the street your on (especially if it's new or very=3D20
> > > > small), so the
> > > > > software from Sendaro may cast about for the nearest street=3D20
> > > > that it can
> > > > > find.
> > > > >
> > > > > Hth,
> > > > >
> > > > > Chip
> > > > >
> > > > > =3D3D20
> > > > >
> > > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > > From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx=3D3D20
> > > > > > [mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf=20
> > Of Mary=3D3D20
> > > > > > Ellen Earls
> > > > > > Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 1:22 PM
> > > > > > To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > > Subject: [gps-talkusers] A really interesting observation:
> > > > > >=3D3D20
> > > > > > Hi guys!
> > > > > > I have just completed one of my daily walks and we=20
> > live in a=3D3D20
> > > > > > small village and near the center of it is the inn.=20
> > This is a=3D3D20
> > > > > > lovely old building, very dignified and as I was=20
> > passing my=3D3D20
> > > > > > earthmate told me that I had poor 1 satellite.
> > > > > > I thought that was extremely interesting and amazing =
>that=3D3D20
> > > > > > something that small would have the tenacity to hang in there.
> > > > > > Now I am wondering with the new version coming out, =
>will=3D3D20
> > > > > > there be a way to more accurately for lack of a=20
> > better way to=3D3D20
> > > > > > put it, way to tell you at which address you are? As=20
> > of now,=3D3D20
> > > > > > if I were standing in front of my house, the bn gps =
>says=3D3D20
> > > > > > "near 6811 Wooster Pike, and the trekker is worse=20
> > than that,=3D3D20
> > > > > > it says "near 6801 Wooster Pike."
> > > > > > Anyway to my knowledge there is no 6801 Wooster pike.
> > > > > > Happy traveling, all!
> > > > > > Mary Ellen Earls
> > > > > >=3D3D20
> > > > > >=3D3D20
> > > > >
> > > >=3D20
> > > >=3D20
> > > >=3D20
> > >
> >=20
> >=20
> >=20
Michael G. May
CEO Sendero Group
Developers and distributors of BrailleNote GPS
Now distributing BrailleNote, VoiceNote, Miniguide, The Tissot Silen-T
tactile watch and the ID Mate, bar code reader
MikeMay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.SenderoGroup.com
(530) 757-6800, Fax (530) 757-6830, Mobile (530) 304-0007
Sendero Group, LLC
1118 Maple Lane, Davis, CA 95616-1723, USA
Latitude, 38 33 9.239 North
Longitude, 121 45 40.145 West
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