[gps-talkusers] New York experiences so far

Glad to have street maps again. The grid pattern of the city makes it 
pretty easy to know where you are but the GPS does help remind me about the 
avenues between the numbers like Park, Lexington and Madison.

The reception continues to be okay although I notice a fair bit of multi 
path. This manifest itself as poor directional information when walking 
slow or stopped. If I am moving the directional information is fairly 
reliable. A lot of the streets are very close together so there is the 
potential for incorrect street info but it is fine most of the time.

I was surprised walking up the East side of Central Park, the West side of 
5th avenue under the trees that I still got signals.

I navigated the way to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Inside, I found an 
audio guide and Braille pamphlet to help a little with accessibility but I 
can't wait for the days when our indoor wayfinding is implemented. This 
museum is enormous.

I learned from the pamphlet that you can have a touch tour with advance 
reservations. I created a point at the museum including a note and phone 
number for the collective user file. The audio guide only applied to about 
5% of the exhibits. There were 6 items blind people can touch. This is not 
a museum you can do independently. A sighted guide is necessary even to 
read the numbers on the exhibits for the audio device.

The pamphlet said that audio devices were free for people who were blind or 
deaf. I had a great time touring with my wife but I think these folks could 
use a little accessibility consulting.

I found the new Talking ATM database useful here. There are 1824 points of 
interest within a mile of my hotel and lots more to add. I have only input 
18 points so far.

I have been meaning to go by a shoe repair store to have a couple custom 
straps made for my BrailleNote to hold the lid half open when I am walking. 
I found 3 shops within 3 blocks and the last one agreed to make straps. 
They are about 8 inches long with mail Velcro on one end and a fold-over 
snap on the other end. I asked him for a clip to hook into the D rings on 
the BrailleNote case but he didn't have any.

It works great. The straps constrict your hands a bit but it is nice not to 
have the lid of the case flapping up and down as you walk. It also obscures 
the keyboard to onlookers and might help keep dust off the display.

I mention this in case you are inclined to go to your local shoe shop. Once 
I refine this design, we might have a bunch made for those who would also 
like this benefit.

One thing about New York, almost any business or entertainment is at your 
fingertips. With so much information, the problem is  choosing where to go. 
Isn't it a change and fun to have this problem?

Mike




At 05:39 PM 9/10/2004, you wrote:
>Shame on you, Mike!  Don't you know you always pack maps and poi's and what
>you need to work the gps wherever you're going, even before you think about
>packing your toothbrush or underwear?  <grin>  Seriously though, I'm glad
>you won't be mapless in The Big Apple after all.  I'm glad to hear the
>Earthmate does so well there.  I have the Sportrak, and after sitting in
>Central Park with it on and getting a poor fix and then losing my signal
>over and over, I figured there were too many skyscrapers to make it
>worthwhile to use while walking, so I'd just use it to see where I'd been
>or plan where we were going when we were in the hotel room.  Even that made
>the city more interesting.  Can hardly wait to hear your gps adventures
>once you get the maps.
>
>Peggy
>
>At 09:51 AM 9/10/2004 -0700, you wrote:
> >Thanks to those of you who offered to email me the files. They would be too
> >big to download easily. I am going over to see Jay Leventhal at AFB today
> >and will get the maps from him in person.
> >
> >Unfortunately, not having the maps is a function of user error and not a
> >limitation of the technology. I have a 2 GB compact flash card and 5 GB
> >Micro drive so storage space wasn't the problem. I just neglected to put
> >the New York maps on the drive. I had 90% of the U.S., Canada and Ireland
> >on the drives, just not New York.
> >
> >I have always said, one should use the technology but always have
> >contingency plans if it fails. In this case, I forgot the maps and found a
> >solution. I'll be back in business shortly.
> >
> >I still had points of interest, which assisted me in finding a particular
> >restaurant last night. I am pleasantly surprised to see how well the
> >Earthmate is picking up satellites in New York. It took me 10 minutes to
> >first acquire but after that, I had coverage 90% of the time.
> >
> >Mike
> >
> >
> >At 05:39 AM 9/10/2004, you wrote:
> > >Sure hope to see GPS on a lap top again.  Years ago we could go 
> anywhere in
> > >the Us and Canada and not worry about it.  I sure hope that this happens
> > >again.  Good luck in New York.  I would be be bummed also.  Gerry
> > >----- Original Message -----
> > >From: "Michael May" <MikeMay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > >To: "GPS-talkusers-freelists.org" <GPS-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > >Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 5:42 PM
> > >Subject: [gps-talkusers] list to the rescue
> > >
> > >
> > > > Hello Listers,
> > > >
> > > > I just arrived in Manhattan having left my house at 3:30 AM this 
> morning.
> > >I
> > > > forgot one very major thing and hope someone on the list can come 
> to the
> > > > rescue.
> > > >
> > > > I have maps for about 45 of the 50 states but not New York. Anyone 
> on the
> > > > list in Manhattan? I'll go through serious withdrawal if I am here 
> for 3
> > > > days without maps.
> > > >
> > > > Please email me of list or call my cell, 530-304-0007 if you are in the
> > > > vicinity. I'll buy you at least a cup of coffee in exchange for a map
> > fix.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks,
> > > >
> > > > Mike
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > 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
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
>
>mailto:kernsac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>http://www.home.earthlink.net/~kernsac
>MSN Messenger kernsac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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