[gps-talkusers] Re: Pros and cons of GPS

You can navigate new routes without sighted assistance using GPS.


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Kylie Forth 
  To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2007 10:51 PM
  Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Pros and cons of GPS


  Thanks for all your comments, and thanks especially to those of you who 
offered to answer my questions offline. I'm sending back to the list though to 
open up discussion and see what everyone else has to say.

   

  I get the impression that searching for certain buildings, such as 
restaurants, is very popular. However, from a more practical point of view, how 
does using GPS improve your mobility? If you already know the route, is there 
any point using GPS? And how easy is it to navigate a new route? Is it still 
necessary to get a sighted person to walk the route with you, or can you do it 
entirely independently?

   

  How easy is the unit to use when your hands are full? I gather that there is 
a speaker through which you can hear information, but is this preset? If for 
example, you know the route and only want a portion of it spoken, can you 
temporarily turn the speech off? Is it possible to read the information of the 
braille display?

   

  And finally, by setting POIs, you can obviously give yourself directions at 
each point. These are obviously in a more friendly format that latitude and 
longitude? 

   

  I'll probably have more questions later!

   

  Cheers

   

  Kylie

   

   


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Rick Fox
  Sent: Thursday, 10 May 2007 11:38 PM
  To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  Cc: frank@xxxxxxxxxxx
  Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Pros and cons of GPS

   

  Hi Kylie, I've been using the Sendero GPS since Version 1, and I've been 
hooked from day1. I vacation regularly on the beach. Before the Sendero GPS, I 
had a hard time finding my starting point when I took a walk on the beach or 
boardwalk. Now, I mark my starting point as a point of interest, whether it's a 
sand doon, a chair, some steps, etc. After I've walked a couple of miles, I 
simply turn around and set this point of interest as a destination. The GPS 
software will then tell me the direction and distance to my destination either 
automatically at given time intervals, or when I ask. I have been doing this 
since version 1, and I still find it a great feature, on the beach, in the 
woods, on the water, etc. Now there are automated street maps and you can 
create automatic routes, either for the vehicle or a pedestrian. Since I use 
the GPS every day, it would take too long to specify all the practical 
applications I use. To name just a few: I don't have to depend on the bus 
driver to tell me when I've reached my stop. I can explore my neighborhood or 
any neighborhood virtually, street by street, before I've taken a step outside. 
There are millions of preloaded points of interest organized by categories. If 
I want to know the restaurants within 5 miles of my home or a hotel, I can 
search for them, look up their addresses and phone numbers, and create a route 
from where I am to that restaurant, church, post office etc. In short, my way 
finding literacy has been greatly expanded, which expands my traveling 
confidence. I still have to use my good judgment, common sense, and mobility 
skills, but I have a lot more information in my arsenal. You're welcomed to 
contact me off line with any questions. Good luck 

  <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

    Hi everyone 

     

    I'm interested in buying a GPS unit for my PK, and wondered if you could 
give me the advantages and disadvantages of the unit to assist my decision. I'm 
mainly interested in what you find it most useful for, how much you use it and 
in what context. Anything at all, really. 

     

    Thanks 

    Kylie 


  -- Rick Fox VP, Field Operations De Witt & Associates 700 Godwin Avenue, 
Suite 110 Midland Park, NJ 07432 Voice: 1-877-447-6500 Ext. 213 Fax: 
201-447-1187 Email: rick@xxxxxxxxxxx www.4dewitt.com

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