[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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