[gps-talkusers] Talks and GPS

Angelo,

I understand the Wayfinder with Talks and a Bluetooth receiver are working 
nicely in Europe. They have done a good job of making the Wayfinder 
functions talk on the phone from what I saw last July.

Any product designed for sighted folks isn't likely to have look-around and 
explore features but essential routes and position information should work 
fine. It isn't very practical yet to have the phone narrate directions to 
you the way a PDA can. For one, you can't have two Bluetooth devices 
connected to the phone at once like your earphone and a GPS.

Wayfinder isn't available in the U.S. so we can't test it here. In an ideal 
world, it would be nice to use the same Bluetooth receiver with my cell 
phone for basic way finding and with my BrailleNote PK for more serious 
navigating, route planning and exploration.

Mike


At 07:12 PM 1/24/2005, you wrote:
>Hi Mike,
>Do you have any thoughts about Talks and GPS?
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Michael May" <MikeMay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Sent: Monday, January 24, 2005 11:37 AM
>Subject: [gps-talkusers] Australia and various GPS units
>
>
> > Jason,
> >
> > It is really premature to speculate on the release of Australian maps on
> > any of the accessible devices, especially those that aren't even on the
> > market yet.
> >
> > No, we don't all use the same maps. As I indicated, there are two major
> > map
> > companies and we use one and VisuAide uses the other. I don't recall which
> > one the Freedom Destinator product uses. VisuAide and Sendero use the same
> > map engine and it is the engine that must accommodate a particular
> > country's map format.
> >
> > I fear I will confuse matters even  more by continuing this speculation..
> >
> > Our map supplier, Tele Atlas, says they will have maps for Australia and
> > New Zealand in 2005. If and when that happens and the maps work with the
> > map engine and the BrailleNote, is to early to say. I suspect that the
> > information you are hearing about other products having Australian maps is
> > also speculation.
> >
> > The good news is that there are efforts toward Australian maps. I wouldn't
> > make any decisions however based upon the information that is available so
> > far.
> >
> > Mike
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Australian maps are proposed to be released by Navtek and Tele Atlas in
> > 2005, the two major map suppliers. Nothing concrete. Once the data
> > available from those companies, there have to be filters from the map
> > engine company. That should happen but no guarantees.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > At 11:16 PM 1/23/2005, you wrote:
> >>HI Mike,
> >>thanks for getting back to me. You'll have to forgive me for my lack of
> >>knowledge on the ins and outs of GPS production, it is all fairly new to
> >>me.
> >>Sounds like Australia has stuffed me up by choosing to go with a different
> >>format. You said that braillenote, trekker and freedom all rely on the
> >>same
> >>map suppliers. Since freedom is coming out with Australian maps and
> >>Trekker
> >>too during this year, does that mean things are changing, or have the
> >>others
> >>just adapted their systems ahead of the braille note? In addition, with
> >>the
> >>merger between Visuaid and Pulse data, will this result in a transfer of
> >>usability. if so, my thinking is, that if trekker has Australian maps,
> >>will
> >>that overflow onto the braille note, or is their a tech issue there? In an
> >>earlier message, you mentioned something about the Pacmate being limited
> >>on
> >>its blind user features, but that it will be good for existing Pac mate
> >>owners, what are its weaknesses? I realize you haven't seen the final
> >>product yet.
> >>thanks Jason
> >>----- Original Message -----
> >>From: "Michael May" <MikeMay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >>To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >>Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2005 4:11 PM
> >>Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Gps Scottsdale and me:
> >>
> >>
> >> > Jason,
> >> >
> >> > Just to clarify a point: Sendero, VisuAide and Freedom all depend upon
> >> > commercial map suppliers to create the maps we use in various
> >> > countries..
> >> > These map suppliers are half billion dollar companies so we have little
> >> > influence on their developments. The issue with Australia is that the
> >> > map
> >> > data is in a format not used by the major map suppliers. In addition,
> >> > the
> >> > map engines which interpret the data do not have filters for the
> >> > Australian
> >> > format.
> >> >
> >> > It is likely that once one of these major map suppliers and map engine
> >> > companies support Australia, all of us will be able to utalize the
> >> > data.
> >> > At
> >> > that point, Sendero is happy to incorporate Australia or any other
> >> > country
> >> > where there is customer demand. I hate like heck to read your email and
> >> > not
> >> > to be able to
> >> > help you join in the fun.
> >> >
> >> > Mike
> >> > 07:29 PM 1/18/2005, you wrote:
> >> >>Hi there Mary Ellen,
> >> >>it is Jason here. I am in Adelaide South Australia. I have to say I am
> >> >>extremely jealous of you and the others with the braille note GPS. We
> >> >>cannot
> >> >>get Australian maps for the braille note or any other system for that
> >> >>matter. Mike says it is not cost effective for Sendaro to invest in
> >> >>them.
> >> >>The Pac mate is coming out with their's soon, but I am not sure of its
> >> >>cost
> >> >>and function match up to the braille note. The braille note sounds more
> >> >>versatile. Trekker is mean't to be cutting maps this year but no dates
> >> >>set
> >> >>yet. They will also probably map the Eastern states of Australia first
> >> >>as
> >> >>they have larger population. I love reading about you and the other
> >> >>members
> >> >>experiences with your braille note. It makes me aware of what is
> >> >>already
> >> >>available, so I can question the other manufacturers as to their
> >> >>products
> >> >>e.g "the braille note can do...this, can yours?". In the meantime, I
> >> >>have
> >> >>to
> >> >>be restricted to where I can go until I learn new routes or rely on
> >> >>people.
> >> >>As you know, can be very frustrating. In the meantime I will continue
> >> >>to
> >> >>enjoy reading the emails posted. Happy and safe traveling
> >> >>Jason
> >> >>P.S we are having a lovely hot day in the mid to high 30 C. At least
> >> >>that
> >> >>is
> >> >>one thing I have over you.
> >> >>----- Original Message -----
> >> >>From: "Mary Ellen Earls" <meearls@xxxxxxx>
> >> >>To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >> >>Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2005 8:11 AM
> >> >>Subject: [gps-talkusers] Gps Scottsdale and me:
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> > Hi all you gpsers!
> >> >> > Peggy and I just got back from about 3 hours in the open and we did
> >> >> > some
> >> >> > marvelous exploring of our area.
> >> >> > I can say without a doubt that had I not had my Braille Note GPS,
> >> >> > I'd
> >> >> > still
> >> >> > be wandering among the maze of little streets in this subdivision..
> >> >> > I found it quite fascinating as I walked along to hear the Braille
> >> >> > Note
> >> >> > telling me when a street changed its name.
> >> >> > Also we have created some personal pois which have benefitted me
> >> >> > tremendously.
> >> >> > It was wonderful to answer that we were exploring and not lost and
> >> >> > when
> >> >> > we
> >> >> > did get in a bind we simply set our apartment entrence as our
> >> >> > destination
> >> >> > and used the "getting warmer" method to get there.
> >> >> > Super cool, that.
> >> >> > I just hope I didn't look like such a bumbling idiot but the main
> >> >> > thing
> >> >> > is
> >> >> > that the gps got us home not once but twice.
> >> >> > Incidentally, one woman asked me where I was trying to go and I told
> >> >> > her I
> >> >> > was going to get my mail and she happily said, "well! You definitely
> >> >> > are
> >> >> > going in the right dirrection."
> >> >> > I am still having difficulty following routes and this is more
> >> >> > because
> >> >> > of
> >> >> > lack of familiarity with the streets. I'll remedy that by virtually
> >> >> > exploring the area and then won't be so unsure about where I am
> >> >> > going.
> >> >> > Happy traveling everyone!
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Mary Ellen Earls
> >> >> > Remember! Today is the Tomorrow you thought about yesterday.
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >
> >
> >

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