[gps-talkusers] Re: Talks and GPS

Yes Yes Yes,

Mike that would be very cool.  I can't wait until you folks get a blue tooth 
receiver interface working.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael May" <MikeMay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 12:44 PM
Subject: [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.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>
>
>
>
> __________ NOD32 1.876 (20040924) Information __________
>
> This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
> http://www.nod32.com
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