[gps-talkusers] Re: the best of all worlds
- From: "Catherine Close" <cclose@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2005 21:11:17 -0500
Actually, I personally would prefer to use Braille, but can't buy a new unit
every year or two at current prices. Hopefully the lower-cost cells will
actually arrive someday. Meanwhile, it would be nice if companies could
make software for more than one product. I think that GPS is becoming more
of a necessity now with more jobs moving to rural and suburban areas where
it is harder to obtain pedestrian assistance when walking and more necessary
to have directions for drivers. Cathy
Catherine Close
cclose@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
-----Original Message-----
From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Michael May
Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2005 8:52 PM
To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: the best of all worlds
I really appreciate all the comments on this topic.
It is actually in the consumer's best interest to have competition. There
may be short term problems but in the end, this provides more options and
hones all products. After all, there isn't one size fits all as you can tell
from the various comments.
One message I am hearing is that it would be great to have a PK style unit
without the Braille display in order to get the cost down. We don't have any
control over that decision but I will communicate the message to those who
do.
In terms of all of these devices, step back and look at the life cycle of
the technology in terms of completely new units and in terms of new
versions. There is growing pressure on the PDA front and these companies
will just keep leap frogging each other with the technology. Freedom and
Humanware are going to keep pushing the envelope. Gone are the days of the
Braille 'n Speak that could essentially stay the same for 12 years. There
are new PDAs coming on the market as well as the BrailleNote and Pac Mate.
I believe people can be happy whichever unit they get today and look forward
to advancements in the very near future.
We all know these advancements won't come cheap but at least improvements
are happening.
Mike
At 04:52 PM 3/13/2005, you wrote:
>Mike, I appreciate what your company has done with GPS. I regret that
>has to be competition for the small market for such a specialized
>product. I want a fantasy world where all the best features from
>everyone's systems can be incorporated in to one super GPS system. I
>am a person who is really interested in GPS but troubled by the
>available options. I bought one of the BX Pacmates when they came out
>as I felt this was the most versatile and advanced technology available at
the time and the best for work situations.
>However, the GPS for PM remains an unknown quantity. Although GPS is
>important, I like the fact that I can use my display separately and use
>commercially available applications. IF the PM option doesn't work I
>may have to think about a unit such as the Trekker. The PK sounds like
>a nice little unit, but I can't imagine spending such a large amount
>for another notetaker just to get a smaller GPS. With 70 per cent of
>the blind unemployed or unemployed, a low-cost option is really needed
>which doesn't have to be replaced often. It would be great if
>commercial maps could be combined with the best blind-friendly
>features. In my fantasy more cooperation and less competition would
>result in better products, more sales, and more satisfied customers.
>You can tell I didn't major in Business. Now back to the real world!
>Cathy
>
>
>
>Catherine Close
>cclose@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>[mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Michael May
>Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2005 12:05 PM
>To: GPS-talkusers-freelists.org
>Subject: [gps-talkusers] the best of all worlds
>
>Regarding recent comments about the best of Trekker and BrailleNote in
>one system. I have to say that the one-pound BrailleNote PK with a
>Bluetooth GPS receiver weighing a couple ounces is amazingly small and
>the lack of wires is wonderful. I dare say Trekker weighs more than that
altogether.
>
>Now to the issue of price. If as many blind people or their funding
>agencies bought GPS as purchased a screen reader, the price could
>probably be cut in half. The blindness market is small and GPS
>purchases are a small portion of an already small market. In order to
>have a low priced GPS, it will have to be an off-the-shelf mass market
>product. In that case, you will have a low price but reduced
>functionality and support. We just need to be realistic that there are
trade offs between price and functionality.
>We can't have our cake and eat it too.
>
>We are hopeful that with more users out there and more education of
>rehab folks and O&M instructors, the blindness
>
> GPS market will grow so we can continue to bring you more and more
>features and maybe even lower prices.
>
>Several of us from Sendero monitor this list and we take your
>suggestions very seriously. Sendero just past its 5 year anniversary
>and we are very grateful for your customer loyalty. We have come a long
>way in that time and we look forward to more major strides over the next
five years.
>
>Mike
>
>
>
>Michael G. May
>
>
>CEO Sendero Group
>
>Developers and distributors of BrailleNote GPS Distributing
>BrailleNote, VoiceNote, Miniguide, The Tissot Silen-T tactile watch,
>Talks cell phone software and the ID Mate, bar code reader
>
>MikeMay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>http://www.SenderoGroup.com
>
>(1-888-757-6810, 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
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