[gps-talkusers] Re: what do we really want from GPS?
- From: "Scott E Ford" <w8sef@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 10:19:29 -0400
Hello everyone,
There is something that I would really like to see on the Braille
note GPS. That is a hot key to allow you to keep the GPS running while you
access other applications on the unit.
I have a funny little story why this feature would help me. I was
going to goalball practice this weekend. I was getting a ride from a
friends wife who has never been to the place before. We were on the highway
and there was a particular turn that she was un sure of, so I had my GPS
with a route to the destination running. We were talking and a subject came
up where I needed to get information from a document on my PK. I proceeded
to shut down the gps and go into the document, and tell them about the
information. We continued to talk for a time. Then my friends wife
mentioned that it seemed like we were not going in the right direction. I
realized that I had forgotten to restart my GPS. I started it and checked
the route realizing that we had gone past the turn. I recalculated the
route. We took the next exit and come to find out we really did not go to
far out of the way. In fact I do not think that we really even had to back
track. The GPS worked exilently I just need to get use to navigating. I
have gone so long just being a passenger. Let me tell ya it is an awesome
feeling to be able to provide necessary information when you are trying to
get some where, that you have never been to before.
Scott
-----Original Message-----
From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of gerry leary
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 7:55 AM
To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: what do we really want from GPS?
Hello there,
I hope that I don't cause trouble here, because I think that this type of
discussion is fun and can be productive. My favorite type of device would
be called something like a portable work station. This would be the type of
device that would have places to slide different units into it. You could
carry the whole thing around if you wanted. Also if you only wanted maybe
GPS you could slide that piece out and carry it with you. That way you
wouldn't have to carry everything if you didn't want it. When I had a
trekker it was nice to have something small to work with. I can't wait
until Visuaide gets the Bluetooth part working so that you don't have to
have any strap at all. I haven't seen the PK yet, but I don't have the
money to afford it. Gerry
----- Original Message -----
From: "liam" <liam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2005 2:24 PM
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: what do we really want from GPS?
> Yusuf
>
> The question maybe more about what do we want from the equipment
> package we have to carry each day. I want it to be light, run for ever
> on one set of power cells, be reprogrammable and it must replace most
> of the other electronic devices I carry. Not untypically, an mp3
> player, cell phone, mini disc recorder with mic, braille note pk and
> gps. And on really bad days add a lap top and portable scanner to
> that lot. For me the pK is as yet the most versatile option for note
> takers but it was its ability to run the GPS that really made the
> decision for us. We may well have stayed with the competition if it
> had fielded a credible GPs alternative in real time.
>
> I don't think the PK is any bulkier than the trekker. It seems to run
> longer on batteries than the trekker and seems a little more robust in
> terms of software reliability. I am not a good person to quiz on
> complexity as I prefer things to be either totally simple or totally
> complex. So I would want a talking GPS that operated like a simple
> visual GPS or I want something that will give me everything. The areas
> for development with the PK version in the UK remain the POI database
> which is significantly out of date and the absence of a postal code
> look up. You can work around these but they are a bit of a pain. I
> wish also that the PK builders had used a more standard type power
> connector, maybe something like a nokia connector so that we could use
> the disposable emergency power cells you can get for phones. Or of
> course they could supply a custom version of the same type of unit.
> I've had PK run out of juice at a couple of inconvenient moments. The
> blue logger comes with a spare battery and the charger base can charge
> this battery along with the main unit. An inspired accessory if ever
> there was one.
>
> Now what we really want is a 40 gig hard drive built in to the pk so
> it can then have a serious media player that behaves like an IPOD and
> can manage books from audible, daisy etc. come on guys one gig flash
> cards will go the way of floppy discs soon.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of yusuf
> Sent: 17 April 2005 20:59
> To: GPS-talks
> Subject: [gps-talkusers] what do we really want from GPS?
>
>
> Hi all, this is a topic I've been thinking about for quite a while and
> wanted to se what other people thought.
> Let me start by clarifying what I mean. I don't mean in terms of what
> the GPS actually does. I for one am quite happy with what Trekker can
> do.
> What I
> am refering to is the way GPS systems for the blind seem to be
> becoming more complex. Let me try and explain.
> When I bought my trekker in September of 2003 I bought it in order to
> use it when I was out and about. for the weekly shopping trip, for
> when I wanted to go and hang out with mates at the pub, to go to the
> cinema, you get the idea. for these occasions I don't want a device
> that can write notes, input diary entries, play Mp3s and on and on, I
> simply want a satellite navigation system that is small and easy to
> carry.
> I suppose my worry is that the more complex the functionality becomes
> the more likely it is to be larger and more things to go wrong.
> I don't think trekker is getting larger and didn't the Braille Note
> recently get smaller? But I don't know about anyone else all I want
> from my GPS is accurate information on where I am, what streets are
> coming up, nearby POIs, the ability to input my own ones, creation of
> various kinds of routes using various start and end points, pedestrian
> and vehicular modes, all the various information options like number
> of satellites in view, a mode for non mapped areas and oh yes up to
> date POIs.
> In terms of the Trekker it makes sense for the visuaide to make the
> rest of the functionality of the Ipaq accessible because otherwise
> youve got a PDA that you can hardly use. But I never wanted to use the
> PDA in the first place. Certainly when I upgrade to Maestro it will be
> nice to have that access but the main purpose for me will still be as
> a mobility aid. When I go shopping, or to the pub, or the cinema, or a
> restaurant etc thats all its needed for.
> Am I completely crazy? Or am I on to something here.
> Yusuf
>
>
>
>
>
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