GPS joins the guide dogs
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- Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2007 04:04:58 -0400
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
GPS joins the guide dogs
By Adam Turner
WHILE a guide dog can warn you as you approach a kerb, you can't ask even the
brightest canine to take you to the nearest ATM.
Trekker is a GPS satellite navigation system for the vision-impaired, designed
to complement a guide dog or cane in helping people find their way around town.
Like in-car systems, Trekker providers users with turn-by-turn navigation -
reading aloud the names of the streets rather than just saying "next left".
Produced by Australian assistive technology developer HumanWare, the Trekker
system consists of off-the-shelf components: a HP 2490B hand-held PC, a
Bluetooth-enabled GPS receiver and a shoulder speaker. The system can be worn
around the neck under a jacket or on a shoulder strap. A sleeve slides over the
hand-held PC, which is fitted with buttons that in turn press the touchscreen,
allowing users to enter commands such as their destination. They can also
search for local points of interest such as hotels, cafes and ATMs, as well as
have these pointed out during a journey.
One of Trekker's strengths is the ability for users to study maps and rehearse
routes before they set off, making it easier for them to find their way around
unfamiliar places. They can also create their own points of interest using
voice notes that allow them to record extra information, such as the location
of steps or other obstacles.
Trekker relies on data supplied to HumanWare by global mapping specialist
NAVTEQ. After several years on the market in North America and Europe, Trekker
was launched in Australia late last year to coincide with NAVTEQ's move into
the Australian market.
While Trekker gives vision-impaired people greater freedom to travel, HumanWare
Australia's national blindness products consultant, Ramona Mandy, says it's no
replacement for her guide dog, Paisley.
"The Trekker doesn't just give vision-impaired people information, it gives
them independence. That independence makes you more confident and more
employable. Some of my customers have said it's useful to be able to review a
route first from the comfort and safety of home by using the offline browse,"
Ms Mandy says.
"We call it a secondary orientation device, because it never will replace a
guide dog or a cane. You have to have good orientation and mobility skills.
Orientation is all about travelling safely and independently, so whether you're
a cane user or a dog user, you have to have good orientation skills first."
An hereditary eye condition saw Ms Mandy's vision fade during childhood.
She learnt braille at seven, starting using a cane at 15 and was completely
blind by 25. Today she relies on Trekker, Paisley and a BrailleNote, a Personal
Digital Assistant with a braille keyboard and display as well as text-to-speech
functionality.
"Vision-impaired people have access to about 5 per cent of information that
sighted people access through print. Having Trekker helps improve that
imbalance," Ms Mandy says.
"Obviously all blind people don't live together in Blindville, so with these
NAVTEQ maps we can go wherever we need to. It means I don't need someone to
take me new places for the first time. For example, I'm going to Perth for a
conference later this year and I'll be able to find on my own where the nearest
ATM or pharmacy is."
NAVTEQ's global coverage also makes it easy for Trekker users to travel
overseas, says NAVTEQ's Australian business development director, Kirk Mitchell.
"We've been working with HumanWare overseas for several years now and when we
moved to Australia we had teams of mappers scouring the country, recording
information above and beyond that required by motorists so we can meet the
needs of customers like HumanWare," Mr Mitchell says.
"Next year we're looking to bring out in Australia what we call Discover
Cities, which is a pedestrian-based product that will include points of
interest, such as all the exit points in railway stations." Directions for
walkways and paths in parks are to follow.
LINK
www.humanware.com
SOURCE
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/10/02/1191091041855.html
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