[gps-talkusers] Re: using dual GPS is the ideal way to go
- From: "Marco Migotti" <news@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2013 07:46:20 -0600
I have and love my iPhone and all it can and has done for me over the past
15 months. However, there are things that I am involved with that aren't
supported by the iPhone. These things include studying mathematics and
studying ancient languages as well as reading music. There have been times
when I have had to give up a love of my life because I didn't have access to
braille. Now that I have braille dedicated devices in my life, it has
completely changed how I view my career choices no longer having to study
social work which I hate because that is what all the vocational people told
me I had to do. Having gps available in both braille and speech makes the
use of gps the best thing I have going as a navigational aid. I hope that
braille dedicated devices never disappear from the market because speech
only devices would greatly limit our access to educational and vocational
opportunities. I've noticed a general decline in prices for braille output
and maybe in time we'll see cheaper devices that maybe don't do as much as
their earlier incarnations but will still offer braille. I love braille! My
life would be different without it.
Marco
From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Aaron Linson
Sent: March-11-13 9:36 PM
To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: using dual GPS is the ideal way to go
I would have to agree with you Dale, I didn't buy my note taker it was given
to me by my state agency however, I still use my braille writer when I feel
the need to or even my slate and stylus when I'm on the go and don't have my
brailenote with me to take down ideas that i might have. I also record my
ideas on the voice memos app on the iPhone and write them in braille later.
With the seeing eye gps app and gps for dedicated note takers I feel there
is a line that is getting drown that people will have to decide what they
need. I know I will use all of the tools given to me in different
situations. I'm greatful I have these devices to play around with and use
however, mainstream technology will never be able to do some of the thigns
that dedicated blindness specific software and hardware are able to do no
matter how hard they thy.
Aaron Linson
IOS and Android Accessibility Advocate
Once an Eagle
Always an Eagle
On Mar 11, 2013, at 10:59 PM, "Dale Leavens" <dleavens@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Doubtless there will always be a need for specialized devices. There is also
always a cost-benefit point which will be different for each individual. For
a time when I was having to fudge software to manage some functions
on-the-job I would have loved refreshable braille but the cost was
prohibitive particularly as I was not a programmer by function but more by
necessity to better and more efficiently perform my paid activities. If I
hadn't been sending kids to university and paying for some of my own
continuing education at the time I might well have purchased something. I
did buy a couple of Perkins Braillers which got daily use and still do. I
type a lot faster than ever I write braille though and I used to use a
notebook all the time on courses for note taking or report writing and even
taking examinations.
Presumably I would really need a braille notetaker for writing braille music
if that was my need and probably many others do. I wouldn't say they are not
without real value to many blind people. My daughter, who is a Visual
Impairment Educator tells me that their school board uses notetakers
particularly in the early grades within her school board both as a means of
creating electronic documents and encouraging braille literacy. Quite
probably they will be accommodated when/if they move on into higher
education, they have special accessibility personnel there to assist.
Quite possibly I am just too old. It has always been expected that I would
adapt to the environments in which I worked and studied so I probably have a
strong bias toward standardized devices.
I expect that there will be a few blindness specific GPS options available
soon for smart phones. With the Symbian operating system in decline and poor
accessibility on the various Windows platforms companies like Code Factory
and others will be looking for products with which to earn income. It might
be something other than IOS at first because that is easier and cheaper to
develop. I expect too that Seeing Eye will mature rapidly into a very
serviceable product for similar market reasons.
Dale Leavens.
----- Original Message -----
From: Aaron Linson <mailto:blindgeek1989@xxxxxxxxx>
To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2013 10:26 PM
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: using dual GPS is the ideal way to go
I've got one questoin, what about those people who rely on braille? You
can't read braille music or any other type of braille format with an iOS
device. Plus iOS devices are not instant on and bluetooth connectivity can
have problems.
Aaron Linson
IOS and Android Accessibility Advocate
Once an Eagle
Always an Eagle
On Mar 11, 2013, at 10:08 PM, Mary Ellen Earls <meearls@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Well . Let's look at this from another way. Mike May is pioneering again by
bringing a specialized application to a mainstream device as did the folks
at the American Foundation for the Blind, Learning Alley, NLS and Bookshare.
Hats off to these people who are realizing in the beginning that there
shouldn't be a need any longer for such expensive and specialized equipment.
Congratulations to you all for this!
Mary Ellen Earls
On Mar 11, 2013, at 4:48 PM, Mike Arrigo <n0oxy@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
With the availability of main stream mobile devices that are accessible, it
simply makes no sense to pay much more money for these notetakers that use
outdated operating systems in a proprietary environment.
On Mar 11, 2013, at 4:33 PM, "Michael May" <mikemay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Dale,
Its not really about processor power or memory any more. The differentiating
factor between a PDA and the phone is the keyboard versus the touch screen
or spotty voice recognition, especially in mobile environments. Yes, you can
add an external keyboard or Braille display but that takes away from the
main benefit of the iPhone as a handheld unit. External devices don't always
connect and they are a second item to charge. Add an external GPS receiver
because the built-in one is mediocre, and the mobile situation turns
complicated.
Something like a Braille Sense OnHand has a built in keyboard and GPS, no
external pieces needed.
What I am finding is that people are willing to sacrifice the productivity
of the PDA for the basic functionality of the mobile device. I understand
how it is hard to justify access tech prices even if the products are
superior versus dirt cheap App Store and Market Place mainstream prices.
Mike
From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Dale Leavens
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2013 11:28 AM
To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: using dual GPS is the ideal way to go
Mike,
Are there any technical reasons why a suitable smart phone cannot offer the
same or even superior capabilities to those of a note taker with respect to
GPS? They do have far superior microprocessors now and more memory if I am
not mistaken and of course built-in receivers, intuitively I would have
thought them a more suitable platform. I don't remember detailed
specifications of note takers as I have always had far more need for direct
mainstream connectivity so got more seamless use from notebook computers.
Thanks.
Dale leavens.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael May" <mikemay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2013 2:14 PM
Subject: [gps-talkusers] using dual GPS is the ideal way to go
Mary,
Probably a poor choice of words on my part. Let's call dual GPS the ideal
way to go but not the only way. There are plenty of situations where
people
have more than one product, say an iPhone using Audible and a Stream also
using Audible.
I do agree that it is very unfortunate that high priced specialty
technology
costs so much and yet the government funding for it is limited. I'll
address
that in a separate email. The point of my story was to say that the iPhone
is not a replacement for a full fledged accessible GPS product with a real
keyboard and comprehensive real-time and explore features. For those
fortunate enough to have a BrailleNote or Braille Sense with GPS, make the
most of it, especially in challenging situations.
Mike
From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Mary Otten
Sent: Saturday, March 09, 2013 10:17 PM
To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: using dual GPS is the only way to go
This really is kind of a sad commentary. How many people who don't get
bucks
from some agency can realistically think about having 2 gps solutions when
one of them costs a whole pile of money, and the remainder of the
applications on that expensive platform can be duplicated elsewhere
cheaper?
Obviously, you can't go from 0 app to full blown solution in 6 months or a
year. But I hope the goal for the ios gps solution is to have a full
product
which will essentially make unnecessary those other entirely too expensive
solutions.
Mary Otten
motten53@xxxxxxxxx
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