[gps-talkusers] Re: using dual GPS is the ideal way to go
- From: "Dale Leavens" <dleavens@xxxxxxx>
- To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2013 22:59:43 -0400
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
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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