[tabi] Re: Leader Dog Unveils Navigation Tech for theBlind
- From: "Allison and Chip Orange" <acorange@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 5 Jun 2011 12:18:53 -0400
Hi Robert,
well, what I remember is that the original Kapten was developed for
motorcycle and bicycle riders of Europe, and so had only speech output and
input (it was marketed as usable without hands or eyes). the reviews
however were pretty much very poor across the board (just query on kapten
without the plus).
that's why I wonder if they've revamped it. one of the problems mentioned
is that it only uses freely available (public domain) sources of mapping
data, which were supposedly quite inaccurate in their placement of things,
often with most things specified only to the nearest hundred yards.
I hope you're right though in that Sendero won't like this; maybe it will
bring down some of their prices.
Chip
-----Original Message-----
From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Easy Talk
Sent: Sunday, June 05, 2011 12:09 PM
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [tabi] Re: Leader Dog Unveils Navigation Tech for theBlind
I think it is the same except it has been adapted to speech and most likely
the maps had to be text tagged. I am going to order one in the morning.
You can go to there web site and read more about the features and specs.
Sendero ain't going to like this.
Robert
----- Original Message -----
From: "Allison and Chip Orange" <acorange@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, June 05, 2011 11:53 AM
Subject: [tabi] Re: Leader Dog Unveils Navigation Tech for theBlind
> Thanks Sila!
>
> I wonder if this unit is different from the original Kapten which was
> introduced a couple of years ago? I don't remember it having the plus as
> part of it's name then.
>
> Chip
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
> Behalf
> Of Sila Miller
> Sent: Sunday, June 05, 2011 8:34 AM
> To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [tabi] Leader Dog Unveils Navigation Tech for theBlind
>
> Good morning Tallahassee(ers),
> Thought the below might be of interest or help to some.
> Take care,
> Sila
>
> Hello Everyone,
>
> I urge those of you who are interested in an affordable, easy to use GPS
> to
> read the message below.
>
> I used a Trekker for several years and have successfully used the GPS that
> works with the Braille Sense Notetaker.
>
> I was invited to test the Kapten Plus described in the message below
> because
> I am a member of the GDUI Board as the organization's Affiliate Liaison.
>
> The unit is quite small and quite simple to use. The unit holds the map
> of
> the entire US and, as a result, one can travel anywhere without having to
> load maps and the like. It works with either a speaker or headphone, both
> with a microphone button enabling the user to give command via voice. The
> option to use the unit's buttons to give commands is also an option. The
> Free Navigation mode is great if you are cruising around.
>
> I had the unit only a very short time when Dena and I went off to
> Nashville.
> I used it quite successfully and easily during the trip. Even when my
> friend, Pam, and I were working our dogs in company with folks who know
> the
> area better than we do, knowing the street names was quite helpful as we
> worked mostly along West End Avenue wich is a very heavily trafficked
> area.
> Even though my friend, Pam, grew up in the city and went to college in the
> area in which we mostly traveled, there is absolutely no way to truly
> recognize street entrances without the dogs' stopping and the friendly
> voice
> of the GPS warning that a certain street is ahead.
>
> Although this GPS does exhibit some of the flaws of all GPS technology, it
> is still quite easy to use, accurate and its price point is very
> attractive.
> This is definitely an option for folks who do not plan to purchase an
> IPhone
> in the near future or who do not have the funds to purchase a notetaker
> GPS
> or Trekker option.
>
> There are options that I very much love about my Braille Sense GPS,
> especially the option to see where I'm going via the Braille display. It
> is
> great, though, not to have to take my expensive notetaker everywhere now.
>
> The GPS does use the computer's USB ports for charging. However, for
> around
> $31.00, I purchased from Office Depot a small carrying case and a device
> with four USB ports with an electrical plug so that my unit can charge and
> I
> can still access my computer's USB ports for other things. The GPS uses
> one
> USB port and the speaker uses another. With the charging option that I
> chose, there is absolutely no need to own a computer or to understand one
> thing about computer technology. The voice is a clear, crisp female voice
> much like the voice that one hears when driving with someone using a GPS.
>
> The batteries cannot be overcharged and Leader Dogs recommends that the
> GPS
> and its speaker be left on charge when they are not being used. The
> battery
> life of the GPS and its speaker is five hours.
>
> Leader is making this unit available to its current and former graduates
> at
> no cost. Because they want to make this unit available to everyone who
> wishes it, the pricepoint is $295.
>
> Please understand that I am forwarding this message only for your
> information and consideration.
>
> Respectfully,
>
> Debbie Grubb
> debbiecg@xxxxxxxxxxx
>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Kenneth Semien, Sr." <semien@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> To: <leadership@xxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2011 12:44 AM
>> Subject: [leadership] Leader Dog Unveils Navigation Tech for the Blind
>>
>> Leader Dog Unveils Navigation Tech for the Blind ROCHESTER HILLS, MI,
>> (May, 2011) On Tuesday, May 24, 10:00 a.m. Leader Dogs for the Blind
>> launched a new personal navigation device that will dramatically
>> increase a blind or visually impaired person's ability to travel on
>> foot independently. The Kapten PLUS device has been eighteen months in
>> development in partnership with France-based Kapsys. Leader Dog will
>> be the sole U.S. rights-holder and distributor of the device. Leader
>> Dogs for the Blind believes that everyone has the right to travel
>> independently to go here, there, everywhere they desire. But without
>> the benefit of street signs or printed maps to help get them where
>> they want to go, people who are blind may be isolated and frequently
>> required to rely on others to help them with directions. "The Kapten
>> PLUS changes everything.
>> Our ultimate goal is that everyone who is visually impaired will have
>> specialized GPS to enhance their mobility - so there must be an
>> affordable price-point to make it accessible to all who need it," said
>> Greg Grabowski, Leader Dog president and CEO. "We are on the verge of
>> making audible pedestrian GPS standard technology for people who are
>> blind." In 2005 Leader Dog became the first guide dog organization to
>> provide GPS training to people while they also used a cane or a guide
>> dog. The new Kapten PLUS unit creates the first truly affordable GPS
>> solution tailored for the blind, at a price of only $295, compared to
>> earlier costs in the thousands of dollars.
>> The device will be offered at no cost to all Leader Dog clients. It
>> will also be available to other blind and visually impaired persons
>> through its online gift shop, www.leaderdog.org. After intensive early
>> development activity, Leader Dog clients begin testing the Kapten PLUS a
> year ago.
>> This
>> past March, Kapten PLUS units were used and distributed for free in
>> guide dog instruction as well as orientation and mobility classes at
> Leader Dog.
>> "Kapsys is extremely pleased to collaborate with Leader Dog, as a
>> worldwide leader in navigation solutions for the blind, to provide a
>> number of technologies embedded in the Kapten PLUS after years of
>> intense development," said Aram Hekimian, CEO and founder of Kapsys.
>> "This project serves as a great example of how such a social device
>> can provide mobility to the blind and visually impaired community that
>> we are pleased to design for." "The Kapten PLUS is a powerful tool,
>> providing a new layer of information combined with a guide dog or
>> white cane to make the world explorable helping locate the places we
>> most enjoy," said Harold Abraham, Leader Dog's Chief Innovation
>> Officer. "Kapten is a crucial stepping stone and Leader Dog will
>> continue to pursue the collaborative refinement of location
>> technology, while driving down cost even further in order to give
>> access to even more people." Leader Dogs for the Blind is a nonprofit
>> organization that has been providing independent travel to people who
>> are blind through the use of Leader Dogs since its founding in 1939.
>> Over the years, Leader Dogs for the Blind has provided independent
>> mobility to more than 14,000 individuals. The services of the
>> organization are provided free of charge. The organization also
>> provides classes for orientation and mobility, pedestrian GPS and a
>> summer camp for teens. For more information on Leader Dogs for the
>> Blind, call (888) 777-5332.
>
> Check out the TABI resource web page at
> http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI
> and please make suggestions for new material.
>
>
>
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> http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI
> and please make suggestions for new material.
>
>
>
> if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web
> interface, or by sending an email to the address
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Check out the TABI resource web page at
http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI
and please make suggestions for new material.
if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web
interface, or by sending an email to the address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject.
Check out the TABI resource web page at http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI
and please make suggestions for new material.
if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web
interface, or by sending an email to the address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject.
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