Mr. Scheib did say at the Lighthouse meeting there was some grant money . Maybe we can ask to use the grant money for this device.----- Original Message ----- From: "Chip Orange" <Corange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Friday, November 06, 2009 11:46 AM Subject: [tabi] Re: an idea for Nova 2010
Lynn, well, I certainly was hoping StarMetro would bear the entire cost of this solution. perhaps they'd charge say a $25 fee for the loan of a handheld unit, refundable if you turned it back in in working order. that should not be too much for anyone to pay, and yet be enough to cause only those who need them to ask for them, and to take care of them. the manufacturer told me that deep discounting would be available for quantity purchases, so these may not cost StarMetro too much to implement. finally, unless it's a divided highway, it should be possible for the base stations to send it's beam across a street (perhaps not catty-corner), but it should be able to tell you if the bus stop was across the street (and of course tell you where, if any, the button for the audible signal is located). And, if we can get StarMetro or anyone to star using this technology, which is very inexpensive ($200 a base station retail price, $175 a handheld unit), then we can use that as an example to others and to blind citizens as a reason to star investing money in it for other locations. Chip ------------------------------ Chip Orange Database Administrator Florida Public Service Commission Chip.Orange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (850) 413-6314 (Any opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Florida Public Service Commission.)Check out the TABI resource web page at http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI-----Original Message----- From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Lynn Evans Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 10:29 PM To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [tabi] Re: an idea for Nova 2010 I see your point. I am looking for low tech inexpensive solutions until the economy gets going again.----- Original Message ----- From: "Chip Orange" <Corange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 4:14 PM Subject: [tabi] Re: an idea for Nova 2010 > Thanks Lynn. > > Just so you understand my point though, just knowing there's a bus stop > at any given intersection, even if it's got tactile bumps where it is, > doesn't help a blind person find the bus stop. these SoundPost devices > would help you do that if you got on the correct corner at least; I > don't know if they would work across an intersection; I imagine it can > be more than 90 feet. > > It would, in general, be great if these devices were used in public > buildings to show blind people where the bathrooms were, on the > university campus to show where building and their entrances were, the > usefulness is fantastic, if you could get people to start using them. > > If the manufacturer would consent to do custom runs for vocabularies for > all the unused numbers available (he's currently only using 185 terms > which describe the type of base station location), StarMetro could have > a set of eprom chips done for instance, and have a device hung on the > front of each bus so that as it pulled up, your handheld unit would say > "bus 80x", or FSU could have a set of chips done, which identified each > building by name ("south entrance of Strosure Library" for example). > > it would be even better if some device with a GPS navigation system (the > Trekker just for instance), also had this capability, so that it could > both get you in the general visinity, and then take you right to the > point. > > but in any case, we'd have to get someone to start using them so we can > show people who will ultimately pay for them, how useful they are. > > > Chip > > ------------------------------ > > Chip Orange > Database Administrator > Florida Public Service Commission > > Chip.Orange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > (850) 413-6314 > > (Any opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not > necessarily reflect those of the Florida Public Service Commission.) > > > > > > ________________________________ > > From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Lynn Evans > Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 3:27 PM > To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [tabi] Re: an idea for Nova 2010 > > > There was a brief talk at the Monday meeting at the Lighthouse > to use some type of tactile marker at the base of each bus stop sign to > mark the signs position. Some type of raised marker on the sidewalk. > > Also there is a list of transfer points on the NOVA 2010 site > now. > Only two points hve audible signals. > the link is: > http://www.talgov.com/starmetro/nova2010_routes.cfm#3 >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: Chip Orange <mailto:Corange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 2:21 PM > Subject: [tabi] an idea for Nova 2010 > > Hi all, > > I know this hasn't been discussed all that much, but one > of the potential problems I see with nova 2010 is that a lot, if not > all, of the bus stops will be relocating. It seems likely that those > who have memorized the locations of the current stops will have some > difficulty in locating the new stops from just a text description. > > so, the idea I'd like to hear comment on, is how about > use of the devices that I just posted a press release for, the > SoundPost? it looks to me if StarMetro, or someone, would purchase and > install the base stations at the bus stops, and someone would buy and > distribute for a nominal price the handheld units, these would do nicely > for helping people locate the stop. > > the site isn't entirely clear on how they work, so I > called the developer, and we spoke for a few minutes. the base stations > emit an I/R beam, and the hand helds vibrate or beep when you come > within range. you can then begin to move the handheld in a circle, > aiming it at different directions, and you'll get a strong indication as > to which direction the beam is coming from, plus a spoken identification > of the type of installation the unit is placed at (it's any of 185 > different, predefined, types such as "bus stop", "women's restroom", > "government building", etc.). they have a range of about 30 meters, or > 90 feet. > > so, does anyone else think these things would be helpful > for this project, and should we take this idea to StarMetro? > > thanks. > > Chip > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Chip Orange > Database Administrator > Florida Public Service Commission > > Chip.Orange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > (850) 413-6314 > > (Any opinions expressed are solely those of the author > and do not necessarily reflect those of the Florida Public Service > Commission.) > > > 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.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.