Well stated! Andy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael May" <mikemay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 8:01 PM Subject: [gps-talkusers] Mike's perspective on which GPS is appropriate > As we see more and more discussion of iPhone and Android GPS apps, I > thought > it was time to remind folks of some points relative to the use and > selection > of a GPS product or products. Yes, some products are cheap enough now to > have more than one. > > Like some other users on the list, I have numerous navigation apps on the > iPhone, plus Mobile Geo on an HTC phone, The Braille Sense OnHand with > Sense > Nav and the BrailleNote PK with GPS. I haven't used Android yet but > Charles > and Gil from Sendero have so we have a pretty in depth understanding of > what > the options are. We can't forget Sendero Maps and APH PC talking maps on > the > PC nor Kapten and Breeze in terms of stand-alone units. We talk to > customers > daily and get their individual feedback on the various products. We also > do > a lot of training so we know a bit about the learning curve. > > Some will argue that Sendero has a vested interest and so our perspective > is > skewed. Those of you who have been with us for years and many versions, > know > that our motivation is to provide the most accessible navigation possible. > We are first and foremost blind users who appreciate the power of > independent travel. > > Here are some factors to consider. > 1. Every product has its strengths and weaknesses. Not one size fits all. > 2. Every user has a different set of needs. > 3. Price and budget are a huge factor in the GPS selection process. > 4. Most people can't afford multiple devices. > 5. The more a product has to offer, the steeper the learning curve. > 6. Different situations require different GPS functionality. Are you just > walking around and want to know what streets are nearby verses researching > a > trip or planning a route. Are you on city streets or in the woods? > 7. Any GPS is better than no GPS. > 8. Everyone is an advocate and proponent of the product they use and know > the best. > > This latter point is an important one. In parts of the world where the > BrailleNote or Sense GPS products are not common, the perspective on GPS > solutions revolves around the Breeze or the discontinued Wayfinder Access, > or, these days, around Kapten. These products provide basic GPS > functionality for a reasonable price and this is fantastic. > > However, this should not be confused with more comprehensive navigation > access. If you only use and know the basics, you may think that is all > that > is needed. I would argue that you don't know what you are missing. Explore > mode is extremely powerful. If your product doesn't have it, of course you > are going to think virtual exploration isn't important. Manual route > recording is another powerful tool that tends to be overlooked. Even if > your > product has it, there is some work involved in learning how to use it. > > User interface is a huge consideration when looking at the productivity of > using accessible GPS. I guarantee you that if we are in a car with friends > and looking for a place to have dinner, a BrailleNote GPS user is going to > be much more help in finding a place and getting us to the restaurant than > an iPhone Navigon user. The same thing goes for being in a taxi and > getting > off route. A regular Braille or QWERTY keyboard is just a much faster > interface than flicking on a touch screen. > > So, when people ask what the best accessible GPS is, the answer that it > depends on the factors mentioned above and probably some others. If you > can > possibly afford the money and time to have a PDA type GPS or Mobile Geo, > you > should go for it keeping in mind that you have to invest time as well as > money to really take advantage of the cool features. I haven't touched on > even a small portion of them here. > > That is my take and I am extremely happy to been involved in stimulating > this product area over the past 15 years. > > Mike > > Michael May, CEO Sendero Group > Developers of accessible GPS and distributors of technology for the blind > > Voice, 530-757-6800 > MikeMay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > http://www.senderogroup.com > http://www.AccessibleGPS.com > http://www.CrashingThrough.com > > 429 F Street, Suite 4 > Davis, CA 95616 > > > > To change your email settings (unsubscribe, digest only, or vacation > mode): > http://senderogroup.com/social_media/email.htm > > Additionally, to unsubscribe send an email to > gps-talkusers-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe" in the Subject. > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus > signature database 6212 (20110615) __________ > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > > > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 6212 (20110615) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com To change your email settings (unsubscribe, digest only, or vacation mode): http://senderogroup.com/social_media/email.htm Additionally, to unsubscribe send an email to gps-talkusers-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe" in the Subject. To change your email settings (unsubscribe, digest only, or vacation mode): http://senderogroup.com/social_media/email.htm Additionally, to unsubscribe send an email to gps-talkusers-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe" in the Subject.