[gps-talkusers] Re: Using Seeing Eye GPS as a Pedestrian
- From: Kelly Pierce <kellytalk@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 19:41:39 -0500
I’m glad this topic was raised. Living in a big city that strictly
follows a grid street design, I have noticed that the Seeing Eye GPS
app suggests pedestrian routes that an independent blind traveler
would never take. It seems the Seeing Eye app offers the shortest
route possible. This often results in routes that take many turns or
ones that require the blind traveler crossing streets without traffic
controlled intersections. For example, I was walking from the
Rockwell brown Line L station in Chicago at 4648 N. Rockwell to the
Lincoln Square location of the Crossfit Defined gym at 2750 W.
Lawrence. The Seeing Eye app wanted me to go north to Leland, west to
Talman and then cross busy Lawrence. There is no traffic light at
Talman. Instead, I chose to go on Rockwell north to Lawrence and
cross at the traffic light and then go west to my address. The entire
trip is only three tenths of a mile.
A similar situation happened this week when I wanted to travel from my
office at Washington and Dearborn in Chicago to the Industrious shared
work space at 320 W. Ohio. This is a distance of one mile. The
seeing Eye app told me to go north on Dearborn to Wacker Drive, go one
block west to Clark street then go north to Hubbard Street. On
Hubbard, I would walk just a few hundred feet to Wells Street. Then,
the app wanted me to go north on Wells Street and then to take a left
turn on Grand Avenue. I then needed to take a right turn when I
reached Franklin Street so I was going north again. Then only after
290 feet, I finally turn left going west on Ohio street to my address.
An independent blind traveler would simply go north on Dearborn or
Clark to Ohio and then west to the address.
These routes were created using Tom tom maps. It is perplexing to me
why a travel aid for the blind would create such complex pedestrian
routes going short distances. There are full sidewalks on Rockwell and
all the way up Dearborn and Clark streets. The many turns and
avoidance of traffic lights does not make sense. With Apple maps, the
end user is often given three choices of routes to take, each with a
different set of priorities. One route may favor major streets.
Another may have the shortest distance or travel time. Another may
offer the fewest turns. With the Seeing Eye, GPS the end user has no
choice.
Kelly
On 7/8/14, Sofia Gallo <sofiagallo13@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> So I've noticed that most of the threads discuss using GPS while in a
> car or paratransit service, so I figured I would start a discussion
> for those who use the app mostly for walking routes.
>
> Any experiences, tips or suggestions to share?
>
> I recently started using the app in NYC, and it is extremely accurate,
> even with the tall buildings.
> 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.
Other related posts: