[gps-talkusers] e: Re: e: Re: Mini Guide

  • From: Karen Bailey <karenb74@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Sun, 15 Jun 2008 20:16:53 -0400

Hi, I am an old user of the Mowat sensor. The reason it was more useful inside was that the range was short, and before they went out of business, I had mine modified to a longer range. But now the Miniguide has some of the same settings, but also a 26 foot range and it's stronger vibrations, so is quite nice. Karen and Harpo 



----- Original Message -----
From: "Koji Matsuda \(Yahoo\)" <kojim33jp@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date sent: Sun, 15 Jun 2008 20:03:44 -0400
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: e: Re: Mini Guide
I was talking to a friend of mine who never used Miniguide, but 
she said
that it sounded similar to mowat sensor. I never saw that one 
either, but
she said that the device was more useful indoor and not much so 
outdoor.

Did anyone use mowat sensor?  Any major differences?



Koji



-----Original Message-----
From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Brett
Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2008 2:20 AM
To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: e: Re: Mini Guide



Hi,
It would work in the snow, but you probably wouldn't want to use 
it when it
is snowing. I don't use mine when it's raining. It's a good 
idea to try to

keep moisture out of the unit.



Cheers,
Brett.



----- Original Message -----
From: "Koji Matsuda (Yahoo)" <kojim33jp@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2008 1:05 PM
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: e: Re: Mini Guide
Oh wow, the battery lasts that long? That is wonderful. I wish 
I could

try
it out. It sounds so neat. I like to walk fast and sometimes 
my cane

can't
keep up with me. A device like Miniguide might be helpful to 
me.  Does it

work in the snow?




Koji
-----Original Message-----
From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Brett
Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2008 6:48 PM
To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: e: Re: Mini Guide



Hi,
I still would recommend the miniguide as I agree that a broken 
or bent

cane
is a problem with the Ultracane. The other advantage of the 
miniguide is
that you can use it with out a cane, such as walking around in 
the office
where you don't necessarily need your cane but want to avoid 
desks or

chairs
or tell if doors are open or closed. The other advantage of the 
miniguide

is
that you can scan in totally different directions to where your 
cane is
pointing. For Example, you can scan at 90 degrees to your 
direction of
travel if you are trying to locate or count doorways or light 
poles etc.
I have had the miniguide for 9 months and haven't yet had a 
problem with

the
vibration unit and since the manual says that these units are 
commercially
available, I would assume they wouldn't be too expensive as they 
aren't
custom made. The Miniguide is also really well made, the Ultra 
cane says
it's batteries last one to two weeks, but my 9 months old 
miniguide is

still



on the same battery.



Cheers,
Brett.
----- Original Message -----
From: "jason smith" <thisisjj@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2008 1:55 PM
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: e: Re: Mini Guide




Hi Karen,
I am glad this discussion of the miniguide has come up, as I am 
currently
looking into possibly getting one. I have been debating between 
looking

at
getting the miniguide, or the ultracane. The ultracane uses the 
same
principles as the miniguide, but is twice the price I believe. 
One
advantage of the ultracane, is that you can keep your other hand 
free, as
the vibrating information, is built into the handle of a 
standard cane.

As
someone who has broken two canes in one day before, through 
people
tripping over it in a crowd, I am cautious about spending so 
much money,
incase the same happens again. The miniguide therefore, may be 
a better
alternative. There are demonstration podcasts on both the 
miniguide and

ultracane on
www.blindcooltech.com if anyone is interested. A question 
though please
Karen. In the podcast on the miniguide, it is mentioned that 
the

vibration
unit will need to be replaced from time-to-time. In your 
experience, how

often is this and is it very costly?
thanks a lot and best wishes Jason
----- Original Message -----
From: "Karen Bailey" <karenb74@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2008 12:09 AM
Subject: [gps-talkusers] e: Re: Mini Guide
Hi, the Miniguide is very useful, and, I have used it while 
standing in

line to tell when people move up and how far.  Karen



----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott Granados" <gsgranados@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date sent: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 06:03:22 -0700
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Mini Guide



Is it actually useful?  Do you think it would be valuable in real

world

settings?  I'd thinking finding lines and managing distance /

standing in

line would be easier with a device like that.



----- Original Message -----
From: "Wendy Slominsky" <wendyslominsky@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 5:38 PM
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Mini Guide





again, go to www.senderogroup.com



There is a link for the mini guide there.  It is small, about

the size of a

Milky way bar, but it doesn't melt in your hand.  It has a strap

so I have

it hooked around the handle of my PK and I just grab it and turn

it on

when I want to use it.  I can not describe the technology

accurately, but

it is a laser beam, I believe, that vibrates when it detects an

object.  As

you get closer the vibration is stronger and more constant.  You

can set it

for three different settings be pending on how close up you want

it to try

and detect objects.  You hold it with the two round detectors

one on top of

the other so it covers a range of something that is an up and

down

obstacle such as a pole.  With a thumb you can turn it on and

off and allow

it to hang unused again until you might want it for something

else.  I have

played with it in stores and if you move a bit slowly and put it

on the

most sensitive setting you can actually walk around a store

without

walking into anything.  you just try to avoid the areas where

there is a

strong vibration.  Conversely, if you are looking to find

something you

walk closer and closer to the vibration.  When you have a strong

signal you

know you are close and you can move the unit from side to side

just a inch

or so and that will target your approach very precisely.
It takes about an hour or so to play with and get a feel for but

after

that it is very easy to use and takes no talent.




Hi, what is a mini guide?  I never heard of it.  Where do you get

one of

these.  Andy



-----Original Message-----
From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Karen

Bailey

Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 8:23 PM
To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gps-talkusers] e: better mobility technology was Re: e:

Lack

of Traffic Lights




Hi, if anyone finds out about new mobility tech, I am always
interested.  Contact me if you know anything about upcoming
technology.  Karen and Harpo



----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott Granados" <gsgranados@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date sent: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:59:48 -0700
Subject: [gps-talkusers] better mobility technology was Re: e:

Lack of Traffic Lights



That brings up a question.  Is there a good resource for finding

out the

latest available in mobility technology?  I'm wondering what's

out there or

in the works.  It just seems that there has to be a better way of

navigating

other than swinging a pole around or putting your trust in lower

mammals.

(especially for more distant range finding etc)  Any pointers

would be

appreciated.  Anyone with experience using something other than a

cane or

dog who wishes to contact me off list as I'm sure this is off

topic would

also be appreciated.



Thanks
Scott






----- Original Message -----
From: "Karen Bailey" <karenb74@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 3:52 PM
Subject: [gps-talkusers] e: Lack of Traffic Lights




Hi this is Karen and Harpo my guidedog.  I found a solution for

not

finding traffic light poles.  I use the Miniguide to find

traffic light

poles when there is no other way or point of interest.  I have

used the

Mowat sensor in the past for the same thing.  It finds things

not

otherwise obvious to a blind person and sometimes scan in front

of me for

construction can feel how high fences are, and where, and other

such not

so obvious items like benches in parks hard to find without

sighted

assist.  This may not help you, but I thought I'd mention it.

Karen and

Harpo



----- Original Message -----
From: "Mr.  Leslie Paul Peterson" <Les537@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date sent: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:39:06 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Lack of Traffic Lights



My teacher taught me GPS lessons today.  My first time to learn

how to destination and route.

I am disappointed because GPS does not have the traffic lights

location.



Route guide me and tell me turn 3 or 9 oclock but I can not go

across the busy street

without the traffic light.  I MUST have the lights where I can

walk across the streets.



How could I command it?  Could there make a new version?



Leslie--














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