[gps-talkusers] Re: the power of a full keyboard for accessible navigation
- From: "Bob Cavanaugh" <bobdavcav@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 11:57:06 -0700
That's cool Mike, and didn't realize you were from Ashland.
From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Michael May
Sent: Monday, August 25, 2014 11:08 AM
To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gps-talkusers] the power of a full keyboard for accessible
navigation
Since most posts on the list these days have to do with iPhone apps, I
thought I'd wax eloquent for a minute about the full Sendero GPS systems
that really give one powerful access using a Braille or QWERTY keyboard,
especially when on a long trip.
I went to Reno for a conference last week, taking the Megabus from
Sacramento. It was great having very specific user points to get me from the
actual stop in Sparks Nevada to the casino doorway and back. You had to pass
under a freeway and a few streets so simply following a pedestrian route
might get you close but not right to the door.
When I asked the bellman about restaurants that were walkable, he told me
there weren't any. When I got to my room and fired up Sendero Maps, I found
6 restaurants from 650 to 900 feet away. The Great Basin Brewing Company was
my favorite.
It was also nice on the ride home to be able to monitor our progress and
then to call ahead to have my ride meet me early as I saw we would be there
ahead of schedule.
This past weekend, we went to my old stomping grounds, Ashland Oregon. Since
I was working on my laptop on the ride up and back, I had Sendero GPS and
Maps running in the background. Various POIs and cities announced along
Highway 5. I also picked a restaurant in Mount Shasta for our lunch break
and somewhat reluctantly found several crystal shops for a little shopping
expedition.
I had lots of user points in Ashland from the old days with the GPSTalk
laptop unit. I had to recategorize lots of those points from the Bonus
category.
It was great walking around town with my PK playing tour guide for friends
and family. I occasionally switched to my iPhone but it was so much more
efficient to have the Braille keyboard and display when narrating what was
around and when trying to find a destination. It is so nice when having a
conversation when in a car on a long trip to be able to monitor the
environment on a Braille display. Audio announcements, even in an earphone,
interrupt the train of thought.
I love the Seeing Eye GPS as well, especially for the latest POIs, some of
which are not yet in the BrailleNote onboard database.
In all cases, it is amazing to have these tools to accentuate independent
travel.
Mike
Michael May, CEO
Sendero Group, Davis California
Developers of accessible GPS
Sendero Phone: 888-757-6810, extension 101
Home Office: 530-757-6900
Email: MikeMay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:MikeMay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sendero web: http://www.senderogroup.com
General GPS web: http://www.AccessibleGPS.com
Mike May Personal: http://www.CrashingThrough.com
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