[vicsireland] Re: Further info please on Loadstone
- From: "Ronan McGuirk" <ronan.mcguirk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2007 21:08:12 -0000
Hi Bert, Maureen,
I am using version 0.63 but as Bert says, the latest version should work.
Ronan
----- Original Message -----
From: "albertbrown" <albertbrown@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:16 PM
Subject: [vicsireland] Re: Further info please on Loadstone
> Hello Maureen,
> the latest version of Loadstone will now work on your Nokia 6600.
>
> Bert
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "maureen newell" <mcnewell@xxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 9:29 PM
> Subject: [vicsireland] Re: Further info please on Loadstone
>
>
> > Ronan, can I ask you which version of Loadstone you downloaded to your
> > 6600 'phone. On the website it mentions that the version for the 6600
> > should include this in title (or something like that) but I cannot find
> > mention of this on any of the downloads.
> >
> > Much appreciated for your help,
> >
> > Maureen.
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Ronan McGuirk" <ronan.mcguirk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 8:38 PM
> > Subject: [vicsireland] Re: Further info please on Loadstone
> >
> >
> >> Hi all,
> >>
> >> I will try and answer some of the Loadstone questions.
> >>
> >> I use a long cane. I didn't use a headset. I had trouble getting a
> >> headset to work at the same time as with the GPS connection. I think
> > there
> >> may be a limitation of one bluetooth connection at a time on my Nokia
> > 6600
> >> phone. But in any case, I find a headset a bit distracting when I am
> > out
> >> walking. I simply stop and press the joystick on the phone to get my
> >> nearest point or the next point in the four main directions.(forward,
> > back,
> >> left or right)
> >>
> >> You can set up Loadstone to announce points automatically when you
> > approach
> >> them and I suppose a headset would be better if that is the way you
> > are
> >> working. I found the easiest way was simply to press the joystick if
> > I want
> >> to know where I am.
> >>
> >> Bert is right in that you need to have set up the waypoints on the
> > phone,
> >> but as the website gets more and more Irish points, we will be able to
> >> download increasing numbers of waypoints to the phone.
> >> If a number of us work together we could get a very comprehensive set
> > of
> >> points. We could probably agree on the priority points pretty quickly
> >> (train stations, bus stops, pedestrian crossings, major road
> > junctions,
> >> places of work, shops and so on. If 3 or 4 people were working
> > together in
> >> a city I believe we could make great progress quite quickly.
> >>
> >>
> >> Maureen was asking how we installed Loadstone. I have a Nokia 6600
> > and I
> >> installed it via an infrared connection from a laptop.
> >> However depending on your equipment you could install in a number of
> > ways:
> >> with a cable from a PC, with bluetooth from a PC, with infrared from a
> > pc,
> >> with a card reader onto the memory card of the phone, directly from
> > the
> >> internet to the phone if you have the righe access, via bluetooth from
> >> someone else's mobile phone and so on.
> >>
> >>
> >> Ronan
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "albertbrown" <albertbrown@xxxxxxxxxx>
> >> To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >> Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 7:04 PM
> >> Subject: [vicsireland] Re: Further info please on Loadstone
> >>
> >>
> >> > Hello Tony,
> >> > It would not be possible to take note of your surroundings unless
> > you
> >> > previously install the waypoints yourself.
> >> > Bert
> >> >
> >> > ----- Original Message -----
> >> > From: "tonysweeney" <tonysweeney1@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> >> > To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >> > Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 11:22 PM
> >> > Subject: [vicsireland] Further info please on Loadstone
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > > Hi There,
> >> > > I was just wondering if either of the three loadstoners might
> > consider
> >> > > answering a few questions posed by this list on the product?
> >> > >
> >> > > The report by Ronan was excellent, but wouldn't it be good to
> > have a
> >> > > little
> >> > > follow-up?
> >> > >
> >> > > I wonder how you would listen taking note of your immediate
> >> surroundings;
> >> > > I
> >> > > suppose that you wouldn't use a full headset but possibly an
> > earpiece.
> >> > >
> >> > > Looking forward to further info.
> >> > >
> >> > > All the best,
> >> > >
> >> > > Tony Sweeney.
> >> > >
> >> > > ----- Original Message -----
> >> > > From: "Sandberg, Robert" <robert.sandberg@xxxxxxx>
> >> > > To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >> > > Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 10:15 AM
> >> > > Subject: [vicsireland] Re: Well positioned in Dublin and Cork with
> > GPS
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > Hi folks!
> >> > > Yes, I will add my congratulations to the previous ones. It's a
> > very
> >> > > thorough report and you've obviously put a lot of pioneer work
> > into
> >> > > boosting it in Ireland.
> >> > > Just a couple of thoughts on the receiver and downloading
> > Loadstone.
> >> > > I'm using the Globosat receiver, which is slightly larger than the
> >> > > Holux, maybe the size of a fat matchbox, but it doesn't give me
> > any
> >> > > problems with reception or linking to the phone. In fact, I didn't
> > even
> >> > > have to set up a Bluetooth pairing, which I did with my headset.
> >> > > Loadstone recognized it right away. It comes with a Velcro cover
> > which I
> >> > > usually attach to a strap of my back pack.
> >> > > I'd say the easiest way of putting Loadstone on your phone is to
> >> > > download it strait on to it from the website. However I'm not sure
> > which
> >> > > Talks version is required to access the web with your phone. I
> > managed
> >> > > it with Talks Premium.
> >> > >
> >> > > And here's a question for the 3 Loadstoneers. According to the
> > report
> >> > > only one of you used a headset. How did that work for you and how
> > did
> >> > > the other two go about it. Personally I've a bit of a problem with
> > using
> >> > > the headset. Of course it's the only alternative to constantly
> > holding
> >> > > the phone up to your ear, but I find that my hearing is slightly
> >> > > impaired when I wear it. Although it doesn't even fill out the ear
> > like
> >> > > a walkman earphone does, it affects my directional hearing. Say I
> > have
> >> > > someone walking in front of me, I can't tell where exactly they
> > are in
> >> > > order to overtake them. Also I walk very slowly because it's
> > harder to
> >> > > tell upcoming obstacles. That's really put me off using it a lot.
> > It
> >> > > would be interesting to know if any of the 3 testers are GDO's and
> > if
> >> > > cane users and GDO's make different experiences. I would assume
> > that a
> >> > > GDO might have less of a problem with using a headset.
> >> > > Cheers,
> >> > > Robbie
> >> > > -----Original Message-----
> >> > > From: vicsireland-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >> > > [mailto:vicsireland-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Joan Ann
> > Brosnan
> >> > > Sent: Sonntag, 21. Januar 2007 22:46
> >> > > To: vics
> >> > > Subject: [vicsireland] Re: Well positioned in Dublin and Cork with
> > GPS
> >> > >
> >> > > Hi Ronan
> >> > >
> >> > > This is a very interesting report on Loadstone and it seems to be
> > of
> >> > > huge
> >> > > benefit to blind people especially since Loadstone users can
> > gather
> >> > > points
> >> > > of interest and share them with other users.
> >> > >
> >> > > I have been using loadstone and a Holux GPs receiver since last
> > week and
> >> > > so,
> >> > > I'm still familiarizing myself with the program but, so far, I
> > have been
> >> > > very impressed with its capabilities.
> >> > >
> >> > > If you know of any settings within loadstone that I should change
> > for
> >> > > use in
> >> > > Ireland or have any useful tips, they would be great.
> >> > >
> >> > > Joan Ann.
> >> > >
> >> > > ----- Original Message -----
> >> > > From: "Ronan McGuirk" <
> >> > > ronan.mcguirk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >> > >
> >> > > To: <
> >> > > vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >> > >
> >> > > Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2007 4:43 PM
> >> > > Subject: [vicsireland] Well positioned in Dublin and Cork with GPS
> >> > >
> >> > >> Hello to the VICS list. I am enclosing our report on the use of
> >> > > Loadstone
> >> > >> below. We look forward to the comments of VICS members.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Ronan
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Report Begins:
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Well positioned in Dublin and Cork
> >> > >>
> >> > >> - GPS and a mobile phone as a mobility aid for people with a
> > vision
> >> > >> impairment
> >> > >>
> >> > >> - authors: Aedan O'Meara, Cearbhall O'Meadhra, Ronan
> > McGuirk
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Date January 2007
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Overview
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Over the past few months we have been experimenting with mobile
> > phones
> >> > >> interacting with the Global Positioning System to assess the
> >> > > usefulness of
> >> > >>
> >> > >> this technology as a mobility aid to people with a vision
> > impairment.
> >> > >>
> >> > >> We have been carrying out a trial of the Loadstone-GPS system at
> > two
> >> > >> locations in Ireland, (Dublin and Cork). In this short paper we
> >> > > summarise
> >> > >> our experiences and are pleased to report that the experiment was
> >> > >> successful.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> What is the Global Positioning System?
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite navigation
> > system.
> >> > > A
> >> > >> set
> >> > >> of satellites is in orbit around the Earth. These satellites
> > transmit
> >> > >> radio
> >> > >> signals and a person with a GPS receiver can determine his/her
> >> > > location
> >> > >> based on these satellite signals. There is a very good article
> >> > > explaining
> >> > >> the Global Positioning System in Wikipedia at
> >> > >>
> >> > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System
> >> > >>
> >> > >
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> What is Loadstone?
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Loadstone-GPS is a free program designed for Series 60 Symbian
> > mobile
> >> > >> phones. This software has been designed to work well with screen
> >> > > readers
> >> > >> such as Talks or Mobile Speak on the mobile phones. In order for
> >> > >> Loadstone-GPS to work, it requires a separate GPS receiver that
> > is
> >> > >> connected
> >> > >> to the mobile phone using Bluetooth.
> >> > >>
> >> > >> It is worth noting that the hardware is standard off-the-shelf
> >> > > equipment.
> >> > >> It is not specially designed for visually impaired people.
> >> > > Furthermore,
> >> > >> the
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Loadstone-GPS program itself is free.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> For more information on Loadstone-GPS check out the Loadstone
> > website
> >> > > at
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > > www.loadstone-gps.com
> >> > >>
> >> > >
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> What equipment did we use?
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Ronan used a Nokia 6600 with Talks 2.5 premium edition together
> > with a
> >> > >> Holux
> >> > >> Slim 236 GPS receiver.
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Aedan used a Nokia 6680 with Talks 3.0 premium edition with
> > dictionary
> >> > > and
> >> > >> a Holux slim 236 GPS receiver.
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Cearbhall used a Nokia 6680 with Talks 3.0 premium edition with
> >> > >> dictionary,
> >> > >> ThinkOutside Bluetooth keyboard, Motorola Bluetooth earphone And
> > a
> >> > > Holux
> >> > >> slim 236 GPS receiver.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> How we used Loadstone
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> The Global Positioning system works by receiving radio signals
> > from
> >> > >> Satellites and calculating the location of the receiver as a
> > point of
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Latitude and longitude on the Earth.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> When you install Loadstone on your mobile phone and get it
> > working
> >> > > with
> >> > >> your
> >> > >> GPS receiver, it can tell you your latitude and longitude,
> > altitude
> >> > > and
> >> > >> speed and direction of movement. However, to make full use of it,
> > it
> >> > > is
> >> > >> Necessary to have a way of converting latitude and longitude to
> > place
> >> > >> names
> >> > >> or as they are called "points of interest, or P.O.I.s".
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Loadstone, which is being written by a blind programmer, is
> > specially
> >> > >> designed to make the recording of any point of interest to you
> >> > > absolutely
> >> > >> simple. Pressing the hash key in the Loadstone program on your
> > mobile
> >> > >> phone
> >> > >> puts you into an edit box and it is similar to entering a text
> >> > > message.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> After using Loadstone for a few months we collected hundreds of
> > point
> >> > >> names.
> >> > >> The types of point names we collected included train stations,
> > Luas
> >> > >> stations, shops, pubs and many road junctions.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Ronan found that he could use loadstone to tell which train
> > station
> >> > > the
> >> > >> Dublin Dart had stopped at. Using Loadstone on the Dart train
> > gives a
> >> > >> great
> >> > >> deal of information. Not only can you tell which station you are
> > at,
> >> > > but
> >> > >> also when the train is moving you can tell the speed and
> > direction.
> >> > > You
> >> > >> can
> >> > >> follow the curve of Dublin Bay as the train leaves Dun Laoghaire
> >> > > heading
> >> > >> due
> >> > >> west and gradually curves through the compass till it is heading
> >> > > north.
> >> > >> Ronan found that he needed to learn the meaning of compass points
> > such
> >> > > as
> >> > >> West By North, and East by North East. Using Loadstone gives a
> > very
> >> > > rich
> >> > >> understanding of your location, speed, direction and altitude
> >> > > especially
> >> > >> if
> >> > >> you are travelling in a bus or a car.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Cearbhall collected points along the seafront in Bray. This is a
> > half
> >> > >> kilometre of straight esplanade with no distinguishing features.
> > He
> >> > > was
> >> > >> able
> >> > >> to use Loadstone to mark the point of entry to the esplanade (a
> >> > > particular
> >> > >> set of steps and buildings alongside the walk that identified
> >> > > different
> >> > >> parts of the route.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> When you have collected a set of points yourself or downloaded
> > them
> >> > > from
> >> > >> the
> >> > >> point share exchange, Loadstone is a good help when trying to
> >> > > understand
> >> > >> your current location or find a point of interest. It is simple
> > to
> >> > > ask
> >> > >> Loadstone what the nearest point is or to get the direction and
> >> > > distance
> >> > >> to
> >> > >> a point you wish to reach. Loadstone is not a substitute for a
> > long
> >> > > cane
> >> > >> or
> >> > >> a guide dog, but it is a useful addition to your existing method
> > of
> >> > >> mobility.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> How to look up an Internet map to get latitude and longitude
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> There is a web site at
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > > http://stevemorse.org/jcal/latlon.php
> >> > > with a search facility that is very
> >> > >> simple and will give you the latitude and Longitude of any town
> > or
> >> > > large
> >> > >> village in Ireland, or anywhere else in the world. It will also
> > do the
> >> > >> reverse. If you capture a point with loadstone you can look it up
> > on
> >> > > this
> >> > >> website to get the street address. Ronan found that it usually
> > gives
> >> > > the
> >> > >> correct street name in Dublin but the address number of the house
> > is
> >> > > only
> >> > >> an
> >> > >> approximation.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Comparison of Loadstone with other location systems
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Unlike mapping systems which some of us have over a year's
> > experience
> >> > > of,
> >> > >> Loadstone stands out as the only viable and cost effective option
> > for
> >> > > the
> >> > >> visually impaired who wish to be told at any time exactly where
> > they
> >> > > are
> >> > >> on
> >> > >> the surface of the earth. (yes, you can use it anywhere on the
> > surface
> >> > > of
> >> > >> the earth, even at the poles though we haven't tried this yet!).
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> At the moment the list of already labelled points of interest is
> > only
> >> > >> being
> >> > >> built by the voluntary efforts of current users. It is therefore
> > a
> >> > > very
> >> > >> rewarding project to be involved in as the information you gather
> > will
> >> > > be
> >> > >> there for generations to come who might need it! This is the only
> >> > > program
> >> > >> that allows you to build entirely your own route to suit bus,
> > train,
> >> > > or
> >> > >> any
> >> > >> other off the road route. It is totally portable and once one is
> > used
> >> > > to
> >> > >> it
> >> > >> you will never leave it at home!
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Aedan has gone back to using Wayfinder for comparison purposes as
> > he
> >> > > used
> >> > >> it
> >> > >> for a year before getting Loadstone. He reports that his
> > installation
> >> > > of
> >> > >> Wayfinder, in his circumstances, was totally sterile in that it
> > gave
> >> > > no
> >> > >> information like individual bus stops, etc that he had built up
> > with
> >> > >> Loadstone.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Wayfinder only announced the turns and was awkward in use to find
> > even
> >> > > the
> >> > >>
> >> > >> name of the road you have turned onto. It appears to be purely a
> >> > > mapping
> >> > >> program
> >> > >>
> >> > >> designed for car users, or sighted pedestrians.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Ronan had previously used Mini GPs which is a program that came
> > with
> >> > > the
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Talks premium edition and allowed the labelling of mobile phone
> > cells.
> >> > >> Mini
> >> > >>
> >> > >> GPS can tell you the name of the mobile phone cell in which you
> > are
> >> > >> located.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> However, in Dublin the cells can be quite large (3 or four
> > kilometres
> >> > >> across
> >> > >> in places). Obviously this only gives you a very approximate
> > location.
> >> > > On
> >> > >> the Dublin Dart train system the mobile phone cells often include
> > more
> >> > >> than
> >> > >> one station so it is not a foolproof method of identifying
> > location.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Loadstone by contrast gives you a location that can be accurate
> > to
> >> > > about 5
> >> > >> metres.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Saving points to the Point share website
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Each of us collected many points. The Loadstone-gps website
> > provides a
> >> > >> database for sharing points. Over the past few months we have
> > added
> >> > >> several
> >> > >> hundreds of Irish places to the point share exchange.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Coverage of points in Ireland today
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Before we started using Loadstone, a number of Irish points had
> > been
> >> > > added
> >> > >> to the exchange. We are pleased to report that we have jointly
> > added
> >> > >> several
> >> > >> hundred more.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> We have captured all Dart stations from Bray to Tara Street and
> > all
> >> > > Green
> >> > >>
> >> > >> line Luas stations from Sandyford to Stephens green. We have
> > saved a
> >> > > lot
> >> > >> of
> >> > >> points in the Dun Laoghaire Dalkey area and also in Dublin 4.
> > Ronan
> >> > > went
> >> > >> hill walking on the Wicklow Way and has saved several points
> > along the
> >> > >> route
> >> > >> and elsewhere in County Wicklow.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> In Cork Aedan has added many points for Cork city centre, West
> > cork as
> >> > > far
> >> > >> as
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Clonakilty, and in East Cork from Fermoy to Dungarvan and in
> > Waterford
> >> > > as
> >> > >> far as Lismore, Waterford City, and Dunmore East.
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Cearbhall has collected most of the stations from Heuston
> > station,
> >> > > Dublin
> >> > >> to
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Waterford together with many points along the M50 from Bray to
> >> > > Sandyford.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Problems we encountered with Loadstone
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Ronan had problems with the Holux GPS unit not getting a signal
> > but
> >> > > has
> >> > >> now
> >> > >> resolved this problem.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Cearbhall found that the interest points marked on the Bray
> > seafront
> >> > >> change
> >> > >>
> >> > >> each time he goes out. The change is small and not important when
> >> > > noting
> >> > >> buildings alongside the route. However, a series of four rubbish
> > bins
> >> > > that
> >> > >> create a hazard for a blind pedestrian and are spaced about ten
> > metres
> >> > >> apart, are reported by loadstone as being in significantly
> > different
> >> > >> locations every time one passes. The accuracy of current
> > technology
> >> > > can
> >> > >> vary a bit from day to day and we are experiencing typical
> > accuracies
> >> > > of
> >> > >> about 5 to 10 metres. The Wikipedia article we mentioned above
> > gives
> >> > > a
> >> > >> very
> >> > >> good explanation of the factors that affect location accuracy.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> We have got to grips with the peculiar way Holux works. You need
> > to
> >> > > switch
> >> > >>
> >> > >> it on in an area with a guaranteed signal and wait about 30
> > seconds
> >> > > before
> >> > >>
> >> > >> starting loadstone on the mobile phone. If you do this it works
> > fine
> >> > >> afterwards. If you start it in an area with a bad signal (for
> > example
> >> > > on a
> >> > >> crowded train) then it often goes into a strange mode and won't
> > see a
> >> > >> satellite signal until re-booted. We find that switching Holux
> > off and
> >> > > on
> >> > >> again with the switch on the Holux box works fine to get it back
> >> > > working
> >> > >> again, provided you wait about 60 seconds, and we found that we
> >> > > rarely
> >> > >> needed to re-boot the phone.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Aedan found that in order to get an accurate direction of travel
> > it
> >> > > was
> >> > >> necessary to walk fairly quickly. There is a feature built into
> > the
> >> > > GPS
> >> > >> units called Static Navigation that is the cause of this. We
> >> > > recommend
> >> > >> that
> >> > >> the Static Navigation feature be turned off. If you get a unit
> > with
> >> > >> Static
> >> > >> Navigation turned on, you will either have to walk quickly to get
> > a
> >> > >> direction or go through a somewhat complex process to turn this
> >> > > feature
> >> > >> off.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> The Loadstone program itself can be a little confusing in its
> > layout
> >> > > and
> >> > >> we
> >> > >> have contributed through the email discussion list to a more
> > logical
> >> > >> layout
> >> > >> in certain parts of the newer versions.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Next steps
> >> > >>
> >> > >> We have no hesitation in recommending this product or, more
> > correctly,
> >> > >> project as a fine example of the blind helping themselves to
> > create a
> >> > >> fantastically useful tool to assist orientation. We would
> > encourage
> >> > > other
> >> > >> visually impaired people in Ireland to try it out. If we work
> >> > > together we
> >> > >> can build up a rich store of points on the point share exchange.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Looking to the future we expect technology to change fairly
> > rapidly.
> >> > >> Loadstone-GPS currently works on the second edition Symbian
> > phones.
> >> > > As of
> >> > >> now it doesn't work on the 3rdrd edition. Hopefully this will
> > change
> >> > > over
> >> > >> time.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> We expect that over time GPS technology will rapidly improve and
> > GPS
> >> > >> chipsets will be built into mobile phones. Further, it is
> > assumed
> >> > > that
> >> > >>
> >> > >> the new European GPS system Galileo, currently being built, with
> >> > > several
> >> > >> satellites already put into orbit, will have an accuracy level of
> >> > >> centimetres. This would mean that in a few years, if we still
> > have an
> >> > >> accessible system like Loadstone-GPS, we will be able to find
> > the
> >> > > door,
> >> > >> not just the building as at the moment!
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> We are in touch with the Ordnance Survey of Ireland (OSI) to see
> > if
> >> > > their
> >> > >> maps can be imported into Loadstone. We will also examine the
> > OSI'S
> >> > > OWN
> >> > >> GPS
> >> > >> programs to see if they can be used by a blind person in a laptop
> > or
> >> > >> mobile
> >> > >> phone.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> --- Report ends.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> --
> >> > >>
> >> > >> No virus found in this incoming message.
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Version: 7.1.410 / Virus Database: 268.16.10/624 - Release Date:
> >> > >> 12/01/2007
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > --
> >> > No virus found in this incoming message.
> >> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> >> > Version: 7.1.410 / Virus Database: 268.17.6/646 - Release Date:
> > 23/01/2007
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
> >> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> >> Version: 7.5.430 / Virus Database: 268.16.10/625 - Release Date:
> > 13/01/2007 17:40
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.1.410 / Virus Database: 268.17.8/649 - Release Date: 23/01/2007
>
>
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