[vicsireland] Re: Well positioned in Dublin and Cork with GPS
- From: "Ronan McGuirk" <ronan.mcguirk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 21 Jan 2007 13:30:56 -0000
Hello Maureen and Tony,
The Holux slim GPS receiver that I used was about the size of a matchbox. I
usually put it in the inside pocket of my jacket or suit. It connects via
bluetooth to the mobile phone so it only needs to be within a few metres of
the phone.
In a car I found it better to put the GPS receiver on the dashboard so that
it could get a better signal.
There are various gps receivers on the market each with advantages and
disadvantages.
There is a number of ways of getting the Loadstone program onto the phone
either via a USB cable, card reader, infrared or bluetooth connection to a
PC. It depends on the model of phone and the PC facilities that you have.
There is a very good explanation of the installation procedure on the
Loadstone website at www.loadstone-gps.com and if you are interested in more
specific details I would recommend having a look at their online manual.
Ronan
----- Original Message -----
From: "maureen newell" <mcnewell@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, January 21, 2007 10:23 AM
Subject: [vicsireland] Re: Well positioned in Dublin and Cork with GPS
> Next question Bert: how to I download Loadstone to mobile 'phone? There
> must be a wire requirement to connect up 'phone and computer?
>
> Excited!
>
> Maureen.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "albertbrown" <albertbrown@xxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2007 9:37 PM
> Subject: [vicsireland] Re: Well positioned in Dublin and Cork with GPS
>
>
> > Hello Maureen,
> > yes your mobile 6600 with your version of Talks should work.
> >
> > The GPS receiver can be purchased from Expansys in the UK.
> > the number is a Dublin local number: 01/6319119 and your switched to
> the
> > UK.
> >
> > I use Loadstone myself and I find it very good, I also use wayfinder,
> these
> > maps are already available.
> > Bert
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "maureen newell" <mcnewell@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2007 6:51 PM
> > Subject: [vicsireland] Re: Well positioned in Dublin and Cork with GPS
> >
> >
> > > Very, very interesting Ronan, I have a 6600 'phone with Talks but do
> I
> > > need the update to Talks to use Loadstone? Also where can one buy
> this
> > > headset?
> > >
> > > Maureen.
> > > ----- 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
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> --
> > >> 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
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > 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: 268.17.0/639 - Release Date: 18/01/2007
>
>
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