Robert,

Maybe on cell phones or other mobile devices (like PDAs), but not
laptops.

I wrote a prototype one using a database and it's scripting language,
and a mapping package with accessible map data called MapPoint, but the
database language wasn't good enough for real-time applications.  I
thought it would make a good choice because I thought the user would be
keeping big lists of downloaded, shared, points of interest, but it
wasn't designed to be multi-threaded.

I passed along my ideas and experiences to Mike May at Sendaro though,
and I didn't go any further because of health problems.  He eventualy
incorporated some of my suggestions into his product, and switched GPS
receivers based on my suggestion.

I am thinking of reviving the idea from time to time; especially if
health problems force me into an early retirement, but it was always
going to be freeware, so I encourage anyone intreagued by the
possibilities in MapPoint to go for it!  It was the only map data, of
high accuracy, that I ever found that was program-accessible.  MapPoint
also provided routing services as well, and there's a real-time internet
version of MapPoint as well as the stand-alone version, updated every
year or 2.


Everything else didn't let you get at their data, or cost a small
fortunate for a special map data license.  MapPoint costs around $250 a
copy, and has a free programming API object interface.

There's the question of exactly when could a blind person make use of a
GPS application which runs on a laptop?  I would use it while riding
around in a car; and so riding in taxis or buses might be a use, other
than that, you'd have to wear a backpack with the laptop (with an
earphone presumably), and you still have the problem of how to control
the program.

Maybe voice recognition and a headset is the answer there, but there are
so many good GPS options that are small, it's hard to think of a reason
why this would be useful.

Chip





------------------------------

Chip Orange
Database Administrator
Florida Public Service Commission

[email protected]
(850) 413-6314

 (Any opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not
necessarily reflect those of the Florida Public Service Commission.)
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Robert Riddle [mailto:[email protected]] 
> Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 7:22 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: gps
> 
> Are there any gps software options that work with we?
> 
> 
> If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original
> sender only.  If your reply would benefit others on the list and
> your message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending
> your message to [email protected] so the entire list will 
> receive it.
> 
> All GW-Info messages are archived at 
> http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo, and can be searched through 
> and sorted using the search
> form at the bottom of the page. 
> 
> If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, send a message to
> [email protected] and include leave gw-info in the body 
> of the message.
> 

If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original
sender only.  If your reply would benefit others on the list and
your message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending
your message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it.

All GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo, and can be 
searched through and sorted using the search
form at the bottom of the page.

If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, send a message to
[email protected] and include leave gw-info in the body
of the message.

Reply via email to