Hi Penny,
The apps that are being discussed use map data/information which is compiled
by companies which do that. There are only a few of these in the world and
basically all of the apps buy the rights to use this information from them.
Google and Apple have gone out done a lot of their own mapping, but I am not
even sure if they aren't even getting some information from companies like
Navteq or Tele Atlas which are 2 of the main digital map providers.
In any case, all the main stream GPS apps like Navigon, Garmin, TomTom,
Motion GPS, MapQuest etc. use maps from either Navteq or Tele Atlas.
Specialized apps like the new Seeing Eye app from Sendero which is the only
full-featured app for the blind which offers both turn by turn directions
for travelling along a route from point A to point B as well as ongoing
information about streets and intersections as you walk along also uses
Navteq Maps. I am simplifying this a bit since Sendero also uses another
source for maps, but it sounds as if you have little knowledge at this point
so such details I think are not relevant at this stage.
Apart from Sendero there are apps like BlindSquare, Ariadne GPS or the
earlier app from Sendero called LookAround. These apps help in telling you
where you are, what is around you, what your nearest cross street is and
which direction you are going in. Some do this better than others, in my
opinion BlindSquare does the best job giving you automatic announcements of
upcoming cross streets and points of interest and it also allows you to set
your own places/points of interest. You could, for example, stand right
beside the bench of a bus stop you use and set that as a place and the next
time you walk along and come within a certain distance which you can
determine, BlindSquare would tell you, for example, "Bus Stop 1, 50 feet at
2 o'clock".
Most GPS apps also give you information about so-called POI's or Points of
Interest. These are things like restaurants, banks, businesses, stores etc.
Just as with maps, there are companies who compile databases of such POI's.
I suggest you start getting more information about the topic of GPS
navigation by listening to Podcasts about some of these apps. There is a
good Podcast about the Seeing Eye app on www.applevis.com and others are out
there, if you are unable to find them via Google, maybe some other list
members who have saved the URL for a specific Podcast will share it with
you. Mike Errigo (hope I didn't misspell that) who recently rejoined this
list has done some good Podcasts comparing main stream apps like Navigon and
TomTom, if Mike reads this maybe he will contribute some useful information.
I am also giving you the app store links and prices for some of these apps,
the Seeing Eye app is free to download, but it is nonetheless your most
costly option as it requires you to buy a subscription or licence after you
download it. Without the subscription the app can't access the map
information on the Sendero servers.
The subscription is $70 for 1 year or $130 for 3 years. This sounds
expensive as apps go, but the app does give a blind person the most useful
information and $130 over 3 years only works out to $3.61 a month.
Furthermore, if you buy a main stream turn by turn app like Navigon which
costs $39 to $59 depending on what version you buy, you still need something
like BlindSquare which is $20 because Navigon will not give you any
information unless you enter a route, e.g. you are now here and want to go
to this restaurant or this store etc. Even then it will tell you when to
turn left or right, but as you walk along it may tell you to now follow the
road for 1 mile and you may pass many streets as you go, but Navigon says
nothing about these or what kind of intersections they are. You may have to
set a route and let Navigon run in the background which it will happily do
and then use an app like BlindSquare to get more information about what is
immediately around you. The Seeing Eye app will do all of this in one app
and if you are basically familiar with a route and you maybe just want some
reassurance as you walk along, then the Seeing Eye app will just give you
information as you walk without the need to set a route.
Ariadne GPS, $5.99:
https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/ariadne-gps/id441063072?mt=8
BlindSquare, $19.99:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/blindsquare/id500557255?mt=8
Seeing Eye GPS:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/seeing-eye-gps/id668624446?mt=8
Good luck,
Sieghard
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf
Of Penny Golden
Sent: Wednesday, July 10, 2013 10:05 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Travel apps in general
I'm new to all this. I hear you discussing all these apps that
show roads and streets walking or in the car. How does that all work?
Do you just download the app and learn? Or do you first have to download
something such as google maps
?
Or would the addition of some other kinds of GPS that I haven't even thought
of make these apps you're discussing more effective?
Or, do they just work all by themselves without additions? Thanks, and
sorry to be a pest.
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