>Sydney Morning Herald, Australia >Tuesday, October 02, 2007 > >GPS joins the guide dogs > >By Adam Turner > >WHILE a guide dog can warn you as you approach a kerb, you can't ask even >the brightest canine to take you to the nearest ATM. > >Trekker is a GPS satellite navigation system for the vision-impaired, >designed to complement a guide dog or cane in helping people find their way >around town. Like in-car systems, Trekker providers users with turn-by-turn >navigation - reading aloud the names of the streets rather than just saying >"next left". > >Produced by Australian assistive technology developer HumanWare, the >Trekker >system consists of off-the-shelf components: a HP 2490B hand-held PC, a >Bluetooth-enabled GPS receiver and a shoulder speaker. The system can be >worn around the neck under a jacket or on a shoulder strap. A sleeve slides >over the hand-held PC, which is fitted with buttons that in turn press the >touchscreen, allowing users to enter commands such as their destination. >They can also search for local points of interest such as hotels, cafes and >ATMs, as well as have these pointed out during a journey. > >One of Trekker's strengths is the ability for users to study maps and >rehearse routes before they set off, making it easier for them to find >their >way around unfamiliar places. They can also create their own points of >interest using voice notes that allow them to record extra information, >such >as the location of steps or other obstacles. > >Trekker relies on data supplied to HumanWare by global mapping specialist >NAVTEQ. After several years on the market in North America and Europe, >Trekker was launched in Australia late last year to coincide with NAVTEQ's >move into the Australian market. > >While Trekker gives vision-impaired people greater freedom to travel, >HumanWare Australia's national blindness products consultant, Ramona Mandy, >says it's no replacement for her guide dog, Paisley. > >"The Trekker doesn't just give vision-impaired people information, it gives >them independence. That independence makes you more confident and more >employable. Some of my customers have said it's useful to be able to review >a route first from the comfort and safety of home by using the offline >browse," Ms Mandy says. > >"We call it a secondary orientation device, because it never will replace a >guide dog or a cane. You have to have good orientation and mobility skills. >Orientation is all about travelling safely and independently, so whether >you're a cane user or a dog user, you have to have good orientation skills >first." > >An hereditary eye condition saw Ms Mandy's vision fade during childhood. > >She learnt braille at seven, starting using a cane at 15 and was completely >blind by 25. Today she relies on Trekker, Paisley and a BrailleNote, a >Personal Digital Assistant with a braille keyboard and display as well as >text-to-speech functionality. > >"Vision-impaired people have access to about 5 per cent of information that >sighted people access through print. Having Trekker helps improve that >imbalance," Ms Mandy says. > >"Obviously all blind people don't live together in Blindville, so with >these >NAVTEQ maps we can go wherever we need to. It means I don't need someone to >take me new places for the first time. For example, I'm going to Perth for >a >conference later this year and I'll be able to find on my own where the >nearest ATM or pharmacy is." > >NAVTEQ's global coverage also makes it easy for Trekker users to travel >overseas, says NAVTEQ's Australian business development director, Kirk >Mitchell. > >"We've been working with HumanWare overseas for several years now and when >we moved to Australia we had teams of mappers scouring the country, >recording information above and beyond that required by motorists so we can >meet the needs of customers like HumanWare," Mr Mitchell says. > >"Next year we're looking to bring out in Australia what we call Discover >Cities, which is a pedestrian-based product that will include points of >interest, such as all the exit points in railway stations." Directions for >walkways and paths in parks are to follow. > >www.humanware.com > >SOURCE > >www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/10/02/1191091041855.html
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