Hi Rick, I started out to do exactly the kind of thing you're thinking of, a navigational aid.
Google was much easier to use than Microsoft maps, so I chose it to work with. You can query directions and reverse geocode your position from GPS coordinates up to 10 times a second, so Google could easily provide you a talking map service with directions. Having your app authenticate to Microsoft maps was a big difficult deal (for me). However, either of their description of what's around you (from what I've heard) isn't as good as the Sendero product (but then it's free, and Sendero is fairly costly). And second, which is what made me give this up as my primary goal, it requires an internet connection and a laptop. I think there are a very few people who will be moving around with a constant internet connection (which is necessary if you go off route and need to be brought back on route), and when I floated the idea, I was also told a very few people would be walking around with a laptop, even an ultrabook 1.5 pound one. So, I changed my aim to be helping the traveler prepare their route before leaving home. I'll go back to a moving navigational aid when this part is done though, and I am going to try to integrate the info from Open Street Map to get more info about the streets around you. Hth, Chip -----Original Message----- From: Rick Thomas [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, June 30, 2014 5:53 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Android Apps For Sightless and Navigation Hi Chip: What are you working on using gps? Are you using maps like google maps or the microsoft maps as well? I watched the podcast mentioned and was impressed with how far the technology has come but it could be better but just how complicated is programming using maps, walking directions, cumpus and all that jaz? I played with driving directions using google maps and microsoft maps a few years ago and it wasnt too bad but not dynamic like providing directions while walking along a path. I just entered a to and from address and pulled down the data from the api for google and microsoft maps so it was a static route based on 2 predetermined end points. Rick USA On 6/29/2014 2:55 PM, Chip Orange wrote: > Bruce, > > Sendero is the most well-known supplier of navigation apps for the blind. > http://www.senderogroup.com/ > > I believe they have apps for both I-phones and Android phones, as well as a > long list of specialized devices for the blind, and they have something for > Windows pcs (although I seem to recall it's not a true navigational aid, but > more like what I'm trying to do with a way to explore areas). > > There is also the stand-alone device whose name was something like the > Trekker (or Trekker breeze), as a competator to Sendero. > > Hth, > > Chip > > > -----Original Message----- > From: LB [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Friday, June 27, 2014 4:47 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Android Apps For Sightless and Navigation > > > Hi! > > Does anyone know of navigation apps for android cell phones for the > sightless? > > Or any or all apps for the blind? > > Bruce > > > --- > This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus > protection is active. > http://www.avast.com > >
