Hi David, Thank you for such a beautiful picture of Chip's most excellent app. You are a very talented and inspiring writer, and your testimony to Chip's handiwork will be a great gift to him. smile
Thank you for taking the time to appreciate his efforts. If only all of us who write apps would get recognition like this, we would be rewarded beyond imagination. smile Thanks again, Rod -----Original Message----- From: David [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2014 6:27 PM To: [email protected] >> "[email protected]"; [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: Re: What Remind Me Where does now! The initial question, what this app really can do for a user who are not doing a ton of travelling, really is a relevant one. Chip - the author of the app - already has given a pretty good overview, when comes to the intentions behind the app. Personally, I have been testing the app for a while. I wanted to just drop in here, sharing with you all some of the great possibilities I see in the app. Used the right way, this can really be a great tool. Some of the experiences I am going to share here, are real-life ones, pulled from my actual needs. Other of the tests I have performed, was done more out of curosity and fun, but still made up on basis of situations that should be realistic enough to fit into any user's needs and wantings. Before going into details, let me just remind you all. The app relies on another app - also from Chip - that is called GPS. To some, this may scare them off the scene, since they do not own a GPS receiver, and hence imagine this is no use for them. To understand it all, you may want to be informed, that all a GPS receiver does is to give some coordinates, indicating an exact position on the globe. This coordinate, then can be held up to a map, to determine exactly what country, city, street, house number you are located. Same goes, when you want to find a destination address. Around the globe, you will find several places called London. In Europe, there is a whole country named Denmark, but Denmark is also a place in Australia. If you search for the name "Norway", and try to see how many places in the United States of America is named Norway, you will be surprised. Still, in Europe, Norway is definitely a country, filled with many cities, mountains and fjords. All in all, just giving a name - be it the name of a region, city or street - could lead to some really interesting results. Just imagine, you want to go to a local address round the corner, but the mapping system would misunderstand, and send you to a place that happened to have a similar name, located on the other end of the globe. To remedy all of this, the Remind-Me-Whare app, like any other mapping software, uses coordinates. Chip, likely could give more info, as to exactly what the GPS app does, but at least now you know that any mapping system is likely to work with coordinates - in the very core of the software. Just because the assisting app is named GPS, does not mean you need a GPS receiver. The app is definitely workable right from your home computer, whether it is a laptop, netbook, or a desktop tower model. All my testing, has been performed from the comfort of my couch (without any GPS receiver), and so you can rest assured, you do not need to walk a single step to benefit from the app. And now, let's move into real life. Since the app basically lets you find any destination, any place on the globe, you can use it for mere exploration. And for a rainy afternoon, such could be both fun and somehow informing. But to give it all a bit more usability, let's imagine you are reading a good book. The author tells about his travel from one place to the other. You get a bit curious as to how far is between the two destinations. No, you are not left with any more guessing. Bring out the app, enter the start and ending point, and you will get a list of informations. first, you will be informed the actual distance (in miles, or kilometers), and how long time is estimated for the quickest possible route. Then, you will be given a list, with step by step instructions on how to get from point A to point B. See if this will enhance your understanding of the novel you are reading. :) Another scenario, which may interest many, is the case when you are in search for a new place to live. OK, you look in the newspaper or on the net. You find a house or apartment, that sounds like it could be what you are looking for. In the past, you would have to call around to all your friends, hoping for someone to drive you there - only to find that this house was located deeply into the woods, fifty miles away from the nearest point of sivilization. Yes, I said in the past. Now, on the other hand, you will open the app, enter the address of the residence in question, and then do a look-around. You even can specify what kind of facilities you would want to know anything about, in the vicinity. For instance, since you are going to live in this address, you likely want to know what kind of grocery stores are nearby, and if it is within walking distance. Would I take a guess, that you also want to know where the nearest bus stop, banking machine, doctor's office, and maybe school is located? Find it all, right at your fingertips - without moving an inch. Now, that you have found it all was way too far off from any of your needs, you saved yourself and your friends from a wasted drive. Or, maybe you found this address to be right in the very middle of facilities that you depend on in your daily living, and you now are ready to pick up your phone, telling the potential landlord how eager you are to move in. We could use the above example, in yet another situation. you are invited to come and stay for a week this summer, with your old aunt Alice - who you havent visited since you were a child, and were taken here, there, and everywhare by your sighted parents. Sitting and listening to auntie's stories from the past century, can be fun enough for an afternoon or two. But you want to go for a burger some time through the week. Trouble is, you don't know where the nearest McDonald is, and asking Auntie is no help, since she figures you are asking for some kind of a bookstore, or Grandmother's relative. :) So, what will you do? - Guess the answer is pretty obvious, ain't it? you bring up the app, enter Auntie's address, and explore the nearby locations, even specify you want to see only the McDonald restaurants in the area. Let's stick to the vacation you are going to have, with Auntie. You know the name of the town where she is living. And, from your childhood, you seem to remember it was somewhere out in the countryside. You are eager to get out of the city of yours, but how in the world are you going to get there? Actually, how far is it? Can you ask someone to take you there by car, and they will be able to go out in the morning, and be back with their family before supper-time? Or, will it be a three-days travel by car. Could it be, that you will be able to make the whole trip on your own, first you know what buss and train to jump on? - Asking Auntie, she does not know how anyone would get anywhere. Asking daddy, he is just going to tell you that you don't dare to go that far on your own, blind person you are. Well, don't ask either of them! Simply just open Chip's app, enter your home address as the starting point, then Auntie's address as the destination, and ask for public transportation. Ten seconds later, you have the travelling list in your hand. Make a recording of the instructions on your pocket digital recorder, pack your suitcase, drop the credit card in your pocket, and be on your way. - Oh, wait a minute. Before starting out, have yourself some fun, and try to have the app tell you how you would get there, by walking. At least, when sitting on the train finding the five hours boring, enjoy thinking of all the seven and a half day' walking you are saving yourself. :) Let's get off all that travelling horse, and back to even more daily living realities. Have you ever tried to ask someone to help you with some shopping? You need a pair of new pants, but the person who is going to drive you, is uncertain as to where would be a good place to go in your area. Maybe they are living on the other side of town, and hence are not very acquainted with the locations near you. Before even asking them, you can enter your address into the app, and ask for a list of dressing shops in the vicinity. You get up a list of five stores, and immediately recognize that three of them are typical Kids Clothing stores. Forget about driving there. The two others are of interest, but will they carry what you are looking for, in the right color, and even your size? The app lets you hit a keystroke, and the website for the store comes up. Here you find the phone number, and can make a quick call, ensuring they have in stock what you are after. When your friend comes by, you can tell them, we are going right to this store, and here is the driving directions - "I just printed them out for you". Drop in the car, and five minutes later, you are right at the door of the store. No more fooling around, no more sightseeing due to friends that do not know where they are taking you. Even if you need go there by a taxi, you can tell the driver (who happen to be on his first day of work), exactly where and how to go. Or, you find that there is a bus running right outside the store, so forget about asking anyone for their merciful assistance. Does this take us one step closer to independent living? On Saturday, you have invited some new ones in town for supper. It will be a great opportunity for both parts, to enjoy getting to know each other better. And, what would be better than a glass of good wine along with your roast. The roast was no problem, as you picked that one up from the grocery right down on the corner. But the wine, is causing you a bit of headache. You know the winestore is located on the other side of town, but you don't feel like spending twice the price of the bottle of wine, on having a taxi-driver take you out there and back home. Besides, you don't really have time for that trip either. Why would you anyway, since your new guests actually are staying in a Bed-And-Breakfast in that end of town. Well, you call them, tell them your issue, and they are more than eager to help you. "Only," they say, "where would that winestore be?" What do you answer? "Oh, just a moment, I will check it out for you." - Start Chip's app, enter the address of the B&B as the starting point, ask for a list of winestores in the area nearby, and hit Search. Two seconds later, turn up the speakers of your computer, hold the phone near the speaker, and have your guests make their notes as you arrow down the list. Or, copy it into an email, and send them a nice message. Then, make sure your roast gets rare, and anticipate a nice quiet Saturday night, with a wonderful meal. - Remember to ask your new friends if they enjoyed the efforts Chip has put into the app. :) Last winter, you went abroad with some friends for a vacation. Coming home, your friends enjoy their 1259 photos from the trip. What use is that to you? Yet, you can have your fun. How far did you actually travel? How long would it take to go by car, by public transportation, or even how far did you walk that night when you were wildly searching for the gas station because your friends had forgotten to refill the tank? Play around to your heart's desire, with the app. See which cities and small towns you were driving through, memorize the funny feeling it was to drive the 15 miles (20 kilometers) straight through the mountain in that long tunnel. The list of driving instructions will tell you to drive through the tunnel, and your memory will tell you the strange feeling you experienced last winter. Now try to ask your friends, if they enjoy the photo they made inside the tunnel, and which turned out totally black because of the darkness in there. See who got the better reminder... :) On Wednesday, you are invited to join in some activity with some friends of yours. They do not have a car, and are quite busy people. You are a shy person, so you don't want to ask them for helping you getting there. You know the gang is going to meet at Anderson's Gym, on Wild Walk Street, number 59. But you have never been there. One of your friends told you "oh, that is not far from your place". Have you ever heard sighted people say that? And, have you ever experienced the reality to be different when walking, compared to them driving? - Well, you bring out the Remind Me Where app, and realize that this time, they are quite right. The gym is only half a mile away (less than a kilometer). "Great," you think, "That will just add an extra bit of exercise to it all. I will just take my guidedog for that walk, no problem." Hmm, oh well, won't you please read the instructions once again? Thing is, you have to cross the five-laned highway, and you know from experience it is without any audible traffic light. don't you think, it will do better to call the cab central, asking for a car to take you there? - Once again, did you want to drop Chip a word of appreciation? Today, you really do not feel like making yourself a lonely lunch. Why not give yourself a treat, and go for lunch somewhere? Only, when you moved in, your mom showed you the nearest grocery, bank, pharmacy and restaurant - the burger place you have been testing for the last six months. What about a pizza? This is a big city, and all your friends are talking about all the possibilities in your surroundings. Actually, didn't you hear someone mention the brand new pizza place the other day? Only, where would that be, and how would you ever explain to the white cane how to get there? - Tell you what? No need to worry. Just bring up the app, enter your home address, and ask for restaurants in the area. Scroll down the list that comes up, and get the instructions for how to get to the place of your desire. By the way, won't you please take a moment to explore the grocery stores in the area as well, that you may pick up that special chocolate bar grandmother always brings you, from the specialty store which you realize is in the street right around the corner from your place. (Sorry; grandmother! No more secret where you got my favorite chocolate... (sad smile)). Well, these were just a few cases where the app could be handy. As you will have noticed, you can perform all of this exploring right from your easy-chair, without even having to put on your shoes. Combine it all with the Weather-Or-Not app, provided by GW, and imagine the scortching heat of Cairo, Egypt - or the nippy coldness of the nothern Norway, Europe, as you make your imaginary travelling around the globe. Prepare your next trip, inform your family how to find your new residence, tell grandmother how far away you live, inform your boyfriend what is the best restaurant for your next date, or simply just make up a new route for you and your dog for that bedtime walk. Do it all, in a blind-friendly software, built by and for people like you. Thanks once again, for the efforts put into this app. And although there still remains many features that we can imagine would enhance the app's potential, it is a great tool as it stands. Has helped me several times, and given me much interesting discovery in both local and abroad exploring. Even if I have not dived into the actual way of operating the app, I still hope all of this lengthy message, was of any help to those of you who feel a bit worried to start out with an app that you did not know the potential of. ----- Original Message ----- From: Chip Orange To: [email protected] Cc: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2014 12:13 AM Subject: What Remind Me Where does now! Hi Louis, What a great question. Yes, as you pointed out, so few people seemed to have a laptop and be interested in moving around, that I switched the focus of this app to helping you explore your environment, and plan your trips. I'm going to continue to add features useful to those with laptops or tablets, but I've been focusing on use of Google+ to bring you a complete understanding of what's around everywhere, and how to get from here to there. The best feature of all which I've accidentally discovered, is the Google directions which cover use of the mass transit system. So, not only can you get directions from here to there which are quite detailed, but if you say you want to use mass transit, and you wish to start out at a given time, or arrive at a given time, Google will add to the directions exact instructions on which bus or train to catch, where to catch it from (and how to get there), how many stops later to get off (and how long this portion of the trip will take). And the best thing is that Google will do this for free for any city; they only have to supply their system's data to Google (and I've been asking my city to do so, and they are just about to release it). You can even see all the other buses or routes which stop at the same stops or stations which you are using. Also, you can use this app to search from a starting point to see everything around it, or just particular types of things around it (such as the nearest ATM or restaurant to a point). When you get your list, you can select a restaurant for instance and see either the Google+ web page with reviews, or go to the official web page for the restaurant. You can even make "is open now" one of the conditions of your search. You can also use it to solve problems such as when someone tells you "you know the home depot that's near the airport", "my business is two doors down". You can easily use this app to locate the airport, then search from their for places names which begin with "home" (and they are shown to you in distance order from the start point, so you'll know the nearest "home Depot" when you see it in the list), and then from the "home depot" you can list all the near-by places and see which ones address are very close to it. The app is designed so that you can do anything from any place which turns up on any of your searches. There's even a presentation mode Google calls a "radar" search, where I present up to 200 results in 8 groups, which are the cardinal compass directions from the starting point, and the results are listed in increasing distance order in that direction. This makes it easy for instance to see what's "north" of a given point, to help you get a better idea of how places relate to one another. This app is all about locations, and all the things you can do with them, but it's hard to summarize it in one sentence to show how useful it can be if you learn to use it. My next plans are to finish "internationalizing" it, and to allow you to save "routes" of directions, so those with laptops and GPS receivers can use the app to guide them along the route. If others have other suggestions though, I'm open to ideas. Thanks for asking, Chip From: gosselin_louis [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, July 14, 2014 8:47 AM To: [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: RE: new beta of Remind Me Where Chip, I haven't been following this app very closely, but it's obvious you've been devoting a tremendous amount of time, energy, and what must be love, too, to this app. I'm very impressed. I've always had the impression, though, that it is intended for use on say a very portable laptop, possibly even on a tablet, while in motion. I've only got a desktop PC now, and believe most of my real independent travel days are over. Could one do anything much with this app on a desktop? Can one, for example, set up a route and explore what's on it? Or have I entirely misunderstood what's offered here? No need for a long response. I'm just wondering if I should be interested. Louis Gosselin From: Chip Orange [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2014 8:54 PM To: [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: new beta of Remind Me Where Hi beta testers, The latest beta of Remind Me Where is ready (0.6.0). It now honors the menu item choice in the options dialog which allows you to specify your preferred units (Metric or English). It also requires an update to the GPS app; if Window-Eyes does not prompt you to update the GPS app, then Remind Me Where will let you know that this is required. Also, in the list of places, I've redefined the columns of the listview slightly so that the second column is the address only, and the third column is the distance and direction to the place (now in metric if you desire). This allows you to go to the verbosity settings of Window-Eyes, in the "Common" group, the "miscellaneous" subgroup, and you can set the speaking of listview headers so that they always speak for every column if you desire. This may help you distinguish between the address information, and the direction and distance information. I do still have some other places which specify their units only in English units (such as the search dialog), but I'll clean up those last few places soon so they also honor metric preferences. I have also updated the HTML documentation, trying to make it clearer and more complete. Thanks for all the testing and the ideas and suggestions. The download location for the Remind Me Where app is: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/11745142/Remin d_Me_Where.wepm Enjoy, Chip 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. GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv.
