Just to add to what you’re talking about here. There are a few key sources of error which you bring up and one you skirted by. First, your right, you’re aggregating 3 data sources for location (possibly more). WiFi location that you’ve already covered, tower location and GPS space based location. Tower based will get you with in 100 meters maybe a bit better assuming optimal atmospheric conditions. GPS will get you different levels of accuracy depending on a lot of factors ranging from whether you have an error corrected signal (WAAS in the US), how many satellites you’re receiving, the type of geography you’re in and so forth. In perfect conditions GPS will work down to about 3 meters, usually you’ll see more like 9 meters and the deviation can be a lot higher than that. As you can see, by all three methods, the error rate is high enough that locating your exact position in fine detail isn’t practical yet. (The new GPS system will address some of this) The other source of error that’s a big one that you didn’t mention as much is the fact that the maps are generally designed with driving in mind. Even walking maps are in many cases just approximations from driving data. So the map is assuming you’re driving down the street and locates your location based on where you’ll park, not the front door. Also, as you mentioned, address ranges are usually applied to the block and the fine detail is left to a sited user who can easily scan the area for the signage etc. Obviously this is not what we need. User shared points of reference are usually measured by a handset close to the location so can be a bit better but we’re operating still with in the margins of error. I always liked the talking signs system for the in building / fine navigation but we need to put beacons everywhere for that to work.
> On Mar 3, 2017, at 9:02 AM, Jonathan Cohn <jon.c.c...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Actually, I am nt sure the issues with accuracy in most cases is the limits > of the GPS receivers especially since iPhone's use WiFi as additional > triangulation information as much as the OI databases. Since POI databases > seem to have street addresses rather than actual lat/long coordinates, and > since the GIS databases often just give ranges of addresses in a block there > is a significant error rate. My parents home had the largest address on the > block which ended in 32, but some GPS systems suggested it was an address > that ended in 52 and that the address ending in 32 was 300 yards down the > street. Google until last year thought my house was around the corner on a > differentt street. So my hope would be that the checkin process that Square > requires would in well visited areas cause the database to be more accurate. > > I remember 5 years ago when I first got Sendaro on my Windows phone, walking > around in circles for 15 minutes because the restaurant I was looking for was > always 100 yards away. I tend to find that happens less often with my iPhone, > if it brings me to the wrong address it pretty much insists on that location > and does not wander around, except for when I am near a body of water. > > So the question to get back to the original subject is do people find that > they have less stress finding a location using one of the three blind > oriented iPhone solutions over using a more main stream product? > > Best wishes, > > Jonathan > > > >> On Mar 2, 2017, at 2:01 AM, David Chittenden <dchitten...@gmail.com >> <mailto:dchitten...@gmail.com>> wrote: >> >> No, the blindness specific apps are subject to the current limitations of >> GPS, just like the lower cost alternatives. That said, EU's GPS system will >> be coming online fairly soon. With both systems working in concert, expected >> GPS accuracy is predicted to significantly increase to an average of one >> metre, rather than the current best of three metres which is occasionally >> obtained from the US system on a perfect day. Note: inclimate weather will >> always significantly reduce GPS as long as current technologies are being >> used. This has to do with how radio waves and atmospheric conditions >> interact, amongst other factors. >> >> David Chittenden, MSc, MRCAA >> Email: dchitten...@gmail.com <mailto:dchitten...@gmail.com> >> Mobile: +64 21 2288 288 >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>> On 2/03/2017, at 16:37, Jonathan C. Cohn <jon.c.c...@gmail.com >>> <mailto:jon.c.c...@gmail.com>> wrote: >>> >>> I have been putting off purchasing either of these apps. I was ready to >>> purchase BlindSquared when Nearby Explorer was first demonstrated, and i >>> have been debating if the bus time announcements were worth the cost of >>> Nearby Explorer. >>> >>> The major GPS issues i have with the low cost solutions I currently use is >>> for the last few yards and i am not sure either of these Apps will help. >>> Examples are is my bus stop here or at the next pole? Or when there are six >>> bus stops clustered near a train stop. Or thirdly where is the front of the >>> building i just walked ten blocks to. >>> >>> Best wishes, >>> >>> Jonathan Cohn >>> >>>> On Mar 1, 2017, at 4:15 PM, David Chittenden <dchitten...@gmail.com >>>> <mailto:dchitten...@gmail.com>> wrote: >>>> >>>> For bus / train public transit, I very strongly encourage trying an app >>>> called moovit. >>>> >>>> Moovit is the only public transit app I have used which automatically, and >>>> consistently, announces the stop where I need to get off the bus just >>>> before the stop. It gives a couple announcements, one from a couple >>>> hundred metres before (at the previous bus stop (so one can trigger the >>>> stop request signal), and one when it is time to get off the bus. These >>>> announcements occur when the live route tracking is active. The walking >>>> between bus stops, to the first bus stop, and to the final destination, is >>>> not very good for the blind pedestrian, but the actual bus and train >>>> travel announcements are better than any other app I have used. >>>> >>>> Between bus stops, and to my destination, I usually use Apple Maps. My >>>> fiancé, on the other hand, prefers Google Maps. She is sighted, and finds >>>> its visual layout to be much more appealing. >>>> >>>> Kind regards, >>>> >>>> David Chittenden, MSc, MRCAA >>>> Email: dchitten...@gmail.com <mailto:dchitten...@gmail.com> >>>> Mobile: +61 488 988 936 >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>> >>>>> On 2/03/2017, at 03:40, Jenine Stanley <dragonwalke...@gmail.com >>>>> <mailto:dragonwalke...@gmail.com>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Donna, >>>>> >>>>> The answer to your question really depends on how you plan to use GPS. >>>>> When you travel, do you walk or mostly ride in vehicles? >>>>> >>>>> If you walk, are you interested in planning routes to places or just >>>>> hearing the street names as you go? >>>>> >>>>> When you ride, are you usually the navigator for a driver or are you >>>>> taking public transit? >>>>> >>>>> both apps handle all of these tasks well but if you really want to plan >>>>> routes or look around easily virtually, I’d suggest spending the money on >>>>> Nearby Explorer. It does take up over 4gb on the phone but maps are >>>>> available when you don’t have coverage which is nice. If you ever worked >>>>> with the Trekker in its original form, this app is as close to its >>>>> supreme functionality and easy learning curve as anything I’ve seen. >>>>> >>>>> That said, if money is an issue and you just want to hear intersecting >>>>> streets and POIs, BlindSquare is great. It does much more but is a bit >>>>> more technical or involved in how it gets you there. It does not do route >>>>> planning in advance unless going through another app like Maps, Google >>>>> Maps or Seeing eye GPS. >>>>> >>>>> As always, just my opinions here. Your mileage will no doubt vary. >>>>>> On Mar 1, 2017, at 8:12 AM, Donna Goodin <doniado...@me.com >>>>>> <mailto:doniado...@me.com>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Hi all, >>>>>> >>>>>> Now that we're moving back to a real city--at least relatively >>>>>> speaking--I'm thinking about using my phone a little more for GPS and >>>>>> related tasks. I'm thinking about nearby explorer, but it comes with a >>>>>> pretty hefty price tag. Does it offer any significant advantages over >>>>>> Blind Square? >>>>>> TIA, >>>>>> Donna >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> The following information is important for all members of the Mac >>>>>> Visionaries list. >>>>>> >>>>>> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or >>>>>> if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the >>>>>> owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >>>>>> >>>>>> Your Mac Visionaries list moderator is Mark Taylor. 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