Navigating by Phone: A Review of Wayfinder Access GPS and Mobile Geo, Part 2
By Burton, Darren; Annis, Tara; Access World, Vol. 10, No. 4Publication Date: July 2009
Review of Wayfinder Access and Mobile Geo, two accessible cell phone-based Global Positioning Systems (GPS) that can be used with cell phone screen-reading software. The second in a two-part series, this article describes Mobile Geo and also includes a comparison of the two products. Mobile Geo is powered by Sendero GPS. It is compatible with the Mobile Speak screen reader and works on Windows Mobile-based Smartphones, Pocket PC phones, and PDAs, which run on both the GSM and CDMA cellular networks. The system is also compatible with Mobile Magnifier, providing low-vision access. Mobile Geo uses maps loaded onto the phone’s memory. Detailed descriptions are offered on the navigation within the system’s Functions and Application menus. Mobile Geo was tested following several routes for both pedestrian and vehicle scenarios. Useful features noted were the ability to customize the amount of information given en route such as points of interest, optional use of vibrations to produce short Morse code alerts such as the letters A and T for Approaching Turn, a Getting Warmer alert as a destination is near, and the ability to minimize Mobile Geo and work on other phone applications. In comparing the two products, the reviewers found that, although installation was accessible with both systems, it was easier and faster with Wayfinder Access. Because Mobile Geo loads its maps directly onto the phone, maps can be explored even without a GPS connection; this also eliminates the need of a data plan with a cellular service provider. However, Wayfinder takes seconds to create a route, while Mobile Geo’s route calculation could take minutes.
Assistive Products Discussed: MOBILE SPEAK
MOBILE SPEAK SMARTPHONE
MOBILE SPEAK POCKET
MOBILE GEO
Published by: AFB Press (Website:http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=46)
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) (Web Site: http://www.afb.org )
Link to text: http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw100402
