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Trekker is a standalone GPS system for the Blind and visually impaired. A revolutionary system that uses GPS and digital maps to help people with blindness or low vision find their way in urban and rural areas.
Trekker GPS users can pinpoint exactly where they are, learn about area attractions, and find out how to get to specific destinations. GPS lets them know their location, anywhere in the world, with continually growing precision.
Trekker GPS Additional Detail >>
Fitting in the palm of the hand, Trekker offers the visually impaired greater freedom, raising their confidence in their ability to travel near or far, for business or pleasure. The Trekker also helps people with low vision or blindness access and enjoy the most valuable and interesting opportunities their surroundings have to offer.
The Trekker system is comprised of a Bluetooth GPS receiver, a stand-alone speaker and a handheld computer equipped with an electronic map and a specially designed tactile keyboard. The three components each have their own battery and can be recharged simultaneously. The Trekker package now includes electronic maps for the entire USA.
Trekker helps guide the visually impaired through their environment. It complements existing aids (white canes and guide dogs). It does not replace them. Sleek and discreet, Trekker provides information in the most natural way possible and allows users to record both vocal and written notes.
Trekker automatically provides many informational functions in real time, when you are online with a GPS signal, such as: Street Mapping, Intersection detection, and Point of Interest detection.
Trekker Pro, The Maestro Option: A full range of functions in the palm of your hand.
The Trekker Pro system is enhanced with the Maestro applications, which provide access to indispensable functions of a PDA: agenda, text notes, voice notes, address book, DAISY reader (Victor Reader Pocket), media player, E-mail manager, Web browser, calculator, clock and alarms. The Maestro is also available as a standalone solution. Maestro Additional Details >>
Now users can input data quickly and conveniently anytime, anywhered. The Trekker system uses wireless technology to communicate with both portable QWERTY keyboards and portable Braille keyboards, doing away with cumbersome wires and adapters. Below is a list of compatible wireless keyboards:
Trekker users can now enjoy the comfort and flexibility provided by a wireless GPS receiver. Bluetooth GPS technology is evolving rapidly both in performance and precision and there exists a wide selection of Bluetooth receivers on the market, featuring different characteristics.
The Trekker GPS system is currently being shipped with a RoyalTek RBT-2100 GPS receiver.
On the right side of the RoyalTek GPS you will find a Power Switch and a rubber cover. Slide the Power Switch back and forth to power On/Off. When you open the rubber cover with your fingernail, you will find a Power Jack, and an External Receiver Port.
The LED Indicators are located on the face panel, underneath the RoyalTek label and described from left to right as follows:
The Battery Status LED (Roy): Yellow - Red
A constant yellow light indicates that the GPS is connected to the power outlet and charging. A Blinking red light indicates the Battery level is low - Charging immediately is required.
The GPS Status LED (al): Green
constant green light indicates that the GPS receiver is powered On but the GPS position is not fixed. A blinking Green light indicates the GPS position is fixed.
The Bluetooth Status LED (Tek): Blue
A Blinking Blue light indicates Bluetooth is in connection.
Make sure the battery is fully charged before using the Bluetooth GPS. When charging, connect the AC/DC adapter (with the Power Splitter) to the GPS power jack, and plug into an electrical outlet. As the device is charging, the Battery Status LED will show a yellow light. It takes about 4 hours to fully charge the battery. When the battery is fully charged, the Battery Status LED will turn Off. Unplug the device and remove the AC/DC adapter. For more information visit the RoyalTek Website at http://www.RoyalTek.com.
Because of continual advances in Bluetooth GPS technology, the receiver shipped with Trekker can change without notice.
Motorized Mode
Trekker can now be used in a moving vehicle. The user can access information while traveling by taxi or bus to know in advance intersections to be crossed, when a destination is approaching, current speed and what route the driver is following.
Route Mode
Trekker can now provide an itinerary by simply entering the addresses of the departure point and destination. It's also possible to consult the provided itinerary in Browsing Offline mode.
Free Mode
This feature allows reception and entry of information when away from street networks, such as parks, sporting areas, parking lots, university campuses, etc. The user can create points of interest, for instance, and find out the main thoroughfares surrounding.
Tactile keyboard
The new keyboard provides improved input capability and quick access to functionalities such as switching navigation modes through button shortcuts.
The Trekker PDA comes equipped with both integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to enable access to the Internet and email from corporate, home or Wi-Fi hotspots (in select airports, hotels, and other public places) and to allow cable-free connections to other devices with Bluetooth wireless technology.
HP iPAQ hx2490b Key Features
When they say the future is here, they're not kidding-and nothing proves it better than HumanWare's Trekker GPS system-as enthusiastic user Doug Wakefield of Arlington, Virginia would agree.
An Information Technology Accessibility Specialist for the government, Wakefield has seen many a technological aid for the blind appear on the horizon over the years. Some impress him, some don't. When he saw Trekker demonstrated at a conference, there was no hesitation:
"This," he said, "I want." And after using Trekker his initial reaction was more than confirmed:
"I love it, pure and simple… I don't usually get this high on a product, but Trekker really deserves it. It's tremendous!"
Trekker is HumanWare's revolutionary new travel tool for the blind that uses GPS, talking digital maps and talking menus to provide real-time information on surroundings and pinpoint user location-like having a personal guide on hand.
Operating on the highly accessible and flexible HP iPAQ or Dell Axim Pocket PC, the compact, lightweight Trekker system is comfortably worn over the neck or shoulder on a supplied strap. As you walk along with your white cane or guide dog, Trekker keeps pace with you, announcing street names, intersections, addresses, stores and businesses, restaurants and area attractions as they come. Or use the search function for an exhaustive database of point of interests.
Lost your bearings for a moment? Press the "Where am I?" key to pinpoint your position. Trekker will even advise you if you turn into a dead end. Got a comment? Activate the onboard mic and speak a quick note for future reference, or enter it in Braille on the touch-screen.
Obviously the high-tech but friendly Trekker is a boon when entering an unfamiliar area, like on a business trip. But it also increases accessibility and enjoyment of the most useful and interesting opportunities in your own neck of the woods.
"My wife and I love to walk and to try different routes," explains Wakefield. "But we don't have talking signs here, and in the suburbs it not always easy to find another pedestrian to tell you what street you're on. With Trekker we never get lost. So we go exploring in areas we probably wouldn't otherwise. My wife says it's like having your own talking signs."
Trekker also accompanies Wakefield on familiar routes, such as his mile-long walk to and from the office. Trekker keeps him automatically and continuously advised of where he is on the route, freeing part of his attention to consider the day's schedule or other matters.
"You always know where you are. That means you have one less thing to worry about." "Yet, it's non-intrusive. It talks to you but you're not required to answer back."
The clip-on speaker position and volume are adjustable and Trekker can be set to do its job while remaining discreetly in the background. This adds up to what the Wakefields have dubbed a "subtle" quality they both appreciate.
Wakefield cites Trekker's Browsing Offline mode as a major advantage. Using this feature you can explore an area to be traveled while in the peace and quiet of your home, hotel room, or wherever. Among other things, this allows you to organize your route ahead of time, avoiding potential problems.
"With the off-line browsing feature, I can virtually tour an area before travelling it. If I'm going to run into an intersection with seven different streets, I want to know about it beforehand. Trekker lets me plan my route in advance."
Trekker is a full-featured standalone orientation product for the blind with the lowest acquisition cost. It is the first GPS-based product to offer digital maps to the visually impaired in a fully portable application.
Wakefield notes that many technological aids for the blind end up "simply occupying shelf space" after purchase because they don't work right. Not so with Trekker, says Wakefield. "Trekker definitely works! It really does."
Another aspect that Wakefield finds particularly gratifying is Trekker's speech synthesis quality. "I was very surprised and pleased when I heard the voice," he says. "It was much better than I anticipated."
Trekker Gets You Where You're Going
Trekker provides information in the most natural way possible, with continually growing precision, and a wide variety of maps are available covering most Western countries. Maps can be bought online and downloaded, or ordered and delivered on CD or Compact Flash cards. The system employs off-the-shelf hardware for GPS input. Trekker is fully upgradeable, so it can expand to accommodate new hardware platforms and more detailed geographic information.
In addition to its many orientation advantages, the system is just plain fun to use. The Wakefields maintain they never go out without it. Trekker's maker, HumanWare Inc., however, wishes to stress the system is only a complement to the traditional tools of white cane and guide dog.
Doug Wakefield
Information Technology Accessibility Specialist
"I couldn’t do without my Trekker GPS. It’s just as useful on daily commutes as on business trips. Before I leave on a trip, I install the map for my destination city onto the Trekker. Then, once I'm comfortably settled on the plane, I can start exploring the city using the Browsing Offline mode. Trekker points out attractions near my hotel - restaurants, stores, museums, and so on. I can save talking notes about points of interest - for example, a reminder about a restaurant someone really liked."
"Evenings before business appointments, I often have a little free time to explore the city with my Trekker. Once I'm on the sidewalk, cane in hand, the magic of GPS goes to work. As I walk along, Trekker tells me about points of interest on the way, and the name of streets and intersections. I no longer have to stop people to ask where such-and-such a place is. Using the Where Am I feature, I can find out my position at any time, the name of the street I'm on, and the approximate address."
"In the morning, I check my Trekker to learn the route to my appointments. With the help of instructions obtained beforehand, I visualize my route in Browsing Offline mode. It's like using a talking map. Once I leave the hotel, my Trekker tells me how many streets I still have to cross before the intersection where I need to turn right. If I try to turn onto a dead end, Trekker says 'Can't go that way.' VisuAide's Trekker has truly revolutionized my travel independence - around town and on the road."
Andre Dubois
Technical Advisor
"This is a heartfelt thank you to all of you who made the Trekker possible. When I walk down the street and hear the name of the street, whether it's a three-way or four-way intersection that I'm approaching, the direction in which I'm heading, the nearest Point of Interest, I get the biggest smile on my face! No words can describe what it is like to be able to learn about your neighborhood without having to rely on sighted assistance. The word "awesome" is overused, yet it's an appropriate word to use here. It's awesome!"
"I didn't mention this to anyone before, but when I took my first walk and heard the name of the street I was traveling, and the name of the elementary school I was near and that it was on my right, not only did I smile, but I got tears in my eyes. It sounds silly, I know. I'm an independent traveler; I know my neighborhood street names well; I walk with confidence and have good orientation and mobility skills, and yet, the Trekker has given me an element of freedom I never thought possible."
"I just wanted to thank all of you at HumanWare who made the Trekker possible. What an incredible job you've done! Just incredible!"
Sincerely,
Jennifer
Existing Trekker users can purchase the hardware package to upgrade their current system to the new Trekker Bluetooth system. A Trekker software upgrade will be also needed. The english version of the software is available for download on the Internet. Existing Trekker users can also purchase a software upgrade package, adding the Maestro applications to create the Trekker Pro solution. For more information, please call Universal Low Vision Aids at 800-369-0347 or 614-224-6465.
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ULVA © 2008 Universal Low Vision
Aids, Inc. 8 E. Long St., Suite 210 Columbus, Ohio 43215 614-224-6465, Fax 614-224-2258 |
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