Hello Everyone,
NOTE 1:
I just returned from over 90 minutes of using the iOS 6.0 Maps App, via VoiceOver (Apple’s software screen reading solution for the blind and low vision), on my iPhone 4 S running iOS 6.0. I am extremely tired and uncomfortable as today was a particularly hot day here in southern California. Normally, I would post my results after a rest but want to report while the experience is still fresh in my mind. So, if the following comes across as curt, please accept my apology; I just want to get the facts, as I experienced them, to you.
NOTE 2:
Before heading out the door, I made sure that the iPhone battery level was at 100%. I turned off both my WiFi and Bluetooth radios and rebooted the phone, for good measure.
NOTE 3:
During the entire experience, my phone reported that I had a 4G connection. This connection was never lost as I live in a part of town that, for better or worse, is replete with A T & T Wireless cell towers.
NOTE 4:
I experimented with getting walking directions, only.
NOTE 5:
While I did not use any Bluetooth accessories, I did use the included Apple headset that ships with iPhone 4 S.
NOTE 6:
While it is not my intention to compare the iOS 6.0 Maps App and the Trekker Breeze, I will refer to the Breeze if for no other reason than to inform those who may not know, that such features exist in a GPS solution designed for the blind and low vision.
Now that all that is out of the way let’s get to it, shall we?
1.
I live about a quarter of a mile from the nearest street that is mapped. As a result, when using my current location as the starting point, I could only create a route when standing in a certain position in my driveway. In order to consistently create a route, I had to walk up to the street that is mapped. While this is not a deal breaker, by any means, the Trekker Breeze has the ability to provide off-map navigation.
2.
My first experiment was to not create a route but, instead, set tracking to on plus headings and then just walk down the street. While Maps, as I will refer to it from this point forward, reported that I was approaching an intersection, it did not do so consistently. In fact, it inconsistently listed some streets while omitting others. I should also let you know that the accuracy of the street name announcements were dismal, at best. That is to say, as a low vision person, I could see the intersections and compare what I saw to when information was reported. It appeared to me that the longer I walked, the more inaccurate and/or sluggish Maps became. Please note that I conducted some experiments multiple times in order to discern any patterns.
NOTE 7:
Just in case you’re wondering, there were no tall building, clouds, or any kind of obstructions blocking my iPhone’s view of the sky.
NOTE 8:
The compass, during all my experiments, was dead on. It was perfectly accurate and remarkably responsive.
3.
Next, I created several walking routes. I deliberately chose destinations by which one may only travel in one direction. That is to say, all of the streets, along the route, dead-end into others. To my astonishment, Maps got them all wrong. In one test, the directions were reversed. For example, Maps instructed me to turn left when I could only turn right. In another experiment, it listed streets that were simply not there.
4.
Whenever I attempted to view the list of directions, which by the way did not dynamically update, tracking would switch to off. This was maddening, to put it nicely.
5.
When reporting my current location, compass headings notwithstanding, the only thing Maps consistently got right was the city. Sometimes it reported the correct street but not enough to trust, were I totally blind and in an unfamiliar environment.
6.
Even though I have my screen brightness set to only 40%, at the end of the 90 minutes GPS session, my battery level was just under 62%.
In conclusion, based on what I experienced today, I would not recommend the Apple Maps App as a GPS walking navigation solution for the blind and low vision; at least, not yet.
Making a Joyful Noise,
Mark
