Essential Apps For O&M Nick Leon MA, COMS Orientation and Mobility Teacher of the Visually Impaired Intern

Background Began working as an Instructional Assistant in 2010 Graduated from WMU in May of 2015 Currently working as an O&M Specialist and TVI Intern in CA Avid smartphone user

Agenda O&M Overview Agenda App Categories Individual App Overviews Resources

What is O&M “Orientation refers to knowledge of one’s distance and direction relative to things observed or remembered in the surroundings and keeping track of these spatial relationships as they change during locomotions; mobility is the term used to describe the act of moving through space in a safe and efficient manner. Together the two terms result in purposeful and directed movement through and within the surrounding environment.” (Weiner et al., 2010)

Apps are designed for Orientation Smartphones are not a mobility aid; a long cane or dog guide must still be used Apps are designed to help orient a person or give them information about their environment. Travelers should exercise caution when using a smartphone for orientation purposes because it can be distracting

Key Terminology Mobile Applications (Apps): software designed for use on smartphone or tablet VoiceOver and TalkBack: Smartphone speech functionality Turn-by-Turn: Directions for a route are continually presented Point-of-Interest (POI): Any specific location that may be useful

Key Terminology (cont) Global Positioning System (GPS): Satellite system that provides location information anywhere in world Environmental Awareness: Knowledge of surrounding area including landmarks and geographical information

How Apps are used in O&M Planning Routes Navigating routes using Turn-by-Turn or List Directions Locating POIs Environmental Awareness Spatial Updating Intersection Information

Application Categories For our purposes, we will divide the apps into four categories: Navigation Environmental Awareness Transit Other There is overlap between the apps, but this will help focus primary functions

Disclaimer 21 apps are included in this presentation There are many, many more in all categories I have tried to include the most prominent apps in the field Each person prefers different apps; read reviews

Navigation Apps Navigation apps use GPS and maps to provide location information and give directions The directions can be announced turn-by-turn or viewed as a list Uses cellular data, but can be also be used offline in many cases

Discussion of GPS Global Positioning System (GPS) is only accurate within a certain distance (+/- 50 feet) Uses an array of satellites, which can affect its reliability GPS needs to be used in conjunction with good O&M skills

Navigation Apps Name Platform Price Google Maps Free Apple Maps Seeing Eye $9.99 = 30 Days $69.99 = 1 year $199.99 = Full Nearby Explorer Free = Online $79.99 = Full BlindSquare $39.99 = Full *Prices updated on 4/24/18 and can fluctuate

Google and Apple Maps Most commonly used GPS Apple Maps works with VoiceOver and Google Maps works with TalkBack and VoiceOver for non-visual use Offers turn-by-turn directions or list view for traveling by foot or vehicle

Google Maps

Seeing Eye and Nearby Explorer Designed for Blind and Visually Impaired Most powerful GPS Apps for VI purposes They offer many features, but come at a price Allows users to plans routes, gives turn-by-turn directions, and locate Points-of-Interests (POIs).

Seeing Eye GPS Developed by Sendero, who made the Trekker and Trekker Breeze, and The Seeing Eye Features Route Planning, POI Search, and Look Around Function Gives detailed Turn-by-Turn directions and intersection description

Seeing Eye

Nearby Explorer Developed by American Printing House for the Blind and it is available on Quota A free android version is available referred to as Nearby Explorer Online, but must be connected to the internet Has a unique feature called GeoBeam

Nearby Explorer

BlindSquare One of the most widely used apps on the market Allows user to gain information about current location and find POIs. It does not have a built-in navigation app, but instead uses third-party apps. Has simulation option Indoor Navigation is available

BlindSquare

Environmental Awareness Apps These apps still use GPS, however they focus more on environmental awareness Apps allow user to explore surroundings including POIs

Environmental Awareness Name Platform Price iMove Free Ariadne GPS $5.99 = Full Look Around Around Me *Prices updated on 8/13/16 and can vary

iMove Identifies locations, nearby POIs, and provides notifications Simple interface that functions well with VoiceOver Allows user to make speech notes for locations or POIs

Ariadne GPS Excellent GPS at a very affordable price Designed to work with VoiceOver Gives location, POIs, other environmental info Can read streets by dragging finger Does not have navigation.

Look Around Also designed by Sendero Simple Interface Offers location information, POIs, and nearest cross street Updates info when user shakes the phone

Around Me Not designed for visually impaired, but has very simple interface Offers categorized POIs similarly to Yelp LiveView is a unique feature that allows user to aim camera to locate POIs

Live View on AroundMe

Transit Apps Transit apps can be used to locate transit options or times Not all apps are available in all cities Not all apps have real-time information There are custom apps for some larger, metropolitan areas like Chicago.

Transit Apps Name Platform Price Google and Apple Maps Free Moovit Rome2Rio Uber or Lyft *Prices updated on 4/24/18 and can fluctuate

Google and Apple Maps In addition to navigation, Google and Apple maps can be used for Transit This includes bus and private transportation, such as Uber Provides access to bus schedule and transfers required for a route User can set time of departure

Google and Apple Maps

Moovit Search for best routes to a destination using various transit options Find nearby stops Get real-time updates including ETA Receive information populated by other riders such as incidents or delays

Moovit “Stops Remaining” Notifications

Rome2Rio Search for best routes to a destination using various transit options Find nearby stops Get real-time updates including ETA Receive information populated by other riders such as incidents or delays

Rome2Rio *Give various options to a destination including travel time and estimated cost!

Uber and Lyft Most people are familiar with these “ride-sharing” apps However, instruction is often needed for someone who is blind or visually impaired Often cheaper and more efficient than a taxi.

Other Apps These apps are not specifically designed for travel, but can be very useful while traveling Money Identifiers and QR Readers not included, but also very useful

Other Apps Name Platform Price KNFB Reader $99.99 = Full Vision Assist Be My Eyes/Aira Free/ Subscription TapTapSee or BeSpecular Free Seeing AI *Prices updated on 4/24/18 and can fluctuate

KNFB Reader Optical Character Recognition (OCR) App designed for smartphone Commonly used it classroom and workplace, but also serves O&M benefit Can read print material including bus schedule info, notices, or signs.

KNFB Reader

Vision Assist Magnifier app for iPhone There are many options for both platforms Can be used to magnify signs or print material while traveling User can adjust color, contrast, and size

Vision Assist

Be My Eyes/Aira Inventive new app that uses video calling to aid the blind and visually impaired Currently only available on iPhone, but an android app is being developed Extremely useful if a traveler becomes disoriented Aira is a paid version that offers trained professionals

Aira

TapTapSee or BeSpecular Similar apps that allow user to take a photo of something they need described BeSpecular allows user to add a voice message explaining need Can be used for reading cross streets or bus schedules

Seeing AI Scene Describer Barcode or QR Code Scanner Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

Seeing AI

An App for Apps: Via Designed by the Braille Institute Resource on Apps for Blind and Visually Impaired Organized into categories such as Navigation Give info and reviews

Role of Service Provider Have basic understanding of prominent apps Expose apps to clients based on need Provide opportunities to learn apps Include beneficial tech Give resources for further review

Resources www.applevis.com - complete guide for Apple apps for Blind and Visually Impaired www.livebinders.com (search by author “Tabb”) - compiled info for vision professionals www.afb.org - creates apps and instructional videos www.androidauthority.com - resource for anroid apps www.eastersealstech.com - helpful podcasts on technolgy including apps www.bridgingapps.org - app resource for all disabilities

Resources bit.ly/oandmapps

References W. R. Wiener, R. L. Welsh, & B. B. Blasch (Eds.) (2010). Introduction. In W. R. Wiener, R. L. Welsh, & B. B. Blasch (Eds.), Foundations of Orientation and Mobility (3rd ed., Vol. 1, History and Theory, p. XV). New York, NY: AFB Press.

Presentation template by SlidesCarnival Credits Presentation template by SlidesCarnival

Thanks! Any questions? You can reach me at: nickleon86@gmail.com