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

2. 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

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

4. 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)

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

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

14. 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

15. Google Maps

16. 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).

17. 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

18. Seeing Eye

19. 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

20. Nearby Explorer

21. 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

22. BlindSquare

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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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.

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

28. 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

29. Live View on AroundMe

30. 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.

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

32. 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

33. Google and Apple Maps

34. 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

35. Moovit “Stops Remaining” Notifications

36. 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

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

38. 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.

39. 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

40. 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

41. 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.

42. KNFB Reader

43. 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

44. Vision Assist

45. 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

46. Aira

47. 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

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

49. Seeing AI

50. 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

51. 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

52. Resources
- complete guide for Apple apps for Blind and Visually Impaired
(search by author “Tabb”) - compiled info for vision professionals
- creates apps and instructional videos
- resource for anroid apps
- helpful podcasts on technolgy including apps
- app resource for all disabilities

53. Resources
bit.ly/oandmapps

54. 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.

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Credits
Presentation template by SlidesCarnival

56. Thanks!
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