[talk-ph] osm-ph GPS map for the blind

[maning sambale]

Hi,  I just came home from a meeting with 2 blind guys.  They are
asking our assistance in providing map data for a GPS application for
the blind.

@ Eugene, they know mentioned your blog and that's probably how they
stumbled upon OSM-PH.

They showed me how to navigate using a symbian phone and bluetooth GPS
using loadstone ( http://www.loadstone-gps.com/ ).  Using loadstone
and a screenreader, the phone speaks the estimated distance and
heading of a point (i.e. 50 meters northeast of Jolibee).  Cool!

The data they are using came from Openstreetmap.   Even cooler!

There are tools to convert OSM data into a loadstone database and I
was able to successfully convert some of them already.  What they want
is an easier approach to load the data into their phones, something
like a one-click download page and then copy-paste.  I am planning to
provide this data regularly similar to the Garmin GPS map.

I am sending this to the list if anyone is interested to volunteer to
help them as well.  Some wishes:
1. Data conversion - the current converters parses an OSM file and
creates a CSV of POIs and road intersections.  We can expand the
converter to include other OSM data that can be useful for them (i.e
building names, establishment entrance, removing non-essential words
in a name like the word "Street").  To be able to subdivide the whole
Philippines into manageable chunks.  Converting the whole Philippines
into one big loadstone file makes the application run slow.
2. Data collection useful for blind navigation - they said our current
data (at least for Metro Manila and Davao) is good enough but we can
improve them further for blind navigation and disability access in
general. A rough example would be for mapping POIs, consider locating
the node near the entrance of the establishment.  There maybe other
things and I hope we can brainstorm on this later.  Some info
available in the wiki:
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OSM_for_the_blind
3. Cheap bluetooth GPS - Assist in providing GPS vendor list (local
and international) that can provide a discounted rate for purchasing
GPS devices.
4. Special request for Ed and waypoints.ph - the also want the
waypoints.ph data included probably as a separate loadstone database.
The current download process in the waypoints.ph site requires
captcha, screenreaders can't read captcha images.  Maybe we can
explore other schemes for them to download your POIs and routes?
5. Explore conversion of OSM data to other phone apps like gpsmid and
Nokia GPS LMX files (landmarks).

If anyone is interested, I hope it's OK for the list members to have
the discussion here.  I am very excited to pursue this little project
(even if a very small percentage will use the data) because it will
greatly help the Filipino Blind community expand their mobility
independence.

-- 
cheers,
maning
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"Freedom is still the most radical idea of all" -N.Branden
wiki: http://esambale.wikispaces.com/
blog: http://epsg4253.wordpress.com/
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