Getting Your Student Started With
iPhone GPS
A guide for Orientation and Mobility Specialists
by Joe Dlugo, COMS / TVI
Updated April 2016
Welcome!
This day in age it’s hard not to find O&M specialists talk about iPhone GPS. With a half dozen or
so blindness-specific GPS apps available for an affordable price or free, the barriers to getting a
GPS into your student’s hands are diminishing. Over the years I’ve used various iPhone GPS
apps with my students and have learned a lot about what they can and perhaps more
importantly, can’t do. They certainly are an excellent tool when used correctly and with the
appropriate expectations as to their capabilities. This guide to getting your student started with
iPhone GPS was developed to give students the best chance of early success in using the app
in order to encourage further and more advanced exploration with this technology in the future.
This is a work in progress, and I always welcome collaboration. If you have a suggestion to
improve this, kindly contact me to let me know at my e-mail: [email protected].
-Joe Dlugo, COMS / Teacher of the Visually Impaired
Contents
I.
II.
III.
IV.
When is a student ready for iPhone GPS?
Essential gear
Optimal settings for the iMove GPS app
Activities
1. Define GPS
2. Basic demonstration of the iMove GPS
3. Accuracy
4. Using the around me feature
5. GPS lingo
6. Setting a speech note
7. Going on a POI walk
8. Using a Maps app route
V. Moving on
I. When is a student ready for GPS?
Here are some skills I look for when determining if GPS is appropriate:
General knowledge of how to operate an iOS device
Knowledge of Voiceover is preferable, but you can also use GPS instruction as a
motivating way of learning Voiceover
The student has flexible thinking patters / doesn’t frustrate easily if their
expectations aren’t met
Good O&M problem solving skills.
Generally accurate knowledge of distance units such as yards, meters, miles
Knowledge of cardinal directions
Is able to work with clock face directions (1 o’clock, 2 o’clock…)
II. Essential iPhone GPS “gear”
iPhone
Download the iMove app from the App Store (free!)
A loud bluetooth speaker connected to your iPhone (it gets mighty loud out on the
street and the iPhone speaker is not loud enough to compensate.
Something to mount the speaker on (I use a Motorola Roadster 2 mounted to a
backpack strap)
Activities
III. Optimal Settings for the Beginner
It’s important before you start to set your GPS in a way that is optimal for the beginner. I
recommend adjusting the default settings and using those I have listed below. These will
allow for a reasonable amount of Point of Interest (POI) and address identification
without filling your student’s ears with excessive amounts of audio clutter.
Go to settings (the cog in the upper right corner of the screen)
Address
Distance: 30 yards
Time: 30 seconds
City: Off
Bearing: Off
Course: Off
Speed: Off
Read Automatically: On
Points of Interest
Distance: 100 yards
Repeat: 30 seconds
Read automatically: On
Notes
Distance: 30 yards
Repeat 10 seconds
Read automatically: On
System
Prevent the screen lock: On
Background execution cap: On
*See next page for screenshots of the settings menu
Optimal settings for the beginner GPS user (visual):
IV. Activities
1. Define GPS
Many times our students hear the acronym “GPS” but don’t know what it stands for. It’s
important to know the name, but also a little bit about its history and how it works will help
alleviate some confusion later on.
1. Define the term GPS
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a space-based navigation system that
provides location and time information in all weather conditions, anywhere on or near
the Earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites.[1]
The system provides critical capabilities to military, civil, and commercial users around
the world. The United States government created the system, maintains it, and makes it
freely accessible to anyone with a GPS receiver. (Wikipedia)
2. Main Concepts to Know:
GPS Acronym: Global Positioning System
Navigation
Satellites
What is the minimum number of satellites are needed at one time?
Who runs the GPS system?
What do you need to use it?
How much does it cost to use GPS (free for the service, but you might pay for apps/data
plan?
2. Demonstrate the iMove GPS
It is important the student has an idea of what they are working toward, so a short
demonstration of only the most basic “Around me” capabilities of the GPS is fitting at
this point. Using the GPS to find your location, select a POI (Point of Interest) category,
acquire a list of nearby POIs, and finding the POI’s address and phone number is a good
start.
Directions for demonstration:
1. Turn on Voiceover
2. Select/open iMove
3. Select and read out your Location
4. Go to Around Me
5. Select the “i” icon (More Info) to the right
6. Select Restaurants, Bars and Catering
7. Select the <Back button to return to the home screen
8. Select Around Me
9. Swipe through the Points of Interest to show all the nearby Restaurants, bars, and catering
10. Select one of the Points of Interest
11. Select Address to read out the address
12. Select Phone Number to read out the phone number.
13. When you are finished, select Back (twice) to return to the home screen
Visual screen-by-screen directions are found on the next page.
1.Readout Location
4. Select Category
5. Select Back
8. Read address
2. Around me
3. Select More Info
6. Select Around me
9. Read Phone#
10. Back (twice)
7. Read POI list
3. Accuracy
Lack of accuracy can be the most frustrating concept for a student who is learning GPS
for pedestrian pursuits. it is important that the student has a grasp on what accuracy is
and how to handle its shortcomings.
1. Define Accuracy:
✦ Accuracy - the quality or state of being correct or precise
2. Read to student:
✦ GPS on the iPhone is designed for use by fast-moving vehicles with sighted
drivers that can cover hundreds of feet in seconds, not for blind pedestrians who
can only cover dozens of feet at best and cannot tell what is in the distance.
Therefore low accuracy is very evident when using a GPS for a walking route.
3. What are the Impediments to accuracy?
✦ Too few satellites in range of your GPS
✦ Tall buildings, such as in big cities - the signal bounces off of the buildings or is
blocked by them
✦ Thick clouds
✦ A thick tree canopy
✦ Hills or mountains nearby - the signal from satellites can be blocked by these
4. Create an activity to solidify the concept of accuracy:
✦ Show the student a dartboard, have them play guess a number, or discuss their
score on a recent test to solidify the concept of accuracy. Put something in the
way of their dart throw or confuse them when guessing a number to reduce their
accuracy.
5. Demonstrate:
Demonstrate how the iMove GPS measures accuracy. Turn on
Voiceover and select the Location at the top. It will read out your
current location with an accuracy reading of high,
medium, or low.
Have the student repeat the exercise and tell you what the
accuracy reading is.
6. So what is the iPhone GPS actually good for?
✦ Telling us what’s nearby
✦ Generally where we are
✦ Reassures you you’re on the right path
✦ Telling lists of directions
7. What is the GPS NOT good for?
✦ Giving turn by turn directions as you walk
✦ Locating very specific, small landmarks
✦ Replacing an O&M specialist!
QUIZ!!!
•
•
•
•
•
What is accuracy?
How does iMove measure accuracy?
What is the iPhone GPS good for?
Name some things that can impede accuracy?
Is GPS good for giving turn by turn directions to a place you’ve never been
to?
4. Using the Around Me feature
This is the student’s first time to get their hands on the GPS. It is basically repeating the
demonstration you gave in step 2, but now you are instructing them as they go about the
activity. Expect that you may have to troubleshoot voiceover technique.
1. Repeat the steps in Activity 2. (Above)
2. Assign homework — If your student has an iPhone, have them use the iMove app at
home to select a POI category and then write the top five results in relation to their
house. Bring to the next lesson.
5.GPS Lingo
As you’ve probably discovered in the previous exercises, there’s a bit of shoptalk
associated with using a GPS. Terms such as POI, bearing, course, etc. might be new
concepts and it’s important to ensure your student understands them before proceeding
further.
1. Definitions of common GPS terms:
✦ POI - Acronym for Point of Interest: A specific place, such as a store or landmark
that can be accessed by your GPS
✦ Cardinal direction - N, E, S, W
✦ Bearing - The cardinal direction you are facing
✦ Course - The general cardinal direction you are proceeding in over a period of
time
✦ Speech Note - A POI that you’ve created on your GPS app. A speech note is set by
recording your own voice, and if the GPS is accurate, it will read you that speech
note every time you pass the point where it was set.
✦ Text Note - Like a speech note, but set by typing in text instead of speaking into
your phone.
✦ Address range - the addresses that are found in a specified space. Usually the
GPS reads address ranges in regard to a block you are walking along.
✦ Yard - 3 feet (the iMove GPS gives distances in yards).
2. Quiz!!!
Have the student study the above definitions and quiz them on it next lesson.
6. Setting a Speech Note
If you’re familiar with the Trekker GPS, then you know the power of speech notes. It
allows you to input various landmarks that aren’t identified by the GPS and will speak
them back to you when you pass them (if the GPS is accurate). Your students will find
this part fun.
1. Demonstrate setting a speech note
✦ Go to a location where there is a significant landmark that you’d like to make a
POI
✦ On the home screen select New Speech Note
✦ A black screen with a microphone icon will pop up quickly - quickly say the name
you wish to call the POI. This will be the recording that reads back to you
✦ Press the screen after you’re done talking
✦ You will be taken to a screen with some options. Select Play audio comment.
✦ If you are satisfied with the quality of your comment, select Save and you will be
brought back to the home screen
✦ Now walk far away from your speech note, maybe a block or two. Return to the
location where you set it and see if it plays back (in times of low accuracy it does
not always play back).
1.Select New
Speech Note
2.Quickly say the
name of your POI,
tap screen when
finished talking.
3.Playback what
you recorded
3.If you are
satisfied, then select
Save
2. Have student set a speech note
✦ Allow the student to choose a location in which to set a speech note.
✦ Repeat the above steps, assisting the student where necessary.
✦ If the speech note does not playback in the correct spot, make a point to discuss
accuracy and how it is not good to rely entirely on a GPS for orientation.
7. Going for a POI Walk
Now that you’re out and about setting speech notes, it’s time to add in a bit more
functionality. Now you’ll go on a walk in a busy area of town with the GPS set to a
specific POI category. This essentially repeats much of the previous step “Use the
Around Me” feature, but now it’s done while you’re moving. This creates a different
experience because now the GPS will alert you of the POIs you pass.
1. On your walk
✦ Select a POI Category of something that is common in the area you will be walking
(usually restaurants, pubs and catering is the most commonly found POI in urban areas)
✦ Simply walk down street…
✦ If you have applied the suggested settings stated on page 2, then anytime a restaurant,
bar, or catering establishment is within 100 yards or less, the GPS should alert you of its
presence
✦ Every so often, stop and select Around Me. Have your student notice that the distances
from the POIs change as you move.
2. Get more information about a specific POI
✦ After your student has had the GPS read them several POIs, ask them to find more
information about one of them by selecting Around Me.
✦ Have them read the address, phone number, and if there is a website listed.
8. Using Maps Navigation
Turn by turn navigation, albeit often unreliable, is still a useful feature on GPS. When
used in conjunction with excellent orientation and mobility skills, it offers the traveler
added reassurance they are on the right path. This activity is best done in the same
environment as the previous activity, Going on a POI Walk. This will use the student’s
familiarity with the environment as an aid in understanding what the Maps navigation is
telling them to do. I often do the two activities together on the same lesson.
1.
Activate Google Maps navigation
✦ After your student has become somewhat acquainted with the POIs in a certain area, it’s
time to use the Maps app navigation feature.
✦ By now your student should know how to locate a POI by using the Around Me feature,
and select the POI to arrive at the address/phone number/website screen (see previous
activity).
✦ Walk about 2 or 3 blocks from a desired POI. Use the Around Me feature to locate the
POI.
✦ Select the POI and then on the Address/Phone/Website page, select the address. This
will activate the Maps app.
✦ In the Maps app the route will show up visually and it will read your current location.
✦ At the bottom of the screen select Start
For your first few routes, it’s best to use a simple
straight line route. The student will not have to
concern themselves with navigating turns and
intersections and can instead concentrate simply
on arriving at a destination.
IV. Moving On
These lessons only scratched the surface on iPhone GPS. There are many more things to
learn about! If you wish to explore further these are additional skills for your student to
master:
Adjusting settings
Setting text notes
Settings for speech/text notes
Creating a route
Assigning notes to a specific route
Sharing your location
Try and compare other apps such as Sendero LookAround, BlindSquare, Ariadne GPS, The
Seeing Eye, or the upcoming iOS version of Nearby Explorer from APH
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