Blind visitors from the US, Scotland and the Netherlands moved effortlessly around Cork city centre yesterday using revolutionary new Braille and voice synthesizers which announce the same information sighted people take for granted on printed maps. Olivia Kelleher reports.
The tourists accessed global positioning system (GPS) technology, developed by the Sendero Group in the US, to find their way to museums, castles and pubs in Cork.
BrailleNote GPS allows people who are blind and visually impaired to harness the power of global positioning. Its electronic street maps, route creation, and route following capabilities give the user access to timely and accurate orientation and local information from all over the world.
The overseas party visited Cork as guests of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. They demonstrated to Irish members how BrailleNote GPS could assist people who already make their way around with the use of long canes and guide dogs. The technology is seen as an aid to guide dogs rather than a replacement for them.
Ms Elaine Cannon, guide dog mobility instructor in the Model Farm Road training centre in Cork, said GPS opens new opportunities for blind people.
"The voice synthesizer tells you where you are going. You can plan routes with it. Let's say you are going to the station, then it will tell you the best way to go. It will say that it is 20 yards to the next kerb or the road is 15 yards across. You can buy software to find your way around any city."
Ms Cannon said blind people are often nervous about visiting new places as they rely totally on their memory to get around.
The visitors to Cork yesterday are all "adventurers" who have made their way around cities all over the world.
The BrailleNote GPS is not available for sale in any stores in Ireland. However, it can be bought over the Internet. The basic package costs $1,500