Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Would using an app while walking be too annoying? (self.Blind)
submitted by MarkLudgate
Hi all. If there was a free app that let you know the distance to objects coming towards you while you were walking, would you use it? Would it be too annoying to hold the phone or have it attached to your body? Thanks, Mark.
retrolental_morose 7 points 2y ago
An app, no. I use GPS tools a lot, some of which can be controlled from other hardware (remote, speaker, headset, glasses, hat etc).
An app using the camera for something? it'd need to be a pretty useful something. it'd drain battery quite quickly, only work in certain lighting conditions, and only be of use in such a number of limited use cases (that I can think of at least) as to render it largely impractical. I'm already down 1 hand with a dog or cane, and wearing a phone harness just to use an app for the 30 seconds to take me from the GPS point to a viewfinder assisted door or whatever seems hard to swallow?
An app using the camera for something? it'd need to be a pretty useful something. it'd drain battery quite quickly, only work in certain lighting conditions, and only be of use in such a number of limited use cases (that I can think of at least) as to render it largely impractical. I'm already down 1 hand with a dog or cane, and wearing a phone harness just to use an app for the 30 seconds to take me from the GPS point to a viewfinder assisted door or whatever seems hard to swallow?
bscross32 1 points 2y ago
The battery being key. Two things happen when the camera is being used in my phone. It heats up, and it runs through battery like no tomorrow.
RJHand 2 points 2y ago
Nope. Cane and my head smashing into things are enough for me. Heh.
MarkLudgate [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Out of interest, are there any drawbacks to a cane? and is there any reason why someone wouldn't use one?
MarkLudgate [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Okay great, thanks for all the replies and feedback. Appreciate it.
BlueZone123 1 points 2y ago
If a blind person is walking, they should be using a cane. The cane will alert them of an obsticle. Things that are 10 feet away don't matter, there is always going to be something in front of us, so walking and using the cane is what people should do. A device like the one you are talking about exists already, and its a gimmick tool; it works well, but as a tool, its worthless.
As per guide dog handlers, the dog is trained to dodge obsticles by going around them, so this tool would not be useful either.
As per guide dog handlers, the dog is trained to dodge obsticles by going around them, so this tool would not be useful either.
[deleted] 1 points 2y ago
Nearby Explorer Online is one of those apps. I haven't tried it out fully yet tho just cuz covid and blah.
But yeah gotta agree w others, cane, GPS ,and smashing my head is the way for me
But yeah gotta agree w others, cane, GPS ,and smashing my head is the way for me
Lynessence 1 points 2y ago
Probably not. I prefer the old way of traveling. I use GPS sometimes;, but not often because I don't travel many unfamiliar routes.
theWriteAmy 1 points 2y ago
Microsoft is already working on one. I believe they're currently testing it by putting the phone in a clear pouch that's worn around the neck.
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