BlindSquare

Cardinal directions are your basic 32 directions on the compass. No, that's not a typo. Divide the 4 in to 4, then those 8 in to 4 and you have it. Pretty cool eh?

Take care.

The initial version of BlindSquare has appeared in the App Store in May 2012. Now, two years later, we would like to invite you to celebrate with us the second birthday of BlindSquare and the release of BlindSquare version 2.0. We will release new version on a live show!

Be part of the fun and tune in to BlindSquare radio on Friday, 16 May, 5 PM GMT, 1 PM EDT, 20:00 Finnish time.

Read more: http://blindsquare.com/2014/05/happy-birthday-blindsquare/
Radio ad: https://audioboo.fm/boos/2150384-blindsquare-radio-2-0

I've been reading about Blindsquare since 2012, but I couldn't bring myself to pay $30 for one app.
And then I heard the podcasts that demonstrated its capabilities.
And then I read the comments on this thread from Blindsquare's developer.

After seeing how responsive he was to feedback, and reading how determined he is to make the best possible navigation app for the blind, on Saturday, I finally made the purchase.

And I an stunned!
I just keep discovering features.

I've lived in the same area for over thirty years, and Blindsquare made me realize just how much I didn't even know about my own territory!
My favorite feature so far is the simulations, because I'm hoping to move to a bigger city once I finish graduate school. It's amazing for me to be able to "look around" and get a feel for that city even before I visit!
I was surprised to see that at places like Disney World, and Six Flags over Texas, you can even see which rides and attractions are close to you!
And i love the restaurant menus!

I imagine everyone has praised Blindsquare on behalf of those who have average to above-average mobility skills.
But I'd like to say this, speaking as someone whose navigation skills are not good.
This app makes me want to be better! It inspires me. Certainly nothing can take the place of personally developed mobility skills, but Blindsquare makes me want to improve. It makes me think that maybe, with the help of this app, I really can!

I'd just like to say a huge thank-you to Ilkka, for working so hard to develop a stellar app. The only suggestion I would make is for navigation of indoor areas like shopping malls or large buildings. I'm not even sure that's possible, but I thought I'd at least give it a mention. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say this is one of the highest-quality apps that can be on an iPhone.
Thank you for a phenomenal app; it really is worth every penny.

Well, tha'ts not possible yet even wiht gps apps for the sighted, but they arje getting there slowly wiht the technology of wifi. I read a lot of sience articles on it. Maybe in a few years it will be not only possible, but acurate. For now though get a braille compus and use it so that way you can get your bearings

Hi. I love the new feature where you can control the app from a Bluetooth headset or the BEM wireless wrist band speaker. I purchased the speaker after a couple of recommendations from other users on Twitter and it's excellent as I can keep my phone tucked away in my pocket. I'm getting a few looks from the public but that is not a problem as it only creates awareness as far as independent traveling from a blind persons prospective is concerned. I've even taken calls on the speaker and it feels rather cool to be taking calls on a wrist band speaker. The Bluetooth speaker doesn't drain my battery as that was one of my concerns. I only wish the speaker had a louder speaker as I do have problems hearing what's been said in a busy environment where there is a lot of traffic.

The only issue is blind square using fourth square. It keeps giving my building another name. When I get there it tells me that I miss my address. While seeing eye says I made it home. I hope they fixed this.

Updated
June 25/ 2014
version 2.22
I been playing with new update couple hours and since to works good regarding to the improvements mentions below
all those issues has fixed
Intersection announcements missing.
app developer sent couple days ago some notification that said the follow:
Hello!
If you are from US, there might be need for secondary OpenStreetMap data.
The Primary database I have, has "All world and most of the US", but I
added secondary database to 2.2 to cover whole US.
It is working okay to customers who visit place first time, but not for
ones that have already been there. This is why I will soon release 2.22
which will bring this data to also users who have already cached empty data
on those areas.
What's New in Version 2.22
- NEW: You can now operate BlindSquare using a bluetooth keyboard, a notetaker or
a Braille display supporting text input. Type a question mark to see a list of all
possible commands. To read the help about a specific command, type it followed by
a question mark.
- NEW: Plan A Route now supports multiple versions of Navigon installed on one device.
- NEW: When you are in a list of places, you can now double-tap and hold on a place
to open a quick access menu that lets you track the place, plan a route, show it
on the map, and simulate it.
- NEW: BlindSquare now uses GPS and your direction of movement to detect how your
phone is positioned. This means it is no longer necessary to carry your device with
its back pointing in the direction you are traveling.
- NEW: BlindSquare now uses a better database of intersections for the US; this should
make intersection information more reliable.
- CHANGE: When sharing a place, you can now edit its name and address.
- CHANGE: The subcategories listed in Category Searches are now listed alphabetically.
- FIX: The Current Location function in the Audio Menu now also works when the Current
Location function has been disabled in the shake settings.
- FIX: A bug where simulation would not always start immediately has been resolved.

Have you planed to port this app to Android? Just a curious question

Hi Raul
According to the app developer BlindSquare doesn't have plans toandroid version.
Some BlindSquare user made the same question in the mail group list
and the answer from the BSQ app developer was clear any plans to android platform.
I invite to you yoin at the mail group list where you could ask directly to the app developer he reply very quickly at:
blindsquaregps@cruising.ultragroups.com
or the twitter name
@BlindSquareGPS

Hi Brad.
to be honest google maps works better to apple maps talking about accessibility.
google maps provide more features that can be handle with BlindSquare.
you can compare the results using both apps, creating routes with each one and see the differences between each one.
possible solutions:
to stop receiving google maps notificaciones when the screen is locked follow the continue steps
open settings app in your iOS device
go to notification center
look and open google maps
disable show on lock screen.
this avoid that voiceover and tts from google maps talk on the same time.
also I don't see why you need have unlocke the screen all the time when BlindSquare is running.
however if you need have longer time unlock screen follow this steps
open settings app in your device
general
auto/lock
in this new screen you have many choices
1 minute
2 minutes
3 minutes
4 minutes
5 minutes
never
just do double tap to your selection
NOTE: remember while longer time is to lock the screen the battery drans faster.
also I suggest use different tts voice to listen clearly the annosntment per example
apple default voice female voice
and blindSquare male voice

Hi, Is it possible to download maps for offline use or when you're in an area that doesn't have a good 3g signal?

Not to my knolege. For that you will need an app like navigon.

Hth.

NEW: You can now import points of interest (POI) that have been saved in other apps or downloaded from different online sources. The import feature supports the following file formats: Ariadne GPS, Loadstone, GPX, OSM, and MyWay Classic, or zip archives containing files in any of the supported formats. To import a file, upload it to Dropbox or attach it to an Email and send it to yourself. Select the Share option and the Open in option in Dropbox, or open the Email attachment by double-tapping and holding the file name and selecting BlindSquare. Select the points you would like to import by checking the Favorite button. When you have selected all of the points you want to import, double-tap the Import button in the top right of the screen to perform the import.
NEW: When you share a point, you can now also export it in the following file formats: Ariadne GPS, OSM, GPX, and Loadstone.
NEW: The BlindSquare help has now been integrated into the app. Go to Other, Help to read it. You can navigate by heading or use the Jump To button to find the section of interest to you. A Help button is also available at the bottom of some BlindSquare screens: Main screen, GPS Info, Settings, and Place Summary screen. Double-tapping it opens the help section about the respective screen.
NEW: If Transit App is installed on your device, and you are in an area supported by Transit App, you can now view public transport options in your vicinity on the GPS Info screen or use it on the Place Summary screen to plan routes.
NEW LANGUAGE: Croatian
FIX: A problem where selecting the “All” filter on the Filter Announcements screen would crash the app has been resolved.
FIX: Simulation now starts instantly

The version of Acapela currently used in BlindSquare is not compatible with iOS 8, but will continue to work in iOS versions 5, 6, and 7.

I am working on Acapela support for BlindSquare in iOS 8; an update will be available within a few weeks. If you use BlindSquare 2.27 (currently waiting for approval), it will automatically switch to a voice in your language provided with iOS. If you are running an earlier version of BlindSquare, please go to Other, Settings, Select Voice and Language, navigate to your language and select its iOS voice. If you would like to continue to use an Acapela voice with BlindSquare, please do not update to iOS 8 until a BlindSquare update supporting these voices in iOS 8 has been released.

Hi. I have Uber installed and when I go into Tools and GPS! Uber is dimmed and I can't activate it for some reason.

I just baught the app when it was on sale and I love it. I do notice a few things though.

1. the 4sq check in thing does not work but i don't really mind that.
2. The downloading of the heather voice does not work, but that might be my fault.
3. Regarding the heather download, I am usign ios7 so dunno what's up there.

IN exploring the app tha'ts about it. I have not tried travling but i did do a podcast on it of my first impressions. Check it out at my usual haunt. lol!

When you are moving, direction is based on GPS, not compass. Compass is calibrated automatically based on GPS direction, so when you stop, compass should work also if you don't have device on your hand.

From day 1 BlindSquare has been hands free solution, more than any other gps app. It even supports controlling it with your headphone remote controller to minimise need for taking device out of your pocket.

Aftershokz Bluez 2 has only one button, but it can control also BlindSquare. So, you can use audio menu with it. It has only Play/Pause feature, so you can see what you can do from here: http://blindsquare.com/instructions/#audio-menu

If you live in US, you can use coupon code "bsqrocks" to get 10% off and free shipping when visiting Aftershokz.com.

BlindSquare uses very compact data for intersections and addresses.
If you use BSq 4 hours / day, I would expect it to use max. 0.3 G / month.

Now in iOS 8 there is possibility to see data usage of each app. It would be nice to get some feedback of monthly usage.

I am running the current version as of June, 2015. One reason I hesitated to buy it is I wanted to know about places around me that "social networking" people might not visit.

I was so wrong. BlindSquare knows about many, many venues, everything from daycare to assisted living. Those of us who don't use social networking constantly might have some prejudices that get in the way.

For one example, we have highways that change names here in Silicon Valley and BlindSquare pinpoints when that happens.

I also think it's a perfect answer to the blindness debate about screen readers vs. self-voicing apps. I love shoving it in my pocket and letting the self-voicing take over. But I love being able to utilize VoiceOver to explore its many features.

I too have run in to a few accuracy issues, but having used a variety of GPS apps, and having borrowed a friend's Trekker, I have not seen it being less accurate than anything else. Also as blind people, we might approach something from a side entrance and not know. I went to a restaurant today at lunch, and ended up on its back patio, because my guide dog, who had been there before went straight to the water bowl they leave out for visiting pups. BlindSquare said the restaurant was 35 yards away at 4 O'clock. In fact it was because I wasn't actually at its front entrance!

And I love that it knows when I'm in a car vs walking. I've been walking all over with it and also running it while raiding around on paratransit. One driver, who was listening to the announcements commented that it was a "gps in reverse". Her GPS was telling her where to turn and BlindSquare was voicing what we were approaching and passing. She said, as a sighted person with her eyes on the road, she appreciated listening to Blindsquare read what was around, because it would be unsafe for her to be looking at all the signs. Perhaps we should try to introduce it to some of our sighted friends who are driving to see if they too find it so useful.

A couple of thoughts about data usage: for me, it seems to be using about 2MB an hour. I pay $30 to T-Mobile for 5GB so my feet would wear out before I used all my data. I do like that it tells me how long I've been walking, encouraging me to exercise even more.

Also to save data, though it turned out I didn't really need to, I tried carrying a digital recorder clipped to my belt next to the phone. It captured everything BlindSquare said while I was walking and it was fun to review later.

I am also impressed with the full built-in help, as it's easy to navigate to a particular heading to read about a feature you don't fully understand. It's written clearly without fluf or ambiguity.

As a former software engineer myself, I want to thank the developer for the fine workmanship evident in this app. All the little voiceover hints are an example of how user-centered it is. Another example are all the sounds, which remind me of what T.V. Raman first called "Earcons" (icons for the blind) that give you information in a way that is subtle and enriches the voice feedback.

I have more to say but have to get back to work.

I really feel very sad and disappointed to see some of the new features are available only for few countries. I don't think it's a good time for buying this app while I'm in India. since the new features are not sure about india. smile. let me wait and see if I can make use of the entire features.

I just got this app and so far so good. I'm noticing however that when I go into search, the edit box appears but within seconds, I get kicked out of the search screen back to the main page. Has anyone else noticed this and know how this might be resolved?

That should happen if location is not known -- So, when starting app, until GPS location is known.
I have heard that in iOS 8.4 there might be some iOS related problem that can make GPS signal to appear slower than it should... I don't have any own experience, but that is something I have heard.

Best

Additionally, are you guys planning on adding turn by turn directions? This is already a terrific app and having that particular functionality will eliminate the need of having third party apps with this feature.

Blind square is not designed to be a gps app. Navigon and waze are very good at workign with blidn square to provide what you need. This is the way I see it, I could be wrong.

It is on a plan to have also built-in turn-by-turn, but that will be just "one opinion" of the route. I think one of the major features of BSq is that it supports 11 different turn-by-turn apps, so you can always pick the one that works best on your area.

I have even heard of case, where Navigon is unusable on certain area, because it lacks support for local alphabetics. Since BlindSquare can handle that part, it makes Navigon usable again (and that's nice, since they have best maps of that area).

Best