Hi, my husband and I are going on our first date in a while. Unfortunately, it is an a part of the city that I am incredibly unfamiliar with and would like to choose a walking GPS app for the blind. I haven’t seen a new GPS walking out posted in the last three years or so can anyone make some good recommendations about an app that is regularly updated. Thanks so much
Yvonne Cowan
By Lovely Lavender, 30 June, 2022
Forum
iOS and iPadOS
Comments
Microsoft Soundscape
It doesn't show up for some countries. So you may have to switch to another country's appstore to find it. Quite handy it is!
I've been wondering this,…
I've been wondering this, too. I loved NearbyExplorer. But right now, I think the only sollutions are BlindSquare, and if you wish directions to somewhere, you'd have to use a third-party app to get them, like the built-in maps app.
GoodMaps Outdoors
Some folks do not like this app but I do.
GoodMaps Outdoors is basically a newer version of Seeing Eye GPS. I would recommend it as it gives you information regarding streets. For example, if you are walking on Davidson Street and approaching 7th Street, GoodMaps Outdoors would tell you 7th Street 200 yards left and right. It is free so you don't loose any money.
Denise and I used this app to walk from a shopping center. It knew we were in the back of the shopping center so it gave us directions to walk toward the exit.
I keep coming back to Blindsquare
It doesn't do directions natively, but it's the best I've found for explaining what is arround. Goodmaps outdoors can also do this and it does give directions, but I only use it in cases where I want that. The big advantage for Goodmaps is of course that it's free.
Lazarillo GPS
Try Lazarillo GPS for the blind, It works as well as BlindSquare and the added bonus is that it's free to download. It will announce street crossings and bus stops.
Re: Soundscape availability
A quick note to say that Soundscape isn't limited to the US and Canada.
The following is from the SoundScape page:
Ariadne GPS
It's starting to look a little like abandonware having not been updated for more than 2 years, but Ariadne GPS is another candidate for your navigation toolbox:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ariadne-gps/id441063072
Soundscape availability
It seems that even their own website may be out of date, as Soundscape launched in Ireland last year, but is not listed in David’s quote above.
I find Soundscape and Blind Square both pretty good for telling me where I am and street crossings etc, but if you need directions, you probably need to combine these with Apple or Google Maps.