Description of App
VoiceVista is a critical application for the blind and low vision users' community. It is built upon Microsoft's discontinued and open-source project Soundscape (https://aka.ms/ossblog) and is licensed under the MIT License (https://github.com/microsoft/soundscape/blob/main/LICENSE.txt).
The app leverages advanced iOS audio technology and precise location services to empower individuals in developing a heightened sense of their environment. It offers reassurance in unfamiliar settings, assisting users in forming mental maps and confidently navigating their desired routes.
For more information on how the app works and how your data is used and protected, please review the service terms and privacy policy:
Service terms: https://drwjf.github.io/vvt/terms.html
Privacy policy: https://drwjf.github.io/vvt/privacy.html
Comments
The description was coppied twice.
I'll check this out and give feedback.
important feature missing
i don't know about yu, but for me, "street preview" was the true game changing feature of the original soundscape. imagine as a blind person can effectively learn the street layout of a new place like reading a map, and know the place well, like one has been living there for a while. hell, one can even learn old places, because let's be honest...when you are blind, sometimes you really don't know what you've been missing even though the thing is right in front of your face.
this is a good start, and i trust the developer understands the value of "street preview", and we can see it in subsequent updates shortly.
Some problems
I downloaded the app and faced some problems:
1. Although I can change the language of the app, neither the interface nor the voice changes: living in Italy but using the iPhone in English, the app reads me the names with the English voice and not the Italian one.
2. Despite having given consent to location and fitness tracking data, in every tab the words 'To browse nearby places, access to location is required' appear.
Finally a question: Which map services does the app rely on? Would it be possible to integrate it with Google Maps?
Thanks.
Google maps would be good if it can be done.
It's slow at the moment when it comes to finding places to go to and i'd like a catigory selection but I'm liking the app so far.
I've not walked with it yet but wouldn't be surprised if there's a podcast on the way about this app and hopefully someone will walk with it.
1.0.1 released just a few minutes ago
There are updates in the version 1.0.1 as follows:
- Remove unnecessary permission requirement text to avoid confusing
- Add sleeping and snoozing modes to conserve battery
- Implement a street preview feature to allow virtual exploration
- Introduce a search feature to facilitate exploration of distant places
Still try to catch up the original Soundscape's full feature set in the future versions.
Oh wow.
I've not downloaded the update but that was quick and very impressive.
Changing the voice used for announcements?
Does anyone know how to go about changing the voice used for announcements? Right now, it's using an Australian voice, and I'd like to change it, but I can't find anything in the app's settings for this.
Also, does anyone know if this is the same or a different app than OpenScape, an app I saw discussed a while ago on AppleVis which was supposed to be a SoundScape replacement? It was in beta the last time I heard about it.
Thanks,
Shersey
Tinker with siri voices and see
For google map annoncements, we go to siri voices and change. So check out that setting and see. Openscape is a different app. After the update, Voicevista is almost similar to Soundscape. Took it for a spin yesterday.
My Siri voice isn't the same as the one VoiceVista is using.
My Siri voice is the British female one, and VoiceVista isn't using that.
Thanks,
Shersey
Doesnāt appear possible
Indeed, it does not seem to be possible to Change the voice at this time.
The other thing Iām not sure is there is the head tracking headphones feature. While it does of course have 3D audio with announcements coming from different directions, I donāt think it tracks the direction your head is facing, as SoundScape and OpenScape do with compatible headphones like AirPods. Or at least I donāt recall it asking me to enable this.
Whereas OpenScape is a direct clone of SoundScape, Voice Vista has designed their own user interface. Some features have been missing early on, but updates seem to be coming fast, and I guess it even has the potential to add things that the others donāt have.
Dave
A couple of questions
1) Checking through Settings, I was expecting to see an option that would let me select the map -- Google or Apple -- in order to see which one of the two might work best for me. How and where do I set it?
2) Which navigation app does VoiceVista support?
3) Will there be a user guide to help better understand how best to operate this app? The FAQss are a right step in the right direction but I am still a little unsure.
Thanks for all the hard work you put into this.
No external map support for now
Later versions may have it.
Updates
Supports Siri shortcuts.
Support street preview.
Supports direction tracking using headphones.
Supports marker and route import and export.
Supports Apple maps and Google maps.
Supports media controls from headphones.
Markers can be displayed by alphabetical order.
Really thank you for your work.
Everything works fine. A question. But how do you use for example google maps with VoiceVista? That is, among the updates you wrote that there is integration with Google Maps. How to use it?
Changing maps
Open the application and then go to settings. There is an option to change the default map there.
Make sure you have the latest version of voice vista.
brief review and a question
The option to choose Google or Apple maps is so welcome.
On the other hand, the Portuguese translation could see some revisions, it's sounding kinda weird right now.
Other than that, fantastic app!
What do you folks think is the best, google or apple? I'm gonna try both the next days but wanted to see people's opinion.
How do you import bookmarks?
I've looked everywhere I can think of but the option doesn't appear to be there.
It only supports importing markers shared from VoiceVista now
When you tap the marker link shared from VoiceVista by your friends, the App will be started to ask you to import that mark.
p.s. A new version will allow to import markers from Soundscape. Please wait a few days. LoL
This app is amazing
I was only ever an occasional user of SoundScape, but when I needed it I loved using it. I finally got to give Voice Vista a decent go and I get exactly the same feeling again. It is wonderful. And listening to the interview with the dev on here, I love it even more. I love the little improvements it has too - the interface makes a lot more sense now it behaves like a proper iOS app.
The only very small thing I noticed was that there didn't seem to be a category for shops and I couldn't really figure out where they lived. I think under Facilities I just had a lot of benches. They were probably under the App places list, I just didn't end up going there. I thought I would try OpenScape to compare but it doesn't really have any categories yet.
I wish Bose hadn't discontinued head tracking on their frames. Using my Bose frames with head tracking was a great feature of SoundScape, but probably not worth asking for support of a product that has been discontinued.
Anyway, I really just wanted to write this to express my gratitude to the author. Amazing what he is able to do in his spare time.
New features added to Version 1.0.9
- Turn-by-turn navigation
- Callout of mobility related places in the surroundings
- Generation of reversed routes for backward walking
Discrepancy of version number?
Hi,
I do look forward to more extensively exploring the surrounding with VoiceVista. However, I noticed that there is a discrepancy in the version number given on my iPhone SE 2022, running iOS 16.6. I updated to 1.0.9. After rebooting the iPhone I still see 1.0.8 when opening it among the ones recently updated whereas it shows as 1.0.9 among the "purchased" ones. What can or do I need to do to have both versions correspond and reflect 1.0.9? And most importantly, which version is currently running? I am stumped, for I have never seen such a discrepancy before.
--Cordelia
Now the app is even better than Soundscape!
With this new feature, turn by turn navigation, which was the feature that was always missing in Soundscape, this app is really beautiful. Compliments!
A question. But where does the turn by turn information come from? Do they depend on the user's choice between Google Maps or Apple Maps?
Turn-by-turn navigation directions come from Apple Maps only
as title
OK, cool, thanks for the reply.
I really appreciate this feature ie turn by turn navigation in voicevista.
Updates V1.10
Explore nearby location in street preview mode.
New version updates
- Call out the abbreviated address name at a user-defined rate
- Sleep when no beacon is set while running in the background mode
- French translation contributed by Saladeuh
- German translation contributed by Sandra Pilz
- Italian translation contributed by Simone Dal Maso
Updates V 1.1.2.
- Import a GPS exchange file to generate a route with waypoints automatically
- Russian translation contributed by ŠŠ°Š½ŠøŠ» ŠŠ¾ŃŃŠµŠ½ŠŗŠ¾Š²
New features V.1.1.3 update
- Generate route with markers calculated by navigation algorithm
- Refine categories of places and improve data quality
- Import markers from GPX file
- More assistant commands
SoundScape with asteroids but becoming BlindSquare
Hello as the subject says
SoundScape with asteroids but becoming in BlindSquare but sometimes is annoy to much talk without given options to turn off.
for example every cross st that pass keep saying the city where you are
frequently announcing the street address.
but not all is bud one thing I really like is the turn by turn navigation in routes
How to disable Street name callout?
1. Go to settings tab, there is a switch for "Abbreviated Name of Address", turn off to disable street name automatically callout.
2. Or change the slider under this switch to adjust the callout rate.
City and address callout
Hello nothing to do street callout with city and street address.
I am referring at when cross any street intersection callout the city name and also when you are walking in a street frequently announcing only the number for example 1000 then seconds later 954 and so on
the switch that you are talking is to Abbreviated Name streets
for example for long name streets
100%
North Las Vegas Blvd
80%
North Las Vegas
and so on.
It's getting better and better!
Thank you, Dr. Wu, for making VoiceVista better and better! I truly enjoy using it.
Another update yet again. V 1.1.5 released
- Options to delete markers when deleting a route
- Select from markers to define starting and destination points of a route
- Search by text when adding a new marker or defining starting and destination points
- German, Russian and Spanish translation corrections from Sandra Pliz, ŠŠ°Š½ŠøŠ» ŠŠ¾ŃŃŠµŠ½ŠŗŠ¾Š² and Enrique Varela
V 1.1.6. Released
- New relative and clock styles for beacon direction
- Report beacon summary from the assistant tab
- Update route to circular by appending reverse waypoints
- Addition of a same marker multiple times to a route's waypoints
- Russian and Spanish translation by Danil Kostenkov and Enrique Varela
Another update yet again. V 1.1.7
- Route Breadcrumb marker mode
- Execute more Voiceover actions without opening detail pages
- German, Italian, Spanish and Russian translation from Sandra Pilz, Simone Dal Maso, Danil Kostenkov and Enrique Varela
My wonderful experience
I use mapping apps occasionally, but I mostly go to work, go home, go to familiar places on the weekends with family and friends where I am often driven.
When I was younger, I could have used mapping apps more frequently, but iDevices, and the internet did not exist then.
Anyway, this week I went to a convention which was in a huge hotel that encompassed a golf course. All the buildings were in a huge circle, facing the golf course, with parking lots in the back. The whole setup was over one hundred acres.
I am used to hotels with maybe two buildings. But this one, in addition to all the places where your room might be, had a conference center on the other side of the parking lots. There were no sidewalks. Additionally, sighted people said the signage was poor so they had trouble finding anything as well. Attendees described it as a country club, and it reminded me of a business park.
I was at a convention for professionals who serve disabled students in hire education with only a few other blind people, and nearly every attendee had a car.
My guide dog and I were so, so lost. For the first two days I had someone guide and/or drive me everywhere. And even they had to drive around and around to locate a place we needed to go. Then I remembered a friend had recommended VoiceVista.
What a game changer. I marked the places where I relieved my dog, my room, friend's buildings, the hotel lobby and of course the conference center. Now, guided by the beacon, I could cut across the golf course on foot to get places almost faster than those stuck in their cars!
My sighted husband had always said that a true GPS lets hikers and sailors easily navigate terrain or ocean with no geo-coding, but I found if I wasn't at a place where I could navigate to a specific address, I couldn't use navigation apps. Now, that's no longer true. I can mark where my tent is at the campsite, or my chair at a picnic, or my husband's car. And I can go hiking around and easily return. This is so awesome.
The only problem I'm having
Is that there's a VoiceChat group, but the link in settings just opens What's App. Don't have any idea how to find the particular group.
V 1.1.8 released
- A new Siri command: 'Start Route'
- Callout for distance and direction to points of interest
- Callout for directions of surroundings
- Filter out auto-generated waypoints when not in route mode
- German, Russian and Spanish translation from Sandra Pilz, Danil Kostenkov and Enrique Varela
V 1.1.9 released
- Exploration of upcoming intersections
- Adjust speaking rates for pedestrians and vehicle occupants separately
- Option to deactivate turn-by-turn navigation
- Option to deactivate the shake-to-repeat function
- Enhanced turn-by-turn navigation
- Translation updates in German, Russian, and Spanish by Sandra Pilz, Danil Kostenkov, and Enrique Varela
Another update yet again, V 1.2.0 released
- Drop breadcrumb markers using the button on headphones
- Callouts for the next intersection along the road
- Adaptive callout frequency for distance to beacon
- Customizable units of measure
- Translation updates in German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish by Sandra Pilz, Simone Dal Maso, Danil Kostenkov, and Enrique Varela
beacon vs. breadcrumb
What is the difference between these, and how do I invoke them for what purpose? Thanks.
V 1.2.1 released
- Wake me up before you reach a location
- Sort search place results by distance
- Exclude user-generated markers from the 'All Places' list
- Clearly label 'Mute' and 'Unmute' for audio beacons
- Open Google Maps with the destination location
- Translation updates in German, Russian, and Spanish by Sandra Pilz, Danil Kostenkov, and Enrique Varela
V 1.2.2 released
- Importing BlindSquare Backup
- Customize shake motion response
- Customize auto-mute distance for beacons
- Translation updates in German, Russian, and Spanish by Sandra Pilz, Danil Kostenkov, and Enrique Varela
V 1.2.3 released
- Merge features of Assistant tab to Surroundings tab
- Call out city of street when in vehicle
- Call out street name in What's My Location
- Allow to turn on/off Intersections and Transportation info separately
- Translation updates in German, Russian, and Spanish by Sandra Pilz, Danil Kostenkov, and Enrique Varela
V. 1.2.4 released
- New places data:Ā
* California 1.4M recordsĀ
* Germany 3M recordsĀ
* United Kingdom 2.5M recordsĀ
* Japan 2M recordsĀ
- Relayout settings UI
- Translation updates in German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish by Sandra Pilz, Simone Dal Maso, Danil Kostenkov, and Enrique Varela
V 1.2.5 released
- New place type: tram stop
- Customization for POI Range Multiplier and beacon arrival message
- Translation updates in Italian and Spanish by Simone Dal Maso and Enrique Varela
Questions about path calculation
Hi,
First off, I can't thank the developer enough for this incredible revamp of the Microsoft Soundscape app! This is without doubt the best navigation app I have used so far.
I'm a bit confused by the new options for calculating the path. For example, if I start navigating somewhere and select the transit option rather than walking, what difference does this make to the directions I will receive? It doesn't seem like the app has public transit information available i.e. "take this bus number to this location", at least not in my area. I'm also not sure of the difference between using the last waypoint only" or each waypoint separately when starting a route. Could anyone shed any light on what these options actually mean?
Thanks for any help.
How Path Calculation Works?
It based on Apple Maps data and algorithm.
If using the last waypoint, the path calculation will just use the destination to find path for this whole route.
If using each waypoint separately, the path calculation will split to multiple steps, each step just use the next waypoint as the destination. Switch to next waypoint to find path after you arrived the current waypoint.
V1.2.6 Released
- Places offline searching and markers filtering
- Wizard style UI for navigation parameters
- Translation updates in German, Italian, Russian and Spanish by Sandra Pilz, Simone Dal Maso, Danil Kostenkov and Enrique Varela
What about the transit mode option?
Hi,
Thanks for the response regarding the path calculation.
I'm still not entirely clear on the transit mode option. If I were to select public transit rather than walking, for example, what difference would this make to the beacon and the directions I would receive? s far as I'm aware VoiceVista doesn't have any local public transit data.
Also, I have noticed that the monitoring function (an amazing feature by the way!) seems to require VoiceVista to be in the foreground in order for it to kick in and start monitoring. It doesn't seem to work if the app is running in the background and the phone is locked, unlike the wakeup when I leave feature. Is this a bug with monitoring, or is it intentional behaviour?