introducing RunGo and seeking feedback about its accessibility

By Craig Slagel, 17 July, 2017

Forum
iOS and iPadOS

I'd like to start by thanking David Goodwin of AppleVis for allowing me to post here and share RunGo with your community.

I'm Craig Slagel the founder of RunGo, that is an app that helps runners by offering turn-by-turn voice navigation along running routes. It was initially designed to help sighted runners but since it was inspired by my dog who is a retired guide dog we also designed with accessibility in mind. We recently got featured by Apple as a top Accessible app and have a good number of visually impaired and low vision runners using RunGo. I would love to get more feedback and bring more awareness about RunGo to the visually impaired community. RunGo is on both iPhone and Apple Watch and fully accessible on both.

I want to start by sharing a story from Rose Sarkany, one of our visually impaired users, who has Usher's syndrome and her feedback has really helped us improve RunGo. Here is her story http://runningforchange.weebly.com/blog/run-go-solo
My favourite quote from her blog post was: "My confidence grew and so did my pace. It seems like I was running as if I have no vision issues at all. I was able to run freely as I let the app guide me. It was liberating.”

RunGo is designed for outdoor running or walking, but we do plan to add treadmill support with iOS 11. On RunGo you can create routes in the App or on the https://routes.rungoapp.com website that is much better for low vision users. The route creator on the website also allows you to add custom messages along the route or at turns that can make a route more accessible. Like "Turn Right on Main street, and continue down the stairs", the "continue down the stairs" is a custom message. I am also happy to help you and work with race directors to create routes. You can also find routes created by the community or verified routes created by us, verified routes are ones we have checked to be accurate, safe and scenic. You can also just run, and the app will record and track your run, and give voice feedback on pace and distance along the way.

In addition to voice navigation, RunGo can also vibrate at and before turns, and with the Apple Watch we offer unique taps before and at turns for left, right and straights. We also fully support Voiceover and Siri. On the Apple Watch Series 2, you can sync a route to the watch and run without your iPhone.

We know there is more we can do to make RunGo even better and more accessible I look forward to your feedback. RunGo is a free app and doesn't have any ads, we do have some paid features but all the core features like running tracking voice navigation and route creation are available for free.

Here is the link to download RunGo: https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id712628644?pt=1785848&ct=applevis&mt=8

Thank you and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Craig Slagel
Founder
RunGo
http://RunGoApp.com
craig@rungoapp.com
+1-604-831-8287

Options

Comments

By Craig Slagel on Thursday, July 27, 2017 - 00:10

Hi, I just wanted to check and see if anyone had a chance to try RunGo yet?

Thank you
Craig Slagel

By DPinWI on Thursday, July 27, 2017 - 00:10

Greetings.

Thanks for creating this app, and reaching out here to let us know about it and get feedback.

I installed the app today, and will give it a go tomorrow. I do not run, but I do long walks daily with my guide dog. I have some set routes, but to keep us both on our toes, I am constantly trying to come up with new walking paths. I am looking forward to walking with this app tomorrow and see what I think.

Thanks.

By gailisaiah on Thursday, July 27, 2017 - 00:10

Hi Craig, I'm going to give this app a try. Looking forward to the treadmill feature too. Since I can't read the screen, it will be nice to know pace, distance, etc. Thank you!

By Roxann Pollard on Thursday, July 27, 2017 - 00:10

I am a treadmill runner and really look forward to utilizing the RunGo app during my workouts. Thank you for considering the treadmill runner, as I think most blind people probably utilize their treadmill instead of the outside option. Can't wait to test drive this one.

By Frankd on Thursday, July 27, 2017 - 00:10

If I create a custom route does it remain private or does it become publicaly available?"
Is there a tutorial or other documentation that explains this and some of the app's features?
Thanks

When you create a route on the website or app you have to option to make it Public or Private, you can change this at anytime later on the website by re-saving a route.
Public routes are searchable and visible to anyone
Private only visible to the route owner or anyone they share the route with.

By DPinWI on Thursday, July 27, 2017 - 00:10

I have only had a chance to try it once so far. Silly summer thunderstorms...

I absolutely love the ability to say, "Start running with Run Go."I wish more apps were integrated with Siri.

I assume the route construction section of the app is using direct touch as I could not get anything to happen, except at a bottom of the screen tab bar. I have not had an opportunity to fully investigate the route section. I will see if I successfully saved my first route, and if it recalls and cooperates.

I wish the spoken updates were available at frequencies of less than one mile. As a walker, not a runner, half or quarter mile pace information keeps me pushing. Run Keeper does pace and distance updates based on elapsed time, and I like that approach too.

By Craig Slagel on Sunday, August 27, 2017 - 00:10

Hi, we are working to make route creation more accessible but it's better to create routes on our routes.rungoapp.com website if you are visually impaired.
We are also adding more update frequencies, hopefully in our next version and appreciate your feedback.

Craig Slagel

By DPinWI on Sunday, August 27, 2017 - 00:10

I have had little luck creating routes. My sighted wife tried using the website, and the app, to create routes for me. She found it difficult as the app kept making assumptions about the route beyond the last points she was setting. She then had to back out the additions and move on. She gave up, and I learned a few swear words I didn't know. Ha.

However, Run Go has replaced my previous running app. I love the auto pause and resume when walking with my guide. I can get a more accurate report of pacing as when he stops to make contributions to the local ecology, the app pauses, and then resumes.

The end of walk statistics are great, and I like knowing my splits, and my elevation changes.

I find the app, without the routing feature, to be very useful. If we could get a better, more efficient handle on the route creation, I would absolutely love this app. I like taking routes that cover new territory, and this would make things easier as I would not have to memorize them before heading out.

By Hadi on Sunday, August 27, 2017 - 00:10

I'd like to know that which countries does this app work in?

is it US only and such?

By Craig Slagel on Sunday, August 27, 2017 - 00:10

Thank you for your feedback, we use Google maps to help us create routes by snapping to roads and paths, but this doesn't always work as expected sometimes google wants to send you a different way, in those cases, there is a button toggle button "snap to roads" on top of the tool box on the right of the screen, turning this off will allow you to add points manually.

We also just made a training video to help people create routes. You can also make routes directly on the iphone app that may be a little simpler because it has fewer options.

https://youtu.be/oB1bgoTjIig

RunGo works worldwide, currently, the app is only in English but we are in the process to translating RunGo into French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Mandarin, Japanese and Portuguese.