APH Talking PC Maps User's Guide, Revised
APH Talking PC Maps User's Guide, Revised
Version 2012
Terrie (Mary T.) Terlau, Ph.D.
American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.
1839 Frankfort Avenue
P.O. Box 6085
Louisville, Kentucky 40206-0085
U.S.A.
Phone: 502-895-2405
Toll-Free Customer Service: (800) 223-1839 (U.S. and Canada)
Fax: 502-899-2274
E-mail: info@
World Wide Web:
Contents
Copyright Notices 5
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALL USERS 6
Introduction 7
In the Box 7
System Requirements 7
What This Software Can Do For You 8
Manual Organization and Features 10
Target Audience 10
Describing Keystrokes 10
Additional Details 11
Getting Started 11
Procedures for Upgrading from 2011 to 2012 Software 11
Software Installation 12
For New Users: Registering the Software 16
Installing and Registering Software on Additional Computers 18
Procedures for Retrieving your Password 18
Automated Password Retrieval 18
Manual Password Retrieval 19
Removing a License from a Computer 19
Installing Maps and Points of Interest (POI) Files 19
Downloading and Installing Updated Maps and POIs 20
Installing Maps From Your Flashdrive 22
More About Maps 23
The Primary Software Screen: After Registration 23
The Graphical Map 24
Textual Map Information 26
Printing Routes and Lists of Points of Interest 29
Finding and Using Specific Locations on the Map 30
Finding and Using Addresses 30
Finding an Address: The Address Look-up Dialog Box 30
Notes about Looking Up Addresses 32
Using the Address You Found: Address Action Dialog 32
Finding and Using Points of Interest 34
Find the Nearest Point of Interest 34
Find List of Nearest POIs Command, F 35
The Find Specific POI(s) Command, Control-F 38
What to Do With POIs That You Found: The POI Action Dialog Box 45
Using Latitude/Longitude (Lat/Lon) 52
Basic Information 52
Finding and Changing Lat/Lon 53
The Lat/Lon Action Dialog 55
Finding and Using the History List 56
The History List 56
The History Action Dialog 57
Creating, Finding, and Using Favorites 58
What Are Favorites 58
Creating Favorites 58
The Favorites Action Dialog 60
The Primary Software Screen Actions Dialog 61
Intersections and Intersection Annotation 62
Exploring Streets and Points of Interest From Your Current Position 64
Exploring Streets 64
Exploration Keystrokes 65
How Directions Are Described 65
The Meaning of Left and Right Turns 66
Exploring in Map Mode 67
A Map Mode Exploration Example 67
Exploring in Walk Mode: When Side-of-Street Tracking Is Enabled 69
A Walk Mode Exploration Example 70
Exploring Areas with Multiple Adjacent Cities or Cities Divided into Regions 73
Exploring with a Destination Set 74
Exploring Points of Interest From Your Current Position 75
When Side-of-Street Tracking Is Turned On 76
Entering a POI 76
Groups of POIs: When More Than One POI Has the Same Address 77
Exploring by POI at the End of the Block 77
Exploration by POI and by Street in Combination 78
An Exploration Example 78
Creating and Following Routes 82
What Are Routes 82
Concepts: Pedestrian and Vehicle Routes 82
Setting Options for Automatic, Software-Produced Pedestrian and Vehicle Routes 83
Automatic, Software-Produced Pedestrian and Vehicle Routes 86
Using Automatic, Software-produced Pedestrian and Vehicle Routes 88
Reviewing Automatic Routes from the Keyboard 88
Other Important Route Actions 89
Creating a Manual Walking Route 91
Updating APH Talking PC Maps 92
APH Talking PC Maps v2012 Command Summary 93
Where am I Commands 93
Explore Commands 93
Destination Commands 93
Route Commands 93
Miscellaneous Commands 94
Copyright Notices
Trademarks
All products are trademarks of their respective owners.
Copyright Notice
Copyright © 2012 American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.
Portions of this work were provided by Sendero Group LLC and have been used with permission.
Limited Map data copyright © TomTom.
POI data copyright © Info USA.
For additional program copyright information, see APH Talking PC Maps/Documents/copyright.txt.
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALL USERS
APH Talking PC Maps is designed to convey information to persons with visual disabilities that is similar to information displayed on commercial maps and location databases for persons with vision. However, APH Talking PC Maps has limitations similar to those of visual maps/databases. These limitations include the following:
• Lack of information about the physical road characteristics such as elevation, overpasses/underpasses, bridges, sidewalks, traffic controls, unsafe neighborhoods, construction, and other hazards
• Map accuracy in newly developed areas
• Traffic and weather conditions
• Created Routes may not be safe or possible to follow.
Orientation and mobility specialists should always explore an area on the map or create a route before doing so with students. This allows the O&M specialist to check the map for accuracy and the route for safety and viability before presenting it to a student.
The individual user is wholly responsible for all issues related to personal safety and mobility. APH assumes no liability for accidents or injuries that occur to users while using APH Talking PC Maps.
Introduction
Welcome to APH Talking PC Maps Version 2012, a software package that provides spoken information about street layout and Points of Interest throughout the United States and Canada. In this section we will discuss the following: first, check contents of the box to make sure everything has arrived safely; second, note system requirements for using this software; and third, give a general description of the software and describe what it can do for you.
In the Box
If you purchased this software after the 2012 version was released, the box should contain the following items:
• A flashdrive containing software, maps, Points of Interest, and the User's Guide
• A print and braille sheet telling you to read the QuickStart file on your flashdrive before installing the software
If any item is missing, please call APH Customer Service at (800) 223-1839.
System Requirements
In order to use this software effectively, you must have the following:
• PC running Windows XP™, Windows Vista™, Windows 7™ or later, or a Mac running these Windows versions
• A 32 bit or 64 bit system
Note: Screen resolution of 1280 x 800 is required if the DPI setting of the display is set to Large Size (120 DPI). To check this setting in Windows XP, go to Control Panel, Display, Settings, Advanced, General.
Screen readers compatible with this software include:
• Jaws for Windows™
• Window-Eyes™
• System Access™
• Hal™
• NVDA
• Software is self-voicing on computers without screen readers
What This Software Can Do For You
There are five general ways to use APH Talking PC Maps. The first is to simply virtually explore the map street layout. With APH Talking PC Maps, a user who is visually impaired can independently “look around” and hear what streets, addresses, and intersections are nearby. The second use of APH Talking PC Maps is to create a pedestrian or vehicular route to a specific destination. The third use is to create and save a walking route so that a student or adult with a visual impairment can "memorize and practice" the route on the computer and save it to a portable device for use when walking the route. The fourth general use of APH Talking PC Maps is its powerful Point of Interest searching capabilities. The fifth general use of APH Talking PC Maps is to explore by Point of Interest, moving on the map from one POI to the next as if you were actually walking past POIs and reading their names.
This software can be used by students and adults with visual impairments to learn about street layout and Points of Interest in any part of the United States or Canada. It can also serve as a teaching tool for orientation and mobility specialists, classroom and itinerant teachers, transition specialists, and many other professionals who teach persons with visual impairments.
This software offers persons with visual impairments a picture of their world including street names and layout and a large number of Points of Interest. This software does not give information about a user's actual physical location; it is not a GPS system. Instead, it allows the user to set a position on the electronic map and then learn about the layout of streets and the identity of nearby stores, businesses, restaurants, hospitals, schools, and thousands of other Points of Interest that are noted on the maps. It offers persons with visual impairments a view of physical space and what is in it that is available in no other way except through eyesight. It can be used to stimulate curiosity about and research into the meaning of Points of Interest such as offices, manufacturers, medical facilities—all of the types of facilities that populate our world. By providing persons with visual impairments the same information available to sighted persons when they look at maps, street signs, and signage on buildings, this tool provides persons with visual impairments information about the world that sighted persons acquire through incidental learning.
This software can be used by technology-savvy students without assistance. It can also be used with students by orientation and mobility specialists, teachers of the visually impaired, rehabilitation counselors, vision rehabilitation therapists, transition specialists, and classroom teachers.
Information provided in this software is only as accurate as the database of maps and Points of Interest that it uses. Such databases are developed by specialized manufacturers who acquire latitude and longitude information for each intersection and Point of Interest available at the time of database construction. Databases are updated yearly. Check for updates from within the software with the Check for Updates item in the Help Menu or by pressing F3. You can also check with APH Customer Service for information about availability and cost of map and software upgrades. In addition, if an update is available and you are connected to the Internet when you use the software, you will receive an automated message about the availability of the update with instructions to contact APH Customer Service for information on cost and procedures to obtain the update.
Here are just a few of the things you can do when using this software:
• Set your current location to an address or to a Point of Interest.
• Explore streets and learn their layout by moving to the next intersection or by making left or right turns.
• Explore a block, a neighborhood, or an entire city POI by POI, hearing the order in which Points of Interest occur on the street and easily locating their phone numbers to call and find out more information.
• Set a destination and track the distance and compass heading to that destination as you explore.
• Set a destination and create a pedestrian or vehicular route to that destination.
• Save, reverse, review, and print pedestrian or vehicle routes.
• Produce a manually-made, walking route by saving an exploration pattern as a route.
• Track the side of the street you are virtually walking on, and make realistic decisions about turns and street crossings required to navigate to a set destination.
• Record or type descriptive information about a particular intersection, parking lot, building, or other location; and attach that information to the appropriate point on the map so that you or your student can access it whenever he/she explores this part of the map.
Manual Organization and Features
Target Audience
This manual is written for teachers of the visually impaired, orientation and mobility specialists, and students and adults who are visually impaired. Adults and self-motivated students in middle school and above with good computer skills may be able to use this manual to learn the software without instructor assistance. However, for many students, this software will be best used with an instructor, teacher, or parent. We have presented information in the order in which a typical user will need it.
Describing Keystrokes
This manual is written for persons with visual impairments using screen readers and keyboard commands as well as for persons whose vision is sufficient to allow the use of the mouse with or without magnification software. It is awkward to describe mouse clicks and keyboard commands for the same action in the same sentence. We assume that persons using screen readers know enough about their screen reader and Windows keyboard commands to use them appropriately in typical situations (e.g., pressing Space on a button activates it; arrowing through a list of radio buttons selects each radio button in turn, etc.). We also assume that mouse users know that they should click buttons to activate them and that they should scroll through lists. Therefore, we will not repeat keyboard or mouse instructions for typical actions. We will mention keyboard commands that are specific to this software as they are needed, and we will mention mouse actions if they are unusual or atypical.
Keyboard commands described in this manual generally involve pressing a letter to view a specific piece of information on a screen, pressing the Control key in combination with a letter to bring up a new Dialog Box, or pressing a letter followed by another letter for bringing up a specific menu item. When describing keyboard commands, we use the following system:
• All letter key names are written as capital letters for ease of recognition, but they should not be pressed with the Shift key unless the Shift key is specifically mentioned in the keystroke description.
• All key combinations that are pressed together are joined by a hyphen (for example, Control-F tells you to press and hold the Control key while pressing the F key).
• When two keys are to be pressed one after the other and not at the same time, they are separated by a comma and a space (for example, Alt-F, P means pressing and holding the Alt key while pressing F, lifting your fingers off of these keys, and then pressing the letter P).
Additional Details
After presenting the basic information needed to use a feature of the software, we have sometimes included a section that we call Additional Details. These sections can be skipped unless a user is interested in learning more information. We suggest that persons who are not comfortable with technology skip these sections and concentrate on the basics.
Getting Started
Persons who are installing this software for the first time should take a look at what is on the flashdrive. Insert the flashdrive into a USB port on your computer. Some computers may show a Dialog explaining that a new device has been found; if you see this Dialog, activate the OK Button and the Dialog will disappear. Some computers may show a list of actions and ask which action should be performed for the flashdrive; activate the option that tells you to view the contents of the flashdrive. Some computers will do nothing when the flashdrive is inserted; in this case, open My Computer from the Start Menu, and look at the folders and files on the drive.
The software installation file is located on the root of the flashdrive and is called Setup_APHTalkingMaps_2012.exe. If your flashdrive contains a file called Setup_APHTalkingMaps_2011.exe or Setup_APHTalkingMaps_2011.2.exe, you have the 2011 version of the software. Do not install this file. Instead, download the 2012 upgrade from
. Follow the directions for installing new software in this User's Guide.
Even if you have just opened a new copy of the software, you might have the 2011 version if your materials center purchased the software before the 2012 version was available. If you don't wish to upgrade to the latest version, you can install and use the 2011 version; to do this, you must call APH Customer Service at (800) 223-1839 so that your licenses can be set back to 2011.
Procedures for Upgrading from 2011 to 2012 Software
Users of previous versions of this software receive a notice that a free upgrade is available when they open the software while connected to the Internet. The notice will ask if you want to go to to get the newe version. Activating the OK Button takes you to a web page containing installation instructions and the upgrade download link.
If you are upgrading from a previous version, you must remove the 2011 software license from your computer and uninstall the software before installing the upgrade. You may need to uninstall this software twice, depending on which components of the software you originally installed. To uninstall APH Talking PC Maps software, do the following:
• To remove your 2011 software license, open the Maps software, open the Help Menu, select Remove Software License and Exit, press Enter, tab to the Yes button, and activate it. This removes the 2011 software license from your computer so that you can license the upgrade.
• If you use Windows XP, activate the Add-Remove Programs item in the Control Panel on the Start Menu. Select APH Talking PC Maps and activate the Remove Button. Answer Yes when Windows asks if you want to uninstall. Next, carefully review the list of installed programs again. You may find another listing for APH Talking PC Maps. Uninstall it as you did the first time.
• If you use Windows 7, activate the Start Menu, type Programs and Features in the Search Box, press Enter, select APH Talking PC Maps, and activate Uninstall. Answer Yes if you are asked if you are sure that you want to uninstall APH Talking PC Maps. Carefully review the list of installed programs. You may find another listing for APH Talking PC Maps. Uninstall this listing as you did the first time.
• If you have installed the software on two or three computers and wish to upgrade it on all of them, you must follow these uninstall procedures on these computers as well.
After you have completely uninstalled the previous version of the software, you are ready to install the upgrade. To do this:
• Follow the on-screen link for obtaining the upgrade and download the upgrade file.
• This file will be downloaded to your Downloads folder in your my Documents folder.
• After the file is downloaded to your computer, you are ready to begin installation. Locate the file and execute it by pressing Enter on it or by double clicking it.
Software Installation
APH Talking PC Maps software includes two very different kinds of material: digital maps and Points of Interest for the United States and Canada and the software to interpret and use the digital maps. Digital maps and Points of Interest are developed by TomTom and are also used in many GPS systems. You will usually see map files only when they are in their zipped (compressed) form. Zipped map files include the name of the state, territory, or province in their file name. The second type of material is software written by the Sendero Group for APH. This software interprets information from the digital maps and makes it possible for you to interact with the map data on your computer. This software is often updated at the same time the updated maps become available.
You must first install the software to manage the maps on your computer and register it. Then you must install maps for the states, territories, or provinces that you want to use. You can install all of the maps, but sometimes such a large number slows down the software. We will first discuss installing the software for new users and for those who upgrade from a previous version; then we will discuss installing the maps.
We used a flashdrive instead of a CD to provide the software because the flashdrive can hold the software and map files for the entire United States, its territories, and Canada, while a CD cannot. We also know that, increasingly, computers are made without CD drives. However, unlike CDs, files on this flashdrive can be deleted. Make sure not to delete files from your flashdrive unless you are upgrading your software. Also, do not use this flashdrive for any other files. Keep it in a safe place with your other software.
Persons with visual impairments must use screen reading software, magnification software, or sighted assistance to install this software. After the software is installed, however, it will use built-in speech if a screen reader is not detected. Persons who do not need screen readers can turn this built-in speech off by activating the Tools Menu, Speech Options, Self-Voicing Off.
To install the software, complete these steps:
• If your flashdrive contains the 2012 version discussed above, insert the flashdrive into a USB port on your computer. If your computer displays a selection of actions, activate "Open folder" to view files using Windows Explorer. If not, activate the Start Menu by pressing the Start Button or the Windows key. Activate My Computer in the Start Menu. Activate the flashdrive; you will recognize it because its name begins with APH.
• If you downloaded the upgrade, navigate to the file you downloaded, called Setup_APHTalkingMaps_2012.exe.
• Activate the file Setup_APHTalkingMaps_2012.exe either from your flashdrive or from the folder into which you downloaded the upgrade.
• Follow the onscreen prompts. Note that, after you activate the Finish Button at the end of the installation of APH Talking PC Maps, you will be asked if you wish to install Book Wizard Reader. You will need this software to read the manual if you cannot read a computer screen and you do not have a screen reader on your computer. If only persons who can see will use this software on this computer, you will not want to install Book Wizard Reader. If you do have a screen reader, you can read the User's Guide in Internet Explorer, and you may not want to install Book Wizard Reader. Note that this installation of Book Wizard Reader can only be used with the APH Talking PC Maps User's Guide.
• You will be presented with 14 screens during the installation process. The first seven screens take you through the installation of APH Talking PC Maps, and the next seven screens take you through the optional installation of Book Wizard Reader. Note that the installation process may vary depending on the operating system used by your computer.
If you are comfortable installing software on your computer, feel free to skip this section, which provides information about each screen you encounter when installing this software.
• Screen 1: This screen says that you are about to install the software. Activate the OK Button to continue or the Cancel Button to stop the installation.
• Screen 2: This screen documents the progress of uncompressing files in the software package. After all files are extracted, the screen tells you that the software is ready to be installed. It also gives copyright information and warns against copyright violation. To continue, activate the Install Button. Activating the Cancel Button aborts the installation. The Back Button is present on the screen, but is unavailable for use.
• Screen 3: This screen displays the license agreement. To continue, select the radio button labeled "I Agree." If you choose the radio button labeled "I Do Not Agree," the installation will abort. Activate the Next Button to continue with the installation. Activating the Back Button returns you to the previous screen. Activating the Cancel Button aborts the installation.
• Screen 4: This screen helps you accomplish three tasks.
o First, you will select the folder on your computer to which the software will be installed. We recommend accepting the default folder. Activating the Next Button after you have completed all tasks on this screen accepts the default folder. You can enter a different folder name, or you can activate the Browse Button to select a different folder.
o Second, you can activate the Disk Cost Button and view a list of drives on your computer, their total disk space, their total free disk space, and the amount of disk space to be used when you install the software. Activate the OK Button to return to the Primary Installation Screen.
o Third, the screen allows you to install the software for yourself or for everyone who uses this computer. If you select the Just Me Button, the software will be available for use only when you are logged on to the computer. If you select the Everyone Button, anyone who has their own logon identity on this computer can access and use the software. This setting does not matter if you are the only one who has a logon identity on the computer.
o Activate the Next Button to accept the three choices you have made on this screen. The Cancel Button aborts the installation, and the Back Button returns you to the previous screen.
• Screen 5: This screen confirms that the software is ready to be installed. To start the installation process, activate the Next Button. The Cancel Button aborts the installation, and the Back Button returns you to the previous screen.
• Screen 6: This screen tells you that APH Talking PC Maps is being installed and asks you to wait. When installation is complete, this screen displays the ReadMe file containing important information about the software. To continue, activate the Next Button. Activate the Cancel Button to abort the installation.
• Screen 7: This screen tells you that APH Talking PC Maps has been successfully installed. To continue, activate the Close Button, the only button on this screen.
• Screen 8: This screen invites you to install Book Wizard Reader, software that can read the User's Guide aloud as a digital talking book. Activate the Yes Button to install Book Wizard Reader or the No Button to prevent this installation. If you have screen reading software on your computer or if only persons who can see will use this software, you do not need to install Book Wizard Reader.
• Screen 9: This screen documents the progress of uncompressing files in Book Wizard Reader. After all files are extracted, it then offers you the following buttons: Install, Start Program, Documentation, and What's New. Activate the Install Button.
• Screen 10: This screen advises you to close all other programs before continuing with the installation. Note that screen readers and screen magnification programs do not interfere with this installation and can be kept open. Activate the Next Button to continue or the Cancel Button to exit software installation.
• Screen 11: This screen asks you to select the folder on your computer to which the software will be installed and shows the amount of disk space used by the Book Wizard Reader. We recommend accepting the default folder. Activating the Next Button accepts the default folder. You can enter a different folder name, or you can activate the Browse Button to select a different folder. This screen also tells you the amount of disk space that is needed to install Book Wizard Reader. Activate the Next Button to continue with the installation, the Cancel Button to abort the installation, or the Back Button to return to the previous screen.
• Screen 12: This screen tells you that Book Wizard Reader is ready to be installed and shows the name of the folder to which the software will be installed. Activate the Next Button to start the installation process. The Cancel Button aborts the installation, and the Back Button returns you to the previous screen where you can change installation options.
• Screen 13: This screen asks you to wait while Book Wizard Reader is installed and tracks installation progress. It notes that MSXML 4.0 SP3 Parser is being configured and tells you when installation is complete. Activate the Finish Button to complete the installation.
• Screen 14: This screen offers you the following buttons: Install, Start Program, Documentation, What's New, and Exit. Activate the Exit Button. The installation of Book Wizard Reader is now complete.
For New Users: Registering the Software
If you have never used previous versions of this software, you will need to register it the first time you open it. If you are already a user of this software, you have already registered your copy and will not need to do this again.
Registering the software is quick and easy if you have an Internet connection. The first time you open the program, you will be presented with a screen with fields for your name, a password, and your e-mail address. Screen reader users can tab between these fields. Type in these three pieces of information. You will also notice that several other fields are already filled in (e.g., an identification number for your computer). Activating the OK Button submits your information to the website of Sendero Group, LLC, the company that provided this software to APH. After the Sendero site receives your information, it sends a license to your computer that allows you to run the software and informs you that the license has been retrieved.
Note that no information is sent to the Sendero site except for that which is in the onscreen form, that this information is stored securely, and that it is not made available to anyone other than Sendero Group and APH. Sendero Group and APH would only use such information in the unlikely event that they needed to contact you. The primary purpose of storing this information is to manage software licenses and to notify you of software updates. You can run your software on three computers at the same time.
If you are not able to connect to the Internet with the computer on which you have installed this software, you will receive the message, "Unable to connect to to register your product and maps." To register your software manually, you must do the following:
• Write down two pieces of information provided on the Registration Screen on the computer on which you have installed APH Talking PC Maps:
1. The Account ID
2. The PC ID
• Take this information with you to a computer that can connect to the Internet.
• Log into the account created for managing your software on the Sendero website—use the Account ID you copied from the Registration Screen and a blank password if you have not set one up yet.
• After logging in, go to the link "Manage PC Licenses" under the heading "License Keys."
• Enter the PC ID that you copied from the Registration Screen.
• Write down the License Key for your PC that is then provided by the Sendero website.
• Bring this License Key with you to the computer on which you have installed this software. Start the software and type this License Key into the appropriate field.
• Activate the OK Button and you will receive the message that your software has been licensed.
Installing and Registering Software on Additional Computers
As noted above, you may install this software on three computers at the same time. Use the same installation procedures when installing on your second and third computers as you did on your first computer. Additional computers need to be connected to the Internet in order to use the automated license retrieval process described above. When connected to the Internet, the software will obtain a license from the Sendero site for the new computer. You will need to insert your software flashdrive into a USB port on your computer so that the software has access to the Software ID on the flashdrive. You will also need to enter your password. This must be the same password you used when you registered the software on your first computer.
If you cannot connect your second or third computers to the Internet, follow the steps described above for obtaining a license when not connected to the Internet.
Procedures for Retrieving your Password
There are two ways to retrieve your password if you forget or lose it. One method is fairly automated, and the other requires you to visit the website. We describe each way separately.
Automated Password Retrieval
After you have installed the software on your first computer and set your password for the software, the software will give you an opportunity to retrieve your password every time you obtain a license for another computer. If you have forgotten your password, the software provides a button on the Registration Screen labeled Forgot Password. If you click or press Enter on this button, Sendero sends an e-mail that contains your password to the e-mail address that you registered when you installed the software on your first computer. The software notifies you of the e-mail address to which the password has been sent. This feature gives you a safety net in case you forget your password; just open your e-mail program and view the Sendero e-mail. This feature only works if the computer being licensed is connected to the Internet. If you are not connected to the Internet, you will receive the following message if you activate the Forgot Password Button: "Unable to connect to the Sendero website . Either the website is temporarily down or you do not have an Internet connection. Please try again later."
Manual Password Retrieval
You can also retrieve your password by logging into the Sendero website, and activating the Forgot Password link. You are given the message, "Enter your account ID or serial number below. We will send you a reminder with your password as long as you have an e-mail address on file."
Note that you provided your e-mail address the first time you licensed the software. This is retained in your record on the Sendero website and is used to send the password reminder.
If you have forgotten your password and need to obtain a license on a second or third computer that cannot connect to the Internet, you can use a computer that is connected to the Internet to retrieve your password manually. You must still follow the steps listed above to license a computer that is not connected to the Internet.
Removing a License from a Computer
Because you are limited to three installations, it is important that you remove licenses from computers on which you no longer use the software. The software provides an easy way to remove a license key and increase your available license keys by one on the Sendero site. To remove the license key from a computer, activate the Help Menu, and click or press Enter on the item labeled Remove Software License and Exit. If you are connected to the Internet, the software checks your information on the Sendero site, tells you how many computers you currently have registered, asks if you are sure that you want to deactivate this computer, and indicates that doing this will allow you to activate the registration on another computer. If you press the Yes Button, the software removes the license key and returns it to your key count on the Sendero site. The software informs you that you need to uninstall the software from your computer yourself. Then, the software closes the program. The software has removed the license, but has not uninstalled the software.
If you cannot connect a computer to the Internet and need to remove its license key, remove the license key as described above. Next call APH Customer Service at (800) 223-1839. Customer service staff will either reset your license count or refer you to someone who can do so.
Installing Maps and Points of Interest (POI) Files
Now that you have installed and activated the software, you must install the digital maps that you want to use. All flashdrives include TomTom maps released in 2011. If you use 2012 software, you must download and use maps and POIs released in 2012.
After your maps software is activated, you will receive a message asking if you want to check for map updates. If you have an Internet connection, press the Yes Button. If you don't have an Internet connection, press the No Button. You will then be asked if you want to install maps from your flashdrive. Activate the No button. Remember that your flashdrive contains 2011 maps, and you cannot use 2011 maps with 2012 software. You can always download the latest digital maps from on a computer with an Internet connection. You can then install them using the Install Previously Downloaded Maps and POIs item on the Help Menu.
Downloading and Installing Updated Maps and POIs
If you indicated that you wanted to check for map updates, the software will display all maps and POI files available for you to download. First, the software will announce "checking for Updates." You will then hear a chime ring several times while the software accesses the web site. On the Update Screen, you can tab between 11 items as follows:
• Event Log: This is a read only edit area where you are given the status of what is going on. You may see the number of updates available, the name of the Map or user submitted POI that is currently being downloaded.
• Maps: Arrow through the maps and press Space to select the ones you want. The first nine items provide maps by region (e.g., Southeast or Great Lakes). The remaining items provide maps by state, Canadian province, and Off Shore Island. You can select the region that you live in, a series of regions, and/or states and provinces.
• User-submitted POIs: Users of Sendero Maps and GPS products and users of APH Talking PC Maps can submit Points of Interest that they create to the Sendero site. Arrow through the list and select those that you want to download and install.
• Install Programs: If an upgrade to the software that manages the maps exists, it will be shown in this field. You will be instructed about obtaining the upgrade here as well. If the upgrade is free, it will show up in this field as an available download. Otherwise, you will be directed to contact APH Customer Service about purchasing it.
• GTFS POIs: This is a list of transit feeds by Google. They are additional bus stops for those cities that put their transit bus stops into the GTFS standard format. GTFS stands for General Transit Feed Specification which was initiated by Google a few years ago. Use your arrow keys to scroll up and down the list. Press the spacebar to select or unselect one or more of the offered GTFS feeds.
• Update Button: Press this button when you have selected all of the items that you wish to download and install. Remember that maps are large files and download slowly. Your screen reader will announce each item as it is being downloaded even when you are working in other programs.
• Unselect All: Pressing this button unselects all of the items you have selected so that you can start the selection process again.
• Updates: This is a Combo Box where you can tell the software to show you updates only or all files you have access to. Arrow between these two options. Note: if you check for updates and you have none available, you are automatically switched to show all. In this way you can download any additional files without changing this item.
• Account: This is a list of all of your available Talking Maps and Sendero GPS accounts. This is helpful for persons who have purchased multiple copies of the Talking Maps product from APH or who have other Sendero GPS products. If you only have one Maps product and no other Sendero products, ignore this option.
• Add new account: If you have multiple Maps and/or Sendero products, you can add an additional account. Pressing this button will prompt for your ID and password. If you only have one Maps product and no Sendero products, you can ignore this option.
• Cancel: Pressing this button will cancel the check for updates function and return you to APH Talking PC Maps.
After you have selected all of the maps and other items you wish to download, tab to and press the Update Button. Maps software will download all of the items you have selected and announce the name of the item it is downloading, even though you may be doing other things on the computer. Maps software will automatically install the items you have selected when the total download is complete.
You MUST not turn off your computer or close the Maps program while items are being downloaded and installed.
Installing Maps From Your Flashdrive
As noted previously, your flashdrive includes an earlier version of maps and Points of Interest for the United States and Canada in zipped form. Files including Points of Interest automatically accompany a map file for each state, territory, or province. You cannot use the maps on your flashdrive with the 2012 software. If you choose not to upgrade to the 2012 version, you can install 2011 maps from the flashdrive with the Maps Utility. Screen reader users can tab between fields in this utility. This utility includes the following lists and controls:
• Select Maps to Install: This is a Multi-Select List Box including a list of all maps on your flashdrive (i.e., each U.S. state, Puerto Rico, offshore islands that are U.S. territories, and each Canadian province). Screen reader users will hear the name of the next map preceded by the words "Not Selected" if the map has not been selected each time they arrow down or up. Arrow or scroll through this list, and press Spacebar or click on the maps you want to select. Pressing the Spacebar or clicking on a selected map will unselect it.
• Number of Maps Selected: This is a read-only field displaying the number of maps selected for installation.
• List of Currently Installed Maps: This is a list of maps that are already installed in the current maps folder.
• Select All Button: This button selects all of the maps on the flashdrive for installation.
• Unselect All Button: This button unselects all selected maps, leaving no maps selected.
• Install Maps Button: When activated, this button installs all maps.
• Cancel Button: This button cancels the map installation.
• Read-Only Field: This field provides directions to insert flashdrive with maps or browse for source location of the maps.
• Read-Only Field: This field shows the maps source location, for example E:\.
• Browse Button: Activating this button allows you to navigate and point to a new location for the map files (for example, if you had copied all maps from the flashdrive onto your hard drive, you would browse to this new map location).
After you have selected the maps that you want to install and have activated the OK Button, the utility will unzip map files and install them on your computer.
More About Maps
When maps are installed, they are placed in the default Maps directory on your computer. This is a folder called Maps that can be found in your My Documents folder in the APHTalkingPCMaps folder. Note that map files are copied directly into the Maps folder; they are not kept in folders for each state when they are copied to your computer. Two other subfolders in APHTalkingPCMaps are Routes (which will include any routes that you create and save) and Settings (which will contain changes in software settings that you make).
When installed on your computer, there are at least three map files for each state, several dealing with map information and several dealing with POI material. Larger states such as California are divided into sections and include larger numbers of files in their folders. You can have up to 255 map sections in your map folder. However, access times and software are more stable with fewer states loaded.
You might notice that, though you installed a given number of maps, the Primary Software Screen indicates that a larger number of maps have been installed. This is because the Map Installation process counts each zipped file as a map; but the onscreen map tally is based on the number of section maps you have installed. If you installed California maps (with six sections) and Kentucky maps (with one section), you would have installed two maps but you would see "7 maps loaded" on the Primary Software Screen.
The Primary Software Screen: After Registration
Now that you have installed maps and registered your software, you will see the Primary Software Screen. The Title Bar indicates its title, APH Talking PC Maps, and then shows the number of section maps that are loaded. The software automatically loads all maps that you have installed.
The Primary Software Screen is split into two areas. The top portion of the screen contains a visual map with your current position at the center. The bottom portion of the screen contains text describing your position. The top half of the screen is useful to instructors with vision or to persons with low vision who want a visual map as well as a talking map. It is not useful to or visible to persons who cannot see the screen; screen readers cannot read the graphical map. However, all necessary information visible on the map is described in the information on the bottom half of the screen.
Visual users can adjust the area devoted to the graphical map and to the textual information by dragging the horizontal line that separates the top from the bottom area of the screen up or down with the mouse. This will enlarge one area while shrinking the other.
The Graphical Map
The following information about the onscreen graphical map will be useful to visual users. Nonvisual users may wish to skip to the heading, Textual Map Information.
Those who can see the map will note that it cannot be scrolled. However, you may zoom in by pressing the Page Down key, or zoom out using the Page Up key. Zooming out expands the view to a larger area, but makes all features smaller. Zooming in reduces the view to a smaller area, but makes all features larger.
Your current position is indicated in the center of the map by a solid red triangular arrow. You may change the size and color of your current position indicator on the Visual Options dialog (found under Tools on the Tools Menu). In the default “North always Up” configuration, this arrow will rotate as you make turns to point in the direction you are facing. You can change this configuration to “Up showing what’s ahead” on the Visual Options dialog. If you make this change, the map will re-orient as you make turns, so that your current direction of travel is always at the top of the screen and the current-position arrow always points up. The compass in the lower-right corner of the map area always indicates the orientation of the map as well as the direction of your current heading. A distance scale and the latitude-longitude coordinates of your current position are located in the lower-left corner of the map area.
Map features are described here in the default color scheme. You may change the map color scheme using the Visual Options dialog (described elsewhere). Some features may be removed from the map by changing their color to “Not Visible.”
On the map, most of the background area is colored light golden. Roads and road names appear in the dark blue foreground color. The minimum road width may be changed on the Visual Options dialog. Freeways are red, and bodies of water are blue. Parks are colored light green, and schools are colored light brown. One-way streets are shown with superimposed magenta arrows to indicate the direction of travel. Overpasses are shown with short cyan lines on either side of the top road. If you have set a map destination, it will appear as a green flag on the map.
When you open a route, the screen may be automatically zoomed out to display the entire route. When a route is open, the waypoints appear on the screen as red arrows within a green circle. The red arrows indicate the direction of turns and the direction of travel along the route. A red “A” within a green circle indicates the starting point for the route. A red “B” within a green circle indicates the ending point of the route.
The Visual Options Item in the Tools Menu
Because persons with low vision vary widely in terms of preferences for various print characteristics, almost all features of the visual map can be customized to meet each individual's needs. This section reviews changes that can be made in the Visual Options item in the Tools Menu.
• Font Name: Choose from available fonts on your computer; Verdana is the default font.
• Font Size: Select the font size that best meets your needs. 18 point is the default.
• Minimum Road Width: Set at 2, the width of map lines used for roads can be increased to 4 or decreased to 1.
• Dark Foreground on Light Background in Maps: By default this item is checked, meaning that the background is light and the foreground features are dark. If you uncheck this item, the polarity will reverse—background will be dark and foreground will be light.
• Size of Current Position Indicator: By default, this is 30. It can be decreased to 20 or increased to 100.
• Color of: This lists all of the features whose colors can be changed. Arrow to the feature you want and change its color with the next item. Features whose colors can be changed include:
o Current Position Indicator
o Route Waypoints
o Destination Indicator
o One Way Indicator
o Overpass Indicator
o Dark Foreground
o Light Background
o Light Foreground
o Dark Background
• Unlabeled Combo Box: This Combo Box lists 27 colors that can be selected for any of the features listed in the previous box.
• North Always Up: When this item is checked (as it is by default), north is always located at the top of the screen. The on-screen compass graphic shows that north is always pointing up in this case. When unchecked, the direction of travel is pointing up and north changes according to the direction in which the user travels. The on-screen compass shows the changing direction of north when this item is unchecked.
Textual Map Information
The bottom part of the Primary Software Screen consists of eight boxes containing eight types of information. Persons who access the software visually must scroll through the information using the scroll bar on the right side of the screen. As described below, this information is accessible verbally by tabbing through the boxes and fields.
Because you have not yet told the software a location on the map from which to start, most of the boxes contain no information. Let us look at each box individually.
• Address: After you have set an address as your current location, the Address Box will always show the street number and street name of the address nearest to your current location. Because you have not selected an initial address, the Address Box says, "Position unknown." However, after you have set an address, as you use specified keys on your keyboard to move forward or turn left or right, the address changes to mark your new location.
• City info: After you have selected a city in your address for your current position, the City Box will always list the city in which you are traveling. Because you have not yet selected a city, this box says, "Position unknown." As you move on the map from one city to another, the city name in this box will change to indicate the new city.
• Nearest Intersection: After you have told the software your current address, this box will always show you the name of the intersection that is nearest you. Because you have not yet told the software your initial location on the map, the Nearest Intersection Box says, "No intersection nearby."
• Event: This box shows the last event that occurred. An event might be a turn that you made, a street that you crossed, or a message from the software in response to an action you took. This field is empty because no event has yet happened. Screen readers do not announce this field when it is empty. This is the only time you will see the Event Field empty.
• Detailed Intersection: After you have set your current address in the software, this box will tell you details about the nearest intersection: whether it is a three, four, or five-way intersection, and something about its overall shape. Because you have not yet set the address, this box says, "No intersection nearby."
• Odometer: The odometer will tell you in either imperial (miles) or metric (meters) systems how far you have traveled from your initially set address to your current position. Because no current position has been set, the Odometer Box currently says, "0 feet."
• Nearest POI: After you have set your current position, this box tells you the Point of Interest that is closest to your current position. Again, because the software does not yet know your current location, this box says, "No points nearby."
• Heading: After you have selected an address, this box will tell you the cardinal direction in which you are heading in words (e.g., northeast, southwest, east), and in degrees. Because the software does not yet have a starting location for you, this box says, "Heading unknown."
You may find it helpful at this point to explore the Primary Software Screen. Tab between all fields and say aloud in one sentence what each field tells you.
The software includes some commands that speak information on the screen without moving your cursor. If, for example, you tabbed to the Address Box, you can press the letter C to hear the city spoken, but your cursor will remain in the Address Box. To view a list of announcement commands at any time, activate the Location Menu and select the Location Announcements Submenu, Alt-L, then N. Use your Arrow keys to scroll through the menu, and press Enter for the command you wish to use. A list of these commands follows.
• Announce Intersection, X: This announces the nearest intersection name, heading, and distance. The cross street is announced. The distance to the intersection refers to the center of the intersection. If you would like more details about this intersection, press Alt-X.
• Announce Detailed Intersection Information, Alt-X: This command announces intersection details like direction of travel and the compass orientation of the cross streets.
• Announce Nearest Address, A: Query the nearest known street address by pressing the letter A. If you are on a highway or if the address number is not known, the name of the street is only announced. If you get a message saying the Address is unknown, move a bit on the map and try again.
• Announce City, Feature, State, Zip/Postal Code, C: To hear the current city, Map Feature if there is one, state and zip/postal code announced, press C. If you get a message saying it is unknown, move on the map and try again. There may be some small towns that do not have address level data, only street names without house numbers. If the city name is not found, the nearest township will be announced. If no township is found, the county or district may be announced. If there is a body of water, college campus, or other map feature in the database, this will appear after the city and before the state.
• Where Am I?, Spacebar: Pressing the Spacebar announces a brief summary of your current location (nearest address and current street, nearest intersection, nearest POI, and current city).
• Latitude/Longitude, Control-Y: This brings up a Dialog Box displaying the latitude and longitude of your current position. A Name Field allows you to enter a name for this location. To copy the current latitude and longitude to the clipboard from this box, tab to the Copy to Clipboard Button and press Space. This feature will probably be used rarely, but it can be very helpful in specific circumstances. Because latitude and longitude provide a unique identification for every point on the earth, you can use these measurements to tell other electronic mapping systems (such as GPS) about a specific location. If you find a Point of Interest that you want to travel to using GPS, copy the point's latitude and longitude to the clipboard, put them in notepad or a word processor, and use your GPS software commands to enter the Lat/Lon and name the spot in your GPS.
• Announce Nearest POI, P: This command announces the nearest Point of Interest to your current location.
• Nearby POIs, F: Pressing this key brings up a list of nearby Points of Interest. Use your Arrow keys to scroll through the list.
• Destination, D: Pressing this key shows you the destination if one has been set.
• Next Turn in Route, T: Pressing this key announces the next turn in a route if a route is open.
• Route Progress, %: Pressing this key announces the percent of the route traveled if a route is open.
• Route Distance, r: Pressing this key announces the remaining distance in a route if a route is open.
Printing Routes and Lists of Points of Interest
Throughout the manual, we mention various lists of Points of Interest and types of routes that can be printed. The font type, attributes, and size and the type of script can be adjusted for such printouts by using the Printer Font Options item in the Tools Menu. This item presents the following four options:
• Font: Arrow or scroll to select the font face of your choice.
• Attributes: Arrow or scroll to select regular, bold, italic, or bold italic.
• Size: Arrow or scroll to or type the desired font size.
• Script: Arrow or scroll to the script you desire. This item should not be changed because Western, the first choice, is selected by default and is appropriate for English.
Finding and Using Specific Locations on the Map
When you use the maps, you must first select a position on the map, telling the map where you want to start. Next, you must tell the software what you want to do with the position. There are five ways to search for locations on the map and then to do something with the position you have found. You can search for specific addresses or Points of Interest; you can provide the specific latitude and longitude for a given position; and you can use positions that are in your History or Favorites Lists. After locating a position in any of these ways, you will then select an action from the Actions Dialog that comes up automatically when the position is found. The Actions Dialogs differ slightly depending on which of the five methods you used to find the position. However, you will quickly become familiar with most elements of these Action Dialogs. Another Action Dialog helps you take actions on the information on the Primary Software Screen. Each of the five methods to find a location on the map and the Action Dialog associated with that method is discussed in detail in this section.
Finding and Using Addresses
Finding an Address: The Address Look-up Dialog Box
From anywhere in the APH Talking PC Maps application, press Alt-S. This opens a Dialog Box with the following fields:
• Search Type: This is a Combo Box in which you select the type of search, by city or zip/postal code. If you know the name of the city for the address, select city; if you know a zip code but not a city, select postal code.
• Maps: This shows a list of all installed maps. Use your Arrow keys or first letter navigation to select a map. If you copied maps for California, Kentucky, and Missouri into your maps folder, these three state names will show up in the Maps Box. If you want to look up an address in Missouri, arrow to or press M to select the Missouri map.
• City or Zip/Postal Code: This is a Combo Edit Box that changes depending on what is selected in the Search Type Combo Box. If city is selected, you type in the name of the city, for example, St. Louis. If Zip/Postal Code is selected, you type in the zip/postal code, for example 95616. If you need to view a list of all cities or zip codes on the selected map, press Space, then Enter. Some cities are divided into sections. When you select the Kentucky map, type Louisville in the city Field, and enter a street number and name (discussed below), you will find a series of city names in the City Field (e.g., Louisville East, Louisville South, Louisville Central. When such a list is displayed, you must select or arrow to the section of the city in which the address lies. This will be discussed in more detail later.
• Number: This is an Edit Box in which you can type the address number, or leave it blank if unknown.
• Street: This is a Combo Box in which you can type all or part of the street name. Do not include words like Street, Avenue, Road, etc. The street database matches the street name with an exact word; if you type Avenue and the database uses the abbreviation Ave., you will receive the message that the street cannot be found. Typing less is better than typing more in this field. Do not include words or abbreviations for West, North, East, South, etc., except for addresses in Oregon where the directional abbreviation must be entered before the number of numbered streets. This is because of map data and cannot be made consistent with other states.
• Lookup: This is the button you activate when you have filled out all fields. This is the default button; just press Enter to start the search.
• Cancel: Activate this button to cancel the lookup and return to the Primary Software Screen.
• Cross Streets: If you leave the address number blank, this button will be available. Press Enter to bring up a list of cross streets. You would use this button if you wanted to look up an address on Main Street, but did not have the street number available. By looking at the list of all streets that cross Main Street, you could choose the cross street that was near the area of the address.
Notes about Looking Up Addresses
Because of the way that map data has been produced by TomTom, you must know either the city or the postal code of the address that you want to find. While this may seem like a simple matter, sometimes it becomes problematic. If your city has many small cities surrounding it or includes small cities within its borders, you will need to know the exact name of the small city in which the address lies in order to locate it. For example, there are many cities with their own governments that exist in Louisville, Kentucky, home of the American Printing House for the Blind. St. Matthews, for example, lies approximately 2 miles east of APH, and another part of Louisville lies farther east of St. Matthews. Mail sent to addresses in St. Matthews use the Louisville city address. However, if an address is in St. Matthews and we write the city name as Louisville, the address will not be found. The software will indicate that the street does not exist or, in the case of a street that lies in both Louisville and St. Matthews, that the address number cannot be found. A zip code search is a more effective way of locating addresses in these cases. If you do not know the zip code, you may find it helpful to type in the state name, and press Enter or click on the City Field without typing a city. You will then see a list of all cities in the state. By arrowing or scrolling through these cities, you may be reminded of the name of the small city in which your address lies.
A few cities have been divided into areas such as East, West, and Central. In addition, a more inclusive category is often present. If you receive a message that the street or city cannot be found, arrow up and down in the City Field to determine whether you need to select a specific region of the city or whether a more inclusive area is provided.
Using the Address You Found: Address Action Dialog
After you have pressed the Enter key in the Address Look-Up Dialog, the Address Action Dialog automatically appears; this Dialog helps you determine your next action once you have located an address. In other words, you have told the software to find an address; now you must tell it what you want to do with that address. With the Address Action Dialog, you can set the address as one of the following: your current location, a Point of Interest, or a destination. You can also create routes to or from that address. Here is a list of buttons in this Dialog and the actions they produce when activated. You can press Alt with the first letter of the button you wish to activate or press Tab to move through the buttons and then press Enter or Space on the desired item.
• Current Position: Activating this button sets the address you looked up as your current position on the map so that you can explore the area around this address. After you have found an address, the Current Position Button is selected on the Address Actions Dialog. Simply press Enter a second time and this button is activated; you have established the address you found as your current position.
• Create Vehicle Route: Activating this button creates a vehicle route from your current position to the address. As with pedestrian routes discussed above, you must already have set another address as your current position in order to use this feature. Vehicle routes use interstate highways and cause cars to move in the correct direction on one-way streets. Exploring and viewing routes are discussed in more detail later.
• Create Pedestrian Route: Activating this button creates a pedestrian route from your current position to the address you just looked up. Again, you would use this feature only if you had already looked up an address and set it as your current position. You could then explore the pedestrian route by turn or by smaller segments from the keyboard. Pedestrian routes allow you to walk the wrong way on one-way streets and do not allow you to travel on interstates. Exploring and viewing routes are discussed in more detail later.
• Destination: Activating this button sets the address you just looked up as your destination. You would do this only if you had already looked up another address and set it as your current position. Then you could explore from your current position and track your distance and direction to your destination as you explore.
• Create User POI: Activating this button creates a User Point of Interest at the address you just looked up. You might choose to do this with your home or school address so that you could locate it when you searched the database of Points of Interest. Points of Interest are discussed in more detail later.
• Send to Google Maps: Activating this button sends the location you have chosen to Google Maps. If you have an Internet connection, the Google Maps website will open, and the location will appear on screen. This allows persons with some useful vision to view the area in detail and to use other features of Google Maps.
• Add to Favorites: Activating this button adds the selected address to your list of Favorites. People usually include addresses that they use often in their Favorites List. After the Favorite is added, you are returned to the Action Dialog to make another selection, for example create a pedestrian route. This saves you from having to look up the address again. You can view your list of Favorites from the Location Menu or by pressing Control-1. The Favorites List provides direction and distance for each Favorite from your current location. Favorites are discussed in more detail later.
• Start Creating a Walking Route From Here: Activating this button allows you to create and save a route by using keyboard commands to virtually walk down streets and make turns at intersections. This feature will be discussed in more detail later.
• Cancel: Activating this button takes you back to the Primary Software Screen, canceling the Address Look-up.
• Address: the screen includes a read-only field listing the address that you located.
Finding and Using Points of Interest
There are more than 13 million commercial Points of Interest for the United States and Canada. You can also create your own Points of Interest, which then are handled like other commercial Points of Interest. The User Point of Interest file, which contains the POIs that you have created, is called User.PDB. It is automatically created in the folder in which your maps and commercial POIs are located.
After you have set your current position for the first time through the Address Lookup process described above, you can locate Points of Interest and set one of them as your current position or do other position-related actions with it. There are three ways to locate Points of Interest.
Find the Nearest Point of Interest
To find any Point of Interest, you must have already set your current position. After all, the software cannot search for POIs nearby if it does not know where you are. The software always searches for POIs starting at your current position, unless you tell it not to.
The Primary Software Screen always shows the nearest Point of Interest to your current position. You can tab to the Nearest POI Field to hear this position, or you can type the letter P to hear the nearest Point of Interest spoken without moving your cursor. Of course, this POI changes as you move around the map.
Find List of Nearest POIs Command, F
After you have selected a current position, pressing the F key from anywhere on the Primary Software Screen will bring up a list of Points of Interest near your current address. POIs on this list are from all POI categories and are ordered in the list from nearest to farthest from your position. By default, the software starts searching at your position and searches in all directions from you.
Scroll through the list of POIs by arrowing up or down. As you scroll through the POIs, you will receive additional information such as the name, the category and subcategory if it has one, the street the POI is on, the city the POI is in if the city is outside your current position, heading and distance to the POI from your current location, the side of the street the POI is on if known, the compass direction, and if the POI has media attached. For example, if you arrowed down to Burger Palace, you would hear: “Burger Palace, Restaurant, Main ST, Phoenix, 330 feet ahead, right side, west." This is a good way to quickly determine if this is the POI you are looking for without opening its details. If you are looking for Burger Palace, you can type the first letter, B, to go to the POIs that start with the letter B.
Select a POI by scrolling to or arrowing to it. After selecting it and hearing the information about it, you can press the Enter key or click the Next Button to take you to the POI Find Actions Screen, where you can tell the software how you want to use the POI you have selected. We Will discuss the POI Find Actions Screen later.
While on the POI List Screen, you can expand the search distance by pressing the Expand Search Button. Alternatively, you can expand the search by pressing Alt-E.
You can press the Print POIs Button on this screen to print the list of POIs on a printer; the standard Windows print dialog will appear. You must press the OK Button after selecting the printer, print range, and number of copies that you want in order to print the POI List and return to the POI List Screen. Screen reader users can locate the Print Button by shift-tabbing three times from the initial POI List or by tabbing 11 times from this point.
You can press the Copy to Clipboard Button to copy the list of POIs to the clipboard. You will receive the message that the material has been copied to the clipboard; you must press the OK Button to return to the POI List Screen. You can then open a file in word processing or braille translation software and use the standard Paste from Clipboard command to insert this list into a document. This feature allows you to create a text file of a POI list to be downloaded into a notetaker or portable reading device, and to create a braille file of a POI list to be embossed using braille translation software and a braille embosser. Screen reader users can locate the Copy to Clipboard Button by shift-tabbing twice from the initial POI List or by tabbing 12 times from this point.
Additional Details: The Find List of Nearest POIs Command, F
Most of the actions discussed in this section are performed more easily with the Find Specific POI command discussed later. Read this section only if you are interested in an in-depth understanding of how the Find List of Nearby POIs Command can be used.
This screen shows you the list of rules that were applied when selecting the Points of Interest. You can change any of these rules to get a different kind of selection. To do this, you must click or tab to and press Enter on the Search Button to find POIs nearby that fit the new criteria. We advise beginners to ignore these fields.
The search criteria used are visible on the screen and can be accessed audibly by tabbing through the following fields and buttons.
• Category: All. All categories are searched in order to locate all Points of Interest close to your current location. If you want to select a specific category so that only POIs from that category are shown, scroll or arrow through the list of categories and stop at the one you want.
• Subcategory: All. All subcategories are searched in order to locate all Points of Interest close to your current location. If you want to select a specific subcategory, you must first select a category other than "All" because no subcategories exist under the “All" category. Subcategories vary according to which category you pick. There is always a choice for "All" subcategories, which is shown by default.
• Search Field: The name of the POI is used as the Search Field by default. POIs are listed by their names in the POI List because usually people know the names of places that they wish to locate. However, if you knew an address of a location you wanted to visit but forgot its name, you could arrow to the Address Field and activate the Search Button. Then the POI List would include addresses of the POIs instead of names.
• Matching Text: This field is blank because the Find Nearby POIs looks for all Points of Interest in your area. If you typed in the name of a specific place and activated the Search Button, only POIs with the text that you typed would be shown in the list.
• Match Only If POI Starts With Above: This Checkbox is not checked for the Find Nearby POIs. If you had entered a specific POI name in the previous box, you might want to check this Checkbox so that the software would select only POIs with this word as the first word of their name. However, if you were not sure whether this word was the first word of the POI name, you would leave this Checkbox unchecked.
• Direction: By default, the Find Nearby POI command looks for POIs in all directions relative to your current position. If you wanted to know only about POIs in one direction, (for example north), you would enter that direction here and activate the Search Button. Then, only POIs that were north of your current position would be listed.
• Start Distance: This field specifies the distance from you at which the software will begin searching for POIs. By default, the software begins searching at your position, that is, the search distance is 0. If you wanted to start searching farther away from your current position, you could change the number in this field and activate the Search Button. You can only include numbers in this field. Numbers are used as measures of miles or meters, depending on whether the software is set to the imperial or metric system.
• Distance Searched: This field shows you how far from you the software searched for POIs. The distance searched depends on the density of POIs for the category chosen. If you are in an area that has thousands of POIs, the software will only search for a fairly short distance (e.g. 830 feet) when you press the F key. This prevents you from being overwhelmed by extremely long lists of POIs. If you are in a remote area without many POIs, the software might search a longer distance to find POIs.
• Expand Search Button: If you don't find the POI you are looking for in the initial list, or if you just want to know about Points of Interest that are farther away from you, activate the Expand Search Button. Each time you activate this button, the search distance will be expanded. The distance searched depends on the category chosen; it could search out a few hundred feet or a few hundred miles depending on how many POIs are in that category.
• Next: This button takes you to the POI Find Actions Screen, which is discussed next. This screen is like the Address Actions Screen; here, you will tell the software how to use the POI that you just located.
• Print POIs: This button takes you to the standard Windows Print Dialog, in which you can select the printer, page range, and number of copies you want; pressing OK prints the POI List and returns you to the POI List Screen.
• Copy to Clipboard: This button copies the POI List to the Windows clipboard; you can use the standard paste command to insert the list into a word processor document or a print file in braille translation software.
• Cancel: This button cancels the Find Nearby POI Dialog and brings you back to the Primary Software Screen.
The Find Specific POI(s) Command, Control-F
From the Primary Software Screen, press Control-F to find a specific Point of Interest. You may recognize this screen because it looks almost exactly like the screen you used to find a list of nearby POIs, but with a few differences. Tab between fields on this screen; some fields provide lists of choices, others require you to type in information, and others are buttons that cause things to happen.
The Easiest Way to Find a Specific POI
The easiest way to search for a Point of Interest on this screen is to press the Tab key three times and type in part or all of the POI name in the Matching Text Field. The software searches until it finds one POI with the text you typed in its name. If no POI is found within a distance determined by the software, the software displays the words "No POIs Found within X miles," (or X kilometers if units of measurement are set to metric) where X is the number of miles searched. Pressing Enter, clicking the OK Button (selected by default), or pressing the Escape key returns you to the Find Specific POI Screen with your search criteria still active. If you wish to expand the search, tab five times to the Expand Search Button and press Enter, or click this button with the mouse. You can also press Alt-E for Expand. The software then searches again for the POI using a broader area. You can continue expanding the area to be searched as long as you have maps installed that cover the region being searched.
The software finds POIs that are nearby very quickly. While looking for the POI, the software produces a chiming sound. This sound tells you that the software is still searching.
If you press Enter on this screen without typing in a POI name, you will obtain a list of POIs nearby, just as you did when you pressed the F key.
You can also easily change the way this screen searches for Points of Interest. In the next sections, we will look at the fields on this screen one at a time and show you how to change them to make searching quicker. You do not need to use the following information, but you might want to try it out.
Search by POI Category and Subcategory
Companies that collect electronic map and POI information separate the POIs into categories. If you know that you are searching for a restaurant, you might want to select the Restaurant Category. Of course, you could search the complete set of POIs by searching for “All” and still find your restaurant. However, if your restaurant was named Smith's, you might find a large list of POIs from all categories with the word Smith in their name (for example, Smith's Furniture, Smith's Dollar Store, and Smith's Hardware). So, sometimes it makes sense to search within a specific category.
After you press Control-F, the cursor is in the POI Category List. All categories are searched by default. You can arrow down through the list of POI categories and stop on the one you wish to search. You can also click on the category you wish to select. The system remembers what the last search category and subcategory were. If you press F in the mean time, the search categories will revert back to the default searching of All categories.
The software includes the following 19 POI categories:
• All: includes all POIs in all categories
• Alcohol Establishment: includes those POIs in which alcohol is sold or in which beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages are made
• Bank: includes all banks, automatic teller machines (ATMs), and currency exchanges (where money from one country is exchanged for an equal value of money from another country)
• Bonus: includes POIs obtained from another company
• City/Place: includes all cities or incorporated neighborhoods
• Emergency Service: includes police or sheriffs' departments and fire stations
• Fuel: includes gas stations and other fuel suppliers
• Government/Service: includes courthouses, government buildings, libraries, and post offices
• Hotel/Accommodation: includes apartments, bed and breakfasts, camping locations, condominiums, hotels, and motels
• Medical Service: includes dentists, doctors, emergency medical services, hospitals, optometrists and opticians, and veterinarians
• Park/Beach: includes fairgrounds, parks, and beaches
• Pedestrian: includes a series of locations of interest to pedestrians with visual impairments such as dog relief areas, talking traffic lights, talking signs, and rest rooms
• Place of Worship/Cemetery: includes churches, synagogues, mosques, and cemeteries
• Restaurant: includes restaurants of all kinds and specialties
• School: includes nursery schools, schools, colleges, and universities
• Shop/Service: includes stores and services of all kinds (for example, music stores, attorneys, and contractors)
• Sport: includes sports facilities of all kinds (for example, fitness clubs, skating rinks, sports centers, stadiums, and golf courses)
• Travel/Entertainment: includes a wide variety of travel and entertainment POIs (for example, airports, theaters, nightlife, and travel agents)
• User: includes those POIs that you, the software user, have created
Each of these categories has been further divided into subcategories. To see the subcategories for a selected category, tab once and arrow down through the list of subcategories. All Categories, the first item in the Category List, is selected by default. If “All” is announced or is visible in the Category Field, tab once to view the list of subcategories. You will notice that the only subcategory listed is All. This is true because, if you want to search through the complete set of POIs, it would defeat your purpose to divide them into subgroups.
Here is an example showing you the value of using categories and subcategories. Let us say that you want to go to a play, or that you just want to find out where to ask about current plays. From the Primary Software Screen, press Control-F. In the first field, arrow down to Travel/Entertainment. Tab to the Subcategory Field. There are 34 subcategories under Travel/Entertainment. Arrow down to Stage. Press Enter. The screen shows and the software speaks a list of theaters and other locations where plays are sometimes performed in your area. Using this search process for Louisville, Kentucky, 57 Points of Interest appear in the Results List.
You may find it helpful to explore the categories and subcategories. Familiarize yourself with them so that you can refine your searches more effectively.
The Search Field: Search for a POI using its Address, Phone Number, and More
So far, we have searched for Points of Interest by their names. But what if you remember the name of a street that your favorite restaurant is on, and you cannot remember the restaurant's name? Or what if you want to find all of the pharmacies in the 40206 zip code? The Search Field gives you the ability to search the POI List by using information about the POI other than its name. This feature is even more powerful when you combine it with the use of categories and subcategories. The Search Field appears on the screen just below the Subcategory List Box. Tab once from the Subcategory Field, or click the Search Field and then arrow through the list of search options. These options include the following:
• Address: the street number of the POI, not the street name; use this when you remember the address number, but not the street name, of the POI you are searching for. Most of the POIs provided by TomTom have street addresses listed in the database; you should be able to find just about any POI with the address you provide.
• Author: the company or person who created the POI; this is usually TomTom, but users also provide their own names for POIs that they create and save (to be discussed later).
• City: the city in which you want to search; you might search by city if you wanted to find a type of POI in the town bordering yours.
• Country: If you have maps loaded for the United States and Canada, you could specify either of these countries to be searched.
• Description: Search for a word in the description of the Point of Interest.
• E-mail: If you know the e-mail address of the POI you want to find, use this Search Field. Many POIs provided by TomTom do not have e-mail addresses in the database; so this is probably not the best way to search because you will only find a POI if its e-mail address is in the data.
• Fax: Search using the fax number.
• Hours of Operation: Hours of operation are not available for many of the TomTom POIs, so this is probably not the best way to search.
• POI Name: This search method is always chosen by default. If you want to search for a POI by its name, you can tab past or not click on the Search Field because POI Name will already be selected and visible.
• Media File: You can create a file with more information about a POI and attach it to the POI. The file can be a text file created on the computer and saved in notepad or another text editor, or it can be an MP3 file that you record in your own voice. If you select this search method, you will see a list of POIs that have media files attached. We tell you how to make and attach media files later.
• Phone: If you remember the phone number or even part of the phone number of a POI, but not its name, you can use this search method. You must use a hyphen between the area code and the number and between the first three digits of the number and the last four because this is how phone numbers are listed in the database. You do not need to use the area code. If you only know part of the number, you can search for POIs with that part of the number; just remember to use the hyphen appropriately. Most POIs in the database have phone numbers, so this can be a useful way to search.
• State/Province/Region: If you wish, you can use this to limit your search to a state of the United States or a province of Canada. This would be useful if you lived near the boundary between two states of the U.S. and wanted to search only in one state, or if you lived near the U.S.-Canada border and only wanted to search in one of the two countries.
• Street: This allows you to search by street name. If you wanted to find all of the clothing stores on New York City's 5th Avenue, you could use this search method. You could also search for all of the POIs on a given street. All POIs listed in the database have a street name recorded, so this is a helpful way to search.
• Tags: Some POIs have information contained in Tags in the database. Search by tag with this feature. This is very useful when users create their own POIs and add important details using the Tags Field that change depending on the type of POI created. For example, restaurants can have tags noting whether or not there is a braille menu; whereas tags for transit stops can note whether the stop is lighted or has a shelter.
• Website: If you know the website of a POI but not its name, you can search using this method. Most POIs do not have websites recorded in the database, so this is not a helpful search method.
• Zip/Postal Code: If you want to limit your search to a particular zip code, use this method. Most POIs have zip code information included, so this can be a useful way to search.
• Third Party ID: This number is used to report a problem with a POI to TomTom.
The Matching Text Field for Typing POI Information
As we said above, the software always expects you to search for a Point of Interest by its name, unless you have changed the feature to search for in the Text Field. Tab once from the Search Field and you will be in the Text Match Field, in which you type in the name of the POI that you are looking for. Remember, if you have selected another Search Field, you will enter information related to that Search Field. For instance, if you have arrowed or scrolled to the Address Field, you will type in all or part of the address number. If you have arrowed or scrolled to the Phone Field, you will type in all or part of the phone number, etc.
The Checkbox labeled “Match Only if POI Starts with Above Text” is not checked in the software by default. This means that the information you just entered in the Matching Text Field can occur anywhere in the POI information stored in that field. If you do not check this Checkbox, you can enter the middle part of a phone number or the second word of the POI name. If you do check this Checkbox, the information you enter must show up as the first letters or numbers listed for that POI in the database. Most of the time, it is best to leave this Checkbox unchecked. On the other hand, if you knew that you wanted to find Johnson's Restaurant, and you know that there was also a Fred Johnson's Restaurant in the same area, you might want to check this Checkbox.
The Direction and Distance of the Search
If you know the direction of the POI in which to search (e.g., you want to find the Kroger supermarket that is north of your position but not the one that is south of you), tab once from the Matching Text Field and arrow through the direction choices: North, East, South, and West. Usually, you will want to search in all directions. Searching in all directions is selected by default. You will probably find that you do not need to change this setting very often.
Tab once from the Direction pull-down to find the Starting Distance Field. If you do not type in this field, the software will begin searching for a POI at your current location and continue to search gradually farther and farther from you. However, if you live in Tucson, Arizona, and want to find a Burger King in Phoenix, you could do so by searching for Burger King in the Text Input Field and setting your starting search distance to 100 miles.
The Remaining Controls on the Find Specific POI Screen
There are four more fields and buttons on the Find Specific POI Screen.
• Distance Searched: This field is filled in by the software after you have activated the Start Search Button. It tells you how far the software searched in either miles or meters, depending on whether you have distance units set to imperial or metric. Imperial is set by default, so the distance will be written in miles unless you change it in the General Options of the Settings Menu.
• Start Search Button: After you have entered your search terms, pressing Enter in any of the fields or pull-downs will activate the Start Search Button. You can also tab to this button and press Enter.
• Cancel Button: To cancel the search and return to the Primary Software Screen, tab to the Cancel Button, and press Enter. You can also cancel the search and return to the Primary Software Screen by pressing the Escape key.
• POIs Field: Tab once after the Cancel Button and you will see the POIs Field. This is where the software lists the POIs from your search. When you have entered your search terms and pressed Enter, your screen reader will begin reading the POIs that were found.
When the Software Finds the POI
Note that fields on the screen change after you press the Enter key or the Search Button on this screen. The software lists the POI or POIs that have been found as noted above. The Expand Search Button, Print POIs Button, and Copy to Clipboard Button are added. Pressing the Expand Search Button expands the distance to be searched for the POI; you can also expand the search by pressing Alt-E. As noted when discussing the List of Nearest POIs, the Print Button brings up the Windows standard Print Dialog in which you select font style and size and the printer you wish to use. Pressing the Copy to Clipboard Button copies the POI(s) you have found to the clipboard from which you can paste it into word processing or braille translation software and print or emboss it. You can also paste it into a text editor such as Notepad and download it into a notetaker or portable reading device.
If no POI is found, the software informs you that no POI was found within the distance searched and asks if you want to expand the search distance. You can press Enter or click a Yes or No Button to answer this query.
What to Do With POIs That You Found: The POI Action Dialog Box
After you have found the list of nearby POIs with the F command or have found a specific POI or list of POIs with the Control-F command, select the POI that you want to use by arrowing or scrolling to it in the POI List. If you have searched for and found only one POI, it is selected by default. Press the Enter key or click the Next Button in order to go to the POI Action Dialog.
The POI Action Dialog helps you determine your next action once you have located a POI. You will recognize many aspects of this Dialog because you have already seen them in the Address Action Dialog described previously. With the POI Action Dialog, you can set the POI as one of the following: your current location, a Favorite, or a destination. You can also create routes to or from that POI. Here is a list of buttons in this Dialog and the actions they produce when pressed. You can press Alt with the first letter of the button you wish to activate, or press Tab to move through the buttons and then press Enter or Space on the desired item.
• Current Position: Activating this button sets the POI you just found as your current position on the map.
• Create Vehicle Route: Activating this button creates a vehicle route from your current position to the POI. As with pedestrian routes discussed above, you must already have set another POI or address as your current position in order to use this feature. Vehicle routes use interstate highways and allow only correct directional movement on one-way streets. Exploring and viewing routes is discussed in more detail later.
• Create Pedestrian Route: Activating this button creates a pedestrian route from your current position to the POI you just located. You would use this feature only if you had already looked up an address or POI and set it as your current position. You could then explore the pedestrian route by turn or by smaller segments from the keyboard. Pedestrian routes allow you to walk the wrong way on one-way streets and do not allow you to travel on interstates. Exploring and viewing routes is discussed in more detail later.
• Destination: Activating this button sets the POI you just found as your destination. You would do this only if you had already looked up another POI or address and set it as your current position. Then you could explore from your current position and track your distance and direction to your destination as you explored.
• Show/Edit Details: Activating this button produces a new Dialog including a list of all the information about this POI stored in the database. You can arrow or scroll through the list of information or press the first letter of the field that you want to read. You will recognize these fields from the POI Search Screen. The Phone Number, available for most POIs, may be of particular use. When in the list of POI Details, press P and you will hear and see the phone number. You can tab to a Print and a Copy to Clipboard Button, which, as noted for other POI lists, allows you to print the POI details or to copy them to the clipboard from which you can paste them into a document in a word processor, text editor, or braille translation software. You can also tab to an Edit Button and a Delete This POI Button. We will learn more about these buttons below.
• Send to Google Maps: Activating this button sends the POI location to Google Maps. If you have an Internet connection, the Google Maps website will open, and the location will appear on screen. This allows persons with some useful vision to view the area in detail and to use other features of Google Maps.
• Add to Favorites: Activating this button adds the selected POI to your list of Favorites. People usually include addresses that they use often in their Favorites List. After the Favorite is added, you are returned to the Action Dialog to make another selection, for example create a pedestrian route. This saves you from having to look up the POI again. You can view your list of Favorites from the Location Menu or by pressing Control-1. The Favorites List provides direction and distance for each Favorite from your current location. Favorites are discussed more fully later.
• Start Creating a Walking Route From Here: Activating this button allows you to create and save a route by using keyboard commands to virtually walk down streets and make turns at intersections. This feature will be discussed in more detail later.
• Back: activating this button takes you back to the list of POIs you located.
• Cancel: Activating this button cancels the POI Search and takes you back to the Primary Software Screen.
The POI Details Screen
Activating the Show/Edit Details Button in the POI Actions Dialog brings you to the POI Details Screen. This screen provides a list of all possible categories of information about the POI. The Edit POI Button allows you to edit any of the types of information about the POI stored in the database. This is a very powerful tool and should be used very carefully. Students should check with their teachers or orientation and mobility instructors before changing material in the database about a POI. You might need to change material if the phone number of the POI has changed, if the POI has gone out of business and a new POI is in its place, or if you want to add information about the POI (such as hours of operation) that is not listed in the database, even though there is a field in which to list it. You cannot add new fields to the database; you can only include information in fields that are already present.
To edit POI information, arrow to the category of information that you want to edit, then tab to and activate the Edit Button. Change existing information or add new information in the Edit Field. Tabbing to and activating the OK Button saves your changes and returns you to the POI Details Screen. Tabbing to and activating the Cancel Button does not save your changes and returns you to the POI Details Screen.
To delete the POI and all categories of information about it from the database, tab to and activate the Delete POI Button on the POI Details Screen. You will be asked if you are sure you want to delete this POI. Activating the Yes Button deletes the POI from the database and returns you to the Primary Software Screen. Activating the No Button or pressing the Escape key does not delete the POI and returns you to the POI Details Screen. Again, this is a very powerful tool and should be used by students only after consulting a teacher or orientation and mobility instructor.
Note that any changes to these fields will be overwritten when map and POI data updates are installed; it is anticipated that such updates will be released each year.
Additional Details: Creating User POI Files
There are three ways that you can create your own POIs while using the Maps software.
• Look up an address with alt-s, then activate the Create User POI Button in the Address Actions dialog.
• Obtain a Lat/Lon, set it using control-Y, enter its name, and activate the Next Button. Activate the Create User POI Button. You might obtain a Lat/Lon from an Internet site or from a GPS system.
• Explore to a particular position, press control-D to bring up the Primary Software Screen Actions Dialog, and activate the Create User POI
Button.
When you activate the Create User POI Button in any of the three ways just noted, the User POI Details Screen is presented. Tab between the following fields on this screen.
• Name: This is the name of your POI. If a name is provided, you can delete it and provide a name of your own.
• Description: This is a short description of your POI.
• Category: This is a tree view of all available categories and subcategories. By default, the category is set to User Private. This means that you do not ever want to share this POI with other users of APH Talking PC Maps and users of other Sendero products. You would want to keep the POI for your home or homes of others in this category. You can assign a category to your POI by arrowing up to the category you want. Then right arrow to expand the category, and browse through the available subcategories. Press left arrow to close the subcategories. For example, scroll to the restaurant category and press right arrow. The next time you press down arrow you will be viewing the subcategories of the restaurant category. Pressing left arrow will close the restaurant subcategory and will assign the subcategory that your cursor was on before you pressed left arrow. If you changed the category from anything other than User Private, you will be asked before the POI is saved whether you would like to make the POI public so you can submit it to the public Sendero database for others to enjoy. Submitting POIs is completely optional.
• Phone: You can type the phone number here if it is available.
• Address: Street address number can go here. By default the current position is automatically filled in for you.
• Street: You can type in the street name here. By default, the current street name is automatically filled in for you.
• City: By default, the current city is filled in for you.
• State/Province/Region: By default, the current information is filled in for you.
• Zip/Postal Code: Type in the zip/postal code. By default, the current zip/postal code is filled in for you.
• Country: The current country if known is filled in for you.
• Hours of Operation: If you know the hours of operation, feel free to type them in here.
• Web Site: If the POI has a web site, feel free to type the web site here.
• Add Tags: Press this button to add additional tags to the POI such as Wi-Fi free. Another dialog box opens where you can select from a list of predefined tags.
• Add Media: Pressing this button allows you to add additional media to the POI such as an audio or text file. When submitting POIs with media, it is your responsibility to make sure you own the copyright. If you record your voice, a church bell, or other outside sounds that is okay.
• Save: Activating this button saves the POI and returns you to the Primary Software Screen.
• Cancel: Activating this button cancels the User POI Details Screen, and your user POI is not saved.
Note that the Find My POIs item in the Location Menu brings up a list of all of the user POIs that you have created. From the Primary Software Screen, type Alt-L, then M to bring up a list of user-created POIs. Pressing Enter on one of these POIs brings up the familiar User POI Details Screen. You can also bring up the list of User POIs by pressing Control-M from the Primary Software Screen.
Additional Details: Sharing User POI Files
Points of Interest created by individuals using the methods described above are stored in a file called User.pdb. User.pdb files can be shared between users. Simply copy or attach the POI file from the maps folder and send it to another user. Only one User POI file can be active at a time as APH Talking PC Maps is looking for a file called User.pdb. If you swap your User POI file with another user or vice-versa, you should rename and back up any shared POI file you wish to save so as to not accidentally overwrite your User.pdb file with another one.
Additional Details: Using Media with POI Files
This section discusses attaching additional media content to Points of Interest and playing the media after it is attached. There may be times when you would like to record a sound to be associated with a POI name. You may also want to associate a text file with a POI (for example, a text menu for your favorite restaurant). When you add media to a POI, the software launches an external application such as Windows Media Player for audio and Notepad for text files. You can only have one media file attached to a POI. If you attach a different media file, your existing one will be replaced.
Follow these steps to attach media to a POI:
• Use any of the previously discussed methods for finding POIs.
• Press Enter on the POI of interest. This takes you to the POI Action Dialog.
• In the POI Action Dialog, tab to the Show/Edit Details Button and press Enter. Alternatively, press Alt-S.
• On the POI Details Screen, arrow or scroll to the Media option or press M to move to the Media option quickly. Tab to and activate the Edit Item Button.
• A Windows standard File Open Dialog Box appears. Navigate to the file you wish to add to the POI.
• A file can be either an existing audio file or a text file. You are unable to attach Word documents.
• Once the media file is attached, press Tab to the Save and Exit Button and press Enter to return to the Primary Software Screen.
In order to view the media content you have attached to a POI, do the following:
• Search for the POI using any of the previously discussed methods.
• In the list of POIs, press Enter to bring up the POI Action Dialog.
• Press Tab to move to the View/Play Media Button or press Alt-M. Pressing Enter on this button launches the default program, for example Windows Media Player for audio files and Notepad for text documents. Use your standard reading commands to view the text of the document. When finished with the media file, close the program by pressing Alt-F4.
In addition to attaching and viewing media, the software allows several actions to be taken regarding the media attached to a POI. The following three actions can be performed on media content; these actions are performed through the POI Media Action Dialog. Follow these steps to view this Dialog.
• Search for the POI.
• Select the POI, and press Enter for the POI Actions Dialog. Tab to and activate the Show/Edit Details Button. This brings you to the POI Details Screen.
• Arrow or scroll to the Media option, or press M. Tab to the Edit Item Button, and press Enter. Note the name of the media file is displayed for example POI7.wab.
From the POI Media Action Dialog, you can do the following:
• Playback: Pressing Enter on this button allows you to view the attached content as discussed in the previous section.
• Delete Media File: Pressing Enter on this button removes the additional media file.
• Replace Media File: Pressing Enter on this button prompts to attach an existing file as previously discussed.
Using Latitude/Longitude (Lat/Lon)
You can use this software well without ever dealing with latitude and longitude information. We provide the explanation in this section because working with latitude/longitude (abbreviated Lat/Lon) information can be very powerful for those who wish to use it.
Basic Information
Geographers have divided the earth into areas defined by latitude/longitude. In fact, every point on the earth can be identified by its Lat/Lon.
Latitudes are imaginary horizontal lines drawn on maps and globes that run from east to west. Latitude lines are all equidistant from one another. Latitude is measured by its distance in degrees from the equator, which is considered to be zero degrees. The North Pole is at 90 degrees north, and the South Pole is at 90 degrees south.
Longitudes are imaginary vertical lines drawn on maps and globes that run north-south on maps or globes. These lines are also called meridians. They all meet at the north and south poles, and are farthest apart at the equator. Longitudes are measured by their distance in degrees east or west of two agreed-upon points on the earth's surface. East longitudes are east of the Prime Meridian in Greenwich, England, and west of the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean. West longitudes are west of Greenwich England and east of the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean.
A complete explanation of latitudes and longitudes can be found in geography and social studies books or on the Internet. When using this software, you need to know only that every point on the earth can be identified by its unique Lat/Lon measurements.
Finding and Changing Lat/Lon
You can find the Lat/Lon for the current location (and you can change the Lat/Lon to a new location if needed) by pressing Control-Y from the Primary Software Screen. A Dialog Box is displayed with three Edit Boxes and two Buttons. Tab between all controls in this Dialog. Controls include the following:
• Latitude: This field displays the latitude of your current position; you can delete information in this field and type in the latitude for a new position.
• Longitude: This field displays the longitude of your current position; you can delete information in this field and type in the longitude for a new position.
• Name: You can type a name for the currently shown latitude and longitude in this field.
• Copy to Clipboard: Tabbing to this button and activating it copies the current Lat/Lon to the Windows clipboard. You can paste this information into other programs.
• Next: To use this button, you must first name the Lat/Lon position by typing a name in the Name Edit Box. After you have typed one character in the Name Box, the Next Button is selected by default. You can tab once to it and press Enter, or you can press Enter in the Name Edit Box. Activating the Next Button brings you to the Lat/Lon Action Dialog, where you tell the software what you want to do with the new Lat/Lon position.
• Cancel: Tabbing to and activating the Cancel Button takes you back to the Primary Software Screen without changing the latitude or longitude. Pressing the Escape key does the same thing.
If you want to locate and use a position that you cannot find as an address or as a POI, you can look up the latitude and longitude of that position and type it into the Latitude and Longitude Fields in this Dialog. Finding Lat/Lon positions on the Internet is fairly easy to do. Using a search engine like Google, type in the name of the location and either "latitude" or "longitude," and you should get the information in the first two or three hits. Latitude and longitude information might also be available at websites such as .
Additional Details: How to Enter a New Lat/Lon
Feel free to skip this section; it will be of interest and use only to those who wish to deal extensively with latitude/longitude as means to change the current map position.
There are three ways to enter Lat/Lon information into the software. Coordinates for the city of San Francisco are used in the following examples.
• Degrees, Minutes, Decimal Seconds
o Latitude: Enter the two digits for the degrees, for example, 37 followed by Space. Then enter latitude minutes, for example, 46 followed by Space. Then enter latitude seconds, for example, 30.7 followed by Space. Press N for North or S for South, N in this example. Then press Tab to move to the Longitude Field.
o Longitude: Enter longitude degrees, for example, 122 followed by Space. Enter longitude minutes, for example, 25 followed by Space. Enter longitude seconds, for example, 5.15 followed by Space. Press W for West or E for East, W in this example.
o Do not enter a minus sign before any of the Lat/Lon values as this is determined when pressing S for South or W for West.
• Degrees, Decimal Minutes (you will not need to enter seconds)
o Latitude: Enter the two digits for the degrees, for example, 37 followed by Space. Enter latitude minutes, for example, 46.512 followed by Space. Press N for North or S for South, N in this example. Then press Tab.
o Longitude: Type degrees, for example, 122 followed by Space. Enter longitude minutes, for example, 26.286 followed by Space. Press W for West or E for East, W, in this example. Then press Tab.
o Do not enter a minus sign before any of the Lat/Lon values as this is determined when pressing S for South or W for West.
• Decimal Degrees (Enter a complete string for the latitude and longitude in the corresponding field if you have the full decimal value of the string).
o Latitude: Enter the full string, for example, 37.7751997
o Longitude: Enter -122.4180997
o Be sure to enter the - sign when appropriate. The - sign is used for South and also for West.
The Lat/Lon Action Dialog
After you have named the Lat/Lon position, tab to and activate the Next Button. The Lat/Lon Dialog includes the same buttons found in the Address Action Dialog. Tab between these buttons and press Enter or Space to activate them.
• Current Position: If you have set a new Lat/Lon, it becomes your current position on the map when you activate this button.
• Create Vehicle Route: If you have already established a current position, activating this button creates a vehicle route from your current position to this Lat/Lon position.
• Create Pedestrian Route: If you have already established a current position, activating this button creates a pedestrian route from your current position to this Lat/Lon position.
• Destination: Activating this button sets the Lat/Lon position as your destination. When you explore the map starting at your current position, you can find out the distance and direction to your destination with a keystroke or set destination notification to automatic.
• Create User POI: Activating this button brings you to the POI Details Screen, showing the name you have given to the Lat/Lon in the Name Field. Most of the other POI data fields are empty. Tab to the Edit Item Button (where you can provide or change information for the field you have selected). Tab again to the Save and Exit Button; pressing Enter saves the new POI and exits back to the Primary Software Screen. Tab again to the Delete This POI Button; pressing Enter on this button deletes the POI you have made. Tab again to the Back Button, which takes you back to the Primary Software Screen without making any changes. Tab again to the Cancel Button, which also takes you back to the Primary Software Screen without making changes. Pressing the Escape key does the same thing.
• Send to Google Maps: Activating this button sends the Lat/Lon to Google Maps. If you have an Internet connection, the Google Maps website will open, and the location will appear on screen. This allows persons with some useful vision to view the area in detail and to use other features of Google Maps.
• Add to Favorites: Activating this button adds the Lat/Lon position with the name you have given it to your Favorites. The software shows the message: Location successfully added to Favorites. Press Enter, which activates the OK Button, to return to the Primary Software Screen.
• Start Creating a Walking Route From Here: Activating this button allows you to create and save a route by using keyboard commands to virtually walk down streets and make turns at intersections. This feature will be discussed in more detail later.
• Cancel: Activating this button or pressing the Escape key returns you to the Primary Software Screen with no changes.
Finding and Using the History List
The History List
The History List is a list of your 25 most recently used locations. The software keeps track of these locations, and you can access them by using the History item in the Location Menu or by pressing Control-H from the Primary Software Screen. Each time you use an address, POI, Lat/Lon, or Favorite as your current position or when you set them as a destination, these locations are automatically added to the History List. The list drops older locations as you set new ones.
When you are in the History List, you will be placed on the most recently added item. Press up or down Arrow to scroll up and down the list. You can also press the first letter of the location name in order to jump to it. Press Enter on the desired item to bring up the Action Dialog. With the History Action Dialog, you can set a History location as your current position, POI, destination, or Favorite. You can also create routes from your current location to any location in the History List. We discuss routes later.
The History List is very convenient when you want to use a recent location. The list saves you the time and effort of looking up an address, finding a POI, or entering a Lat/Lon and then setting the current position. The location is already provided; all you have to do is arrow to the location that you want or jump to it by typing its first letter, press Enter, and tab to or click on the action that you want to take.
The History Action Dialog
After you click or press Enter on an item in the History List, you are moved to the History Action Dialog, which contains the following familiar items. Tab to and press Enter on the action that you want to take.
• Current Position: This sets this location as your current position on the map.
• Create Vehicle Route: This creates a vehicle route from your current location to the location from the History List.
• Create Pedestrian Route: This creates a pedestrian route from your current location to the location from the History List.
• Destination: This sets the location from the History List as your destination.
• Create User POI: This creates a Point of Interest for this current location. You will be taken to the POI Details Dialog, in which you can name the POI (if you want to call it something different than its address from the History List); edit the POI (providing category, subcategory, etc.); delete this POI; save this POI and exit back to the Primary Software Screen; or go back to the Primary Software Screen without saving the POI.
• Send to Google Maps: This sends the location you have chosen from your History List to Google Maps. If you have an Internet connection, the Google Maps website will open, and the location will appear on screen. This allows persons with some useful vision to view the area in detail and to use other features of Google Maps.
• Add to Favorites: This adds the selected History location to your Favorites List.
• Start Creating a Walking Route From Here: This allows you to create and save a route by using keyboard commands to virtually walk down streets and make turns at intersections. This feature will be discussed in more detail later.
• Back: this takes you back to the History List.
• Cancel: this takes you back to the Primary Software Screen.
Creating, Finding, and Using Favorites
What Are Favorites
The Favorites List is a list of locations that you may want to use at a later time. Unlike the History List discussed in the previous section, you are not limited to the number of locations you can add, and the software does not add locations automatically. People usually add places to their Favorites List to which they travel frequently. Examples might be school, home, work, church, mosque, synagogue, friends' houses, etc.
Creating Favorites
The types of locations that can be added to the Favorites List include your current position, Points of Interest, addresses that have been searched for and located, and Lat/Lon entries. You can also view and edit Favorite Details and remove the Favorite from the list.
You can create a Favorite in any of the following ways:
• Use an Address: Look up an address using the Alt-S key. In the Address Lookup Actions Dialog, tab to the Add to Favorites Button, press Enter, and the software will indicate that the Favorite was successfully added. Instead of tabbing to the Favorites Button and pressing Enter, you can press Alt-A to add the location to your Favorites. You will receive confirmation that the location has been added to your Favorites no matter which method you use. After the Favorite has been added, press Enter or activate the OK Button to return to the Address Actions Dialog. The software returns you to this Dialog so that you can use this location in some other way, such as making it your destination or your current location. Activate the Cancel Button or press the Escape key to return to the Primary Software Screen.
• Use a POI: To add a POI as a Favorite, search for the POI by using any of the POI search methods previously discussed. In the POI Search Results List, arrow or scroll to the POI that you want to add, and press Enter. In the POI Action Dialog that automatically appears, tab to Add to Favorites and press Enter, or press Alt-A. A message is displayed confirming that the Point of Interest was successfully added to the Favorites List. Press Enter or activate the OK Button to dismiss the Dialog. After the POI is added, you are returned to the POI List, in case you want to use this POI in another way.
• Use Current Position: From the Primary Software Screen, press Control-D to bring up the Actions Dialog. This Dialog contains actions that you can take on the information on the Primary Software Screen. Press Alt-A, or tab to the Add to Favorites Button and press Enter. The software confirms that the current position has been added successfully to the Favorites List. Press Enter to be returned to the Primary Software Screen. Activate the Cancel Button or press Escape to return to the Primary Software Screen before you have added the current position to your Favorites.
• Use Lat/Lon: Press Control-Y from the Primary Software Screen to bring up the Lat/Lon Dialog. Type the latitude and longitude of your new position into the appropriate fields, type a name in the Name Field, and press Enter or activate the Next Button. In the Lat/Lon Actions Dialog, press Alt-A, or tab to the Add to Favorites Button and press Enter. The software acknowledges that the position has been added to your Favorites. Press Enter or activate the OK Button to be returned to the Primary Software Screen.
You can view your list of Favorites from the Favorites item in the Location Menu, or by pressing Control-1 from the Primary Software Screen. Arrow through the list and press Enter or click on the Favorite that you want to use.
The Favorites Action Dialog
When you click or press Enter on a Favorite, the Favorites Action Dialog will appear. You will recognize the following Action Buttons in this Dialog.
• Current Position: This sets this Favorite as your current position on the map.
• Create Vehicle Route: This creates a vehicle route from your current position ending at this Favorite.
• Create Pedestrian Route: This creates a pedestrian route from your current position ending at this Favorite.
• Destination: this selects this Favorite as your destination.
• Send to Google Maps: this sends this Favorite to Google Maps. If you have an Internet connection, the Google Maps website will open, and the location will appear on screen. This allows persons with some useful vision to view the area in detail and to use other features of Google Maps.
• Start Creating a Walking Route From Here: This allows you to create and save a route by using keyboard commands to virtually walk down streets and make turns at intersections. This feature will be discussed in more detail later.
• Show/Edit Details: Activating this button brings you to a screen showing the same Details Fields that you found on the POI Details Screen. Activating the Edit Button allows you to enter information such as the address, phone number, category, and subcategory for this Favorite. Press Enter or click OK after entering details to return to the Favorite Details Screen on which you can arrow through the list of details about this Favorite. You can also tab to the Button labeled Delete this Favorite; press Enter or activate this button to delete the Favorite from your Favorites List.
• Back: This returns you to the Favorites List.
• Cancel: this brings you back to the Primary Software Screen
The Primary Software Screen Actions Dialog
Pressing Control-D from the Primary Software Screen brings up the Actions Dialog for the Primary Software Screen. Here, you can set your current position as a Favorite, POI, or destination and annotate it. You can also send the nearest intersection to Google Maps or create a walking route from this intersection. Tab between the buttons and press the Enter key to activate them. This Dialog includes the following buttons:
• Annotate Intersection: After pressing this button, you can provide information that describes the nearest intersection; this information will be available whenever you move to that intersection on the map. Annotating intersections is discussed in more detail below.
• Destination Button: Activating this button makes your current location also your destination. You might do this if, for example, you wanted to create a route from another location to your current location. After making your current location your destination, you could establish another current location and create a route between your new current location and your destination. We discuss routes and how to create them in more detail later.
• Create User POI: When activated, this button brings up the Create a User POI Dialog discussed above. Here you can easily make your current location into a User POI.
• Send to Google Maps: sends the current location to Google Maps. If you have an Internet connection, the Google Maps website will open, and the location will appear on screen. This allows persons with some useful vision to view the area in detail and to use other features of Google Maps.
• Add to Favorites: When activated, this button brings up the Add to Favorites Dialog discussed previously. Here you can easily make the current location into a Favorite.
• Start Creating a Walking Route From Here: allows you to create and save a route by using keyboard commands to virtually walk down streets and make turns at intersections. This feature will be discussed in more detail later.
• Cancel: Activating this button brings you back to the Primary Software Screen with no actions taken.
Intersections and Intersection Annotation
You can learn about intersections from the following two fields on the Primary Software Screen.
• Nearest Intersection: This tells you the name of the intersecting street that is closest to your current map location.
• Detailed Intersection: This tells you the number of streets involved in the nearest intersection (for example, four-way, five-way, three-way,); the direction you are heading; the name of the street on which you are traveling; the name of the intersecting street nearest your current location; and its direction relative to your line of travel (left and right, left, right, etc). Note that if you have another type of directional indication set, you may receive this information in clock-face directions, compass degrees, or a combination of these modalities.
The Primary Software Screen Actions Dialog just discussed offers the option to annotate the nearest intersection. You can annotate an intersection with a written annotation that will appear at the end of the Detailed Intersection Field on the Primary Software Screen. You can also attach a text, wav, or mp3 file to the annotation to provide additional information. You might, for example, want to annotate an intersection, indicating that it has an accessible pedestrian signal or a wide median. An orientation and mobility specialist can travel to a complex intersection, observe the sequences and types of phases throughout the traffic control cycle, and then record as much detail as he/she wishes about this intersection using a digital recorder. The instructor can then save the recording as an MP3 file on the computer and can attach it to the particular intersection as an annotation. Any student using the maps software on the computer to which the annotation has been saved can then review this recording by locating the recording on the annotations list. You can also attach a text file written on the computer to an intersection annotation and access it from the intersection annotations list.
To annotate an intersection, activate the Location Menu, (Alt-L), Annotate Current Intersection item. You can also press Control-D from the Primary Software Screen and activate the Annotate Intersection Button. If you have not yet provided an author name, the software will ask you for an author name for the annotations; provide this and press the OK Button. The cursor will then be in the Name Field. Type the information for your annotation in the Name Field.
After entering annotation information and pressing OK, you will be in a list of Annotation Details. These annotation details are similar to details listed for POIs and include the following:
• Annotation Name: This is the information you wrote about the intersection that shows up in the Detailed Intersection Field on the Primary Software Screen.
• Category: The category is usually listed as pedestrian because this is information that pedestrians provide.
• Sub-category: This is listed as Intersection.
• Address: This is an address number near the annotated intersection.
• Street name: This is one of the streets in the annotated intersection.
• City: This is the name of the city involved.
• State/Province/Region: This lists the name of the state, province, or region involved.
• Country: This is the name of the country involved.
• Zip/Postal Code: This shows the zip or postal code of the annotated intersection.
• Tags: This shows tag information for the annotated intersection.
• Media File: This shows the name of the sound file (mp3 or wav) that has been attached to the annotation. If no file has been attached, this item is blank.
• Author: This shows the name of the author of the intersection annotation.
• Date modified: This shows the date the annotation was modified.
• File: If you have attached a text file to thee annotation, its name will appear here. If you have not done so, the field will be blank.
• Latitude: This shows the latitude of the annotated intersection.
• Longitude: This shows the longitude of the annotated intersection.
Scroll or Arrow to any detail that you want to use. Then tab through the following action buttons and activate the button for the action that you wish to take.
• Edit Item: This allows you to edit the content of the information field you have selected. If you have selected Media File, the Edit Button allows you to browse to the text, mp3, or wav file that you wish to attach to the intersection annotation.
• Save and Exit: This saves your intersection annotation; the annotation will be spoken whenever you read the Detailed Intersection Field on the Primary Software Screen.
• Delete This Annotation: This deletes the annotation.
• Copy to Clipboard: This copies all annotation details to the clipboard so that they can b pasted into another program.
• Print: This prints all annotation details.
• Back: This takes you back to the Primary Software Screen and keeps the intersection annotation.
• Exit: This takes you back to the Primary Software Screen and does not save the intersection annotation.
Exploring Streets and Points of Interest From Your Current Position
Exploring Streets
One major strength of this software is that it allows you to explore streets and learn their layout. Now let us learn how to get the most information when you explore.
Exploration Keystrokes
The software uses a set of four keys to make forward, left, right, and backward moves. The keys used to make exploration moves are as follows:
• Forward: I
• Left: J
• Right: L
• Back: K (You can only explore backward one move; if you press the K key twice in a row, you will receive the message, "Unable to Explore Backward.")
• Cross Street (When Enable Side-of-Street Tracking is turned on in the Tools Menu, General Options discussed later): U
To position your hand on the keyboard to navigate the maps, let your first, second, and third fingers of your right hand rest naturally on the home row (third or ring finger on the L key, second finger on the K key, and index or pointer finger on the J key). To turn left, press J, the left-most key when your fingers rest this way. To turn right, press L, the right-most key when your fingers rest this way. To move forward by one block, reach forward with your second finger and press the I key, or keep it on the home row and press the K key to go back one move.
How Directions Are Described
Directions provided as you explore can be given in several ways. You can select the way that works best for you by activating the Tools Menu, General Options, Heading Orientation item. Arrow up or down through the options and press Enter on the one you choose. You can receive heading directions in any of the following ways:
• Clock Face: Here, assume that you stand at the center of a clock. Straight ahead is 12:00, directly behind you is 6:00, directly to your left is 9:00, and directly to your right is 3:00. Note that 11:00 is ahead and slightly to the left, 2:00 is ahead and to the right, and 7:00 is behind you and to the left. The street you are walking along, if it is not curving, runs from 12:00 to 6:00, and a street that intersects degree angles runs from 9:00 to 3:00. The clock face descriptions are both accurate and easy to understand. You can get the picture of the shape of an intersection because the clock face directions tell you which way the street angles. For example, if a street intersects the parallel street at angles other than 90 degrees, it might be described as being at 8:00 and 2:00.
• Ahead, Behind, Left, or Right: In this mode, the parallel street which you are exploring runs ahead and behind you. The intersecting, perpendicular street runs left and right. If a street you are exploring curves, it might be described as ahead and right and behind. If an intersecting street does not cross the street you are exploring at approximately 90 degree angles, the software might describe it as left and ahead and right and behind.
• Clock Face plus Ahead, Behind, Left, or Right: When this option is selected, directions will be given in both sets of terms. If you find it easier to think of left, right, ahead, and behind, but you also want the precision of clock face terms, you might prefer this option.
• Left or Right plus Compass Degrees: Here, directions are given in terms of whether the street intersects with your street on your left or right, and compass degrees are also given. Persons comfortable with compass navigation may prefer this setting. For example, if a street intersects your street on your left, the software will announce, "left 270 degrees."
The Meaning of Left and Right Turns
You can turn left or right with the J and L keys only when you have just set an address as your current position or when you are at an intersection.
Any turn you make is just a turn and does not include forward or backward movement. You can actually turn in a full circle at an intersection without ever moving forward. When you turn left at an intersection, the software turns you to the left until you are positioned to walk down an intersecting street. Similarly, if you turn right at an intersection, the software turns you to the right until you are positioned to walk down an intersecting street.
This is what happens at a four-way, +-shaped intersection. If you are walking north on 5th Street and come to Main Street running perpendicular to you (going to your right and left), the J key turns you left so that you are now facing west on Main Street. However, you have not taken a step forward in the westward direction. If you turned left again, with the J key, you would be facing south heading back along 5th. If you turned left again, you would be heading east on Main Street, facing 5th. One more turn left with the J key would take you to your original position facing north on 5th with Main perpendicular to you.
This is what happens at a three-way intersection. Using the 5th and Main example, let us change the layout. Now you are walking north on 5th, but Main runs only to the east of 5th; Main does not come through to the west side of 5th. If you turn right, east, you are positioned to cross 5th Street and walk east down Main. If you turn right again, you are positioned to walk south on 5th. But if you turn right again until you can walk along a street, you must turn 180 degrees to face north where you will walk north along 5th. This is so because Main does not come through to the west side of 5th. There is simply no Main Street to turn west onto.
Exploring in Map Mode
By default, the software presents maps as if you were moving down the middle of a street and does not keep track of the side of the street on which you might actually walk. Let us make sure an important option is set correctly before we begin. Press Alt-T to pull down the Tools Menu, arrow down to the Options item, and activate it by pressing the Enter key. Tab four times to the Enable Side-of-Street Tracking Checkbox. If this item is checked, uncheck it by pressing the Spacebar. If it is not checked, press the Enter or the Escape key to return to the Primary Software Screen. By default, this Checkbox is not checked.
When this Checkbox is not checked, picture yourself looking down at a map made up of lines for streets or tracing a raised-line map with your fingers. It is as if you are flying above the middle of the streets, not thinking about the side of the street on which you would be walking. After you set a current position, the map will tell you what street and direction you face as if you were facing the street on which your current position was located. The map will also tell you the names of the intersecting streets on either side of your position. You will tell the map whether you want to turn right or left to begin your exploration. The map stops you when you come to a cross street, where you can turn or again go forward. When you go forward, you automatically cross the cross street and go one more block, stopping before the next cross street.
We will first look up an address, then make it our current position, and then explore!
A Map Mode Exploration Example
If you have the Kentucky map installed, you can do the keystrokes in this example after you read about them. You can also just follow along as we describe the example. For this example, we have set Heading Orientation, the first option in the General Options item on the Tools Menu, to Ahead, Behind, Left, or Right.
Let us imagine that we are going out to lunch and will then take a walk. We will ask the software to find the Manhattan Grill restaurant at 429 West Muhammad Ali Boulevard in Louisville Kentucky. We will set this address as our current position, and then take a walk around the block. The following example shows how to look up an address and then explore.
From the Primary Software Screen, press Alt-S to search for an address. In the first field, arrow to Kentucky, the state you want to search. Tab to the next field and type the word Louisville in order to search the city of Louisville. Tab again and type 429 for the number of the address. Tab again and type Muhammad, the first word of the street name. Press Enter or tab once to the Look UP Button and press Enter. You are offered two choices of streets with Muhammad in their name: Muhammad Ali BLVD, E, and Muhammad Ali Blvd, W. BLVD stands for Boulevard, W for West, and E for East. Because we want West Muhammad Ali, arrow to Muhammad Ali, W and press Enter. Next press Enter on the Current Position Button.
The software announces: "At 429 W Muhammad Ali Blvd facing south. 93 feet left to South 4th Street, 111 feet right to Cathedral Aly." Aly is the software's abbreviation for Alley. This means that you are facing south, as if you have just left the restaurant and have moved toward the edge of the street in the restaurant address, West Muhammad Ali Boulevard. West Muhammad Ali is in front of you running to your left and right. You are between South 4th and Cathedral Alley and are slightly closer to Cathedral Alley than to 4th.
Now we will explore a one-block area around the Manhattan Grill. Turn right by pressing the L key. The software announces, "West on West Muhammad Ali Boulevard, ahead and behind." This means that, after your right turn, you are facing west and that West Muhammad Ali runs ahead of you and behind you. Move forward by pressing the I key. The software announces, "110 feet west, Cathedral Aly, right." This means that you traveled 110 feet to Cathedral Alley, which runs to your right. Notice that Cathedral Alley runs to your right, but not to your left; this means that Cathedral Alley dead ends and does not go through to the other side of Muhammad Ali. You could turn right and walk on Cathedral Alley or you could go forward on West Muhammad Ali.
Let us go forward by pressing the I key. The software announces, "286 feet west, South 5th Street, left and right." This means you have crossed Cathedral Alley and walked 286 feet to West 5th Street, which runs perpendicular to you, in front of you to your left and right. Notice that 5th Street runs to your left as well as to your right. This means that 5th is a through street; it continues on the other side of Muhammad Ali. Here, you could go forward, crossing 5th and moving another block to the next intersection. Instead, let us turn right on South 5th Street by pressing the L key. The software announces, "North on South 5th Street at West Muhammad Ali Boulevard." This means that you have turned onto 5th Street, that you are heading north, and that West Muhammad Ali runs perpendicular to you behind you.
Note that we have used a language convention to indicate when the perpendicular street is ahead of you to be crossed and when it is behind you. If the software tells you that the intersecting street runs left and right (or gives you a clock face direction in which the perpendicular street runs), the street is ahead of you to be crossed; if the software says that you are on a given street at the perpendicular street, you can know that the perpendicular street is behind you and that, unless you turn 180 degrees, you do not need to cross it in order to head straight.
Move forward one block on 5th Street by pressing the I key. The software announces, "704 feet north, West Liberty Street, left and right." You have walked 704 feet and have arrived at West Liberty Street, which runs perpendicular to you, ahead of you and to your left and right. Let us turn right on West Liberty by pressing the L key. The software announces, "East on West Liberty Street at South 5th Street." You have turned onto South Liberty and are facing east, ready to walk another block, with South 5th going perpendicular to your line of travel behind you.
Press the I key to go forward one block, and the software announces, "494 feet east, South 4th Street, left and right." You will notice that Cathedral Alley did not come all the way through to Liberty. Now turn right on South 4th Street by pressing the L key, and the software announces, "South on South 4th Street at West Liberty Street." This means that you are facing south on South 4th Street with West Liberty perpendicular to you, running behind you.
Press I to go forward one block; the software announces, "704 feet south, West Muhammad Ali Boulevard, left and right." You have returned to West Muhammad Ali. Just to be sure you have walked around the entire block, turn right on to West Muhammad Ali by pressing the L key. The software confirms, "West on West Muhammad Ali Boulevard at South 4th Street." If you walk one more block, you will come to Cathedral Alley, as you did at the beginning. Press I for Forward and the software announces, “203 feet west, Cathedral Aly, right."
Exploring in Walk Mode: When Side-of-Street Tracking Is Enabled
You have learned that, when the Enable Side-of-Street Tracking option is unchecked, a Forward command takes you across the perpendicular street and one block to the next intersecting street. We noted earlier that, when the Enable Side-of-Street Tracking Checkbox was unchecked, exploring the map was like flying over the middle of the street or tracing raised lines standing for streets on a tactile map. You did not need to think about whether you were walking on the right or left side of the street. By default, the software is set to include crossing an intersection with a forward move; that is, the Forward command moved you across the perpendicular street and to the end of the next block. This is the easiest way to learn the layout of streets in a given area.
However, you may want to practice traveling in a more real-life manner. In order to give you the feeling of actually walking down the street and making decisions about which streets to cross and when to cross them, we made the software able to track the side of the street that you are walking on. We also made the software understand when you need to cross a street before turning or going forward. Let us turn this feature on now. Press Alt-T to pull down the Tools Menu, arrow down to General Options, and press Enter to activate this item. Tab four times to the Enable Side-of-Street Tracking option. Press the Spacebar to check this Checkbox. Then press Enter to close the Tools Menu. Mouse users should click on the Tools Menu, General Options, and Enable Side-of-Street Tracking Checkbox.
Now the software will note the side of the street on which you walk no matter how many turns or crossings you make. When Side-of-Street tracking is turned on, the software will tell you what side of the street you are on in the Nearest Address Box, just after the nearest address; and it will not cross a street automatically when you tell it to go forward. Instead, it requires you to give the Cross Street command with the U key whenever you need to cross.
A Walk Mode Exploration Example
Let us see how Side-of-Street Tracking really works. First, you must set your current position. Let us search for the address of the American Printing House for the Blind, 1839 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, Kentucky. If you have the Kentucky map installed, you can do the keystrokes in this example; otherwise, just follow along.
Press Alt-S to search for an address. Note that the Address Lookup dialog retains the state and city that you used in your previous address look-up. Because we have not changed the state and city since our last example, Kentucky and Louisville are still selected in the State and City Fields. Tab to the Number Field and type 1839. Tab again to the Street Field and type Frankfort. Press Enter or tab once to the Lookup Button and press Enter.
The Address Action Dialog appears, with Current Position as the selected button. Press Enter.
After you set this address as your current position, the software shows the following information: "At 1839 Frankfort Ave facing south. 222 feet left to Stoll Avenue, 90 feet right to North State Street." The software positions you as if you have just walked out of the American Printing House onto the sidewalk of the street named in the building's address. You are facing the street named in the building's address because you have not turned left or right to walk up or down this street. You are also told the names of the intersecting streets to the left and to the right of you. You know that State Street is fairly close to you to your right and that Stoll Avenue is farther away from you to your left. If you turn right, you will be walking on Frankfort Avenue toward State Street; and if you turn left, you will be walking on Frankfort Avenue toward Stoll. At this point, the software is waiting for you to turn left or right, your only two choices.
Turn left with the J key; the software tells you that you are now facing southeast with Frankfort Avenue running ahead of and behind you. Press the A key to read the Address Field. The software says that you are at 1839 Frankfort Avenue (no surprise there) and that you are on the left side of the street. Go forward with the I key. The software tells you that you have moved forward 221 feet to Stoll Avenue, which is on your right. Because the software tells you that Stoll Avenue is on your right (and does not tell you that it is also on your left), you know that Stoll Avenue does not come through on the left side of Frankfort. Remember that you are walking on the left side of Frankfort. If you forget which side of the street you are on, just press the A key and the software will read the address nearest your position and tell you whether you are on the left or right side of the street. Because you are on the left side of Frankfort and Stoll is only on the right side of Frankfort (it does not come through), you do not have to cross it. The software stops you at Stoll so that you will notice the Frankfort-Stoll intersection. However, you do not have to cross Stoll to continue walking on the left side of Frankfort. If you were walking on the right side of Frankfort, you would have to cross Stoll before going forward.
Let us go forward with the I key. The software says, "492 feet east, Haldeman Avenue, left and right." This means that you have walked 492 feet and have come to Haldeman Avenue, which lies in front of you to your left and right. If you press the I key for Forward at this point, the software says, "You must cross the street first before moving forward." Cross Haldeman with the U key, and the software says, "Crossed Haldeman Avenue."
Now, turn right with the L key. The software says, "Southwest on the left side of Haldeman Avenue at Frankfort Avenue, left and right." Because you turned right, you are now in position to walk along Haldeman Avenue, which lies ahead and behind you. Frankfort Avenue is now in front of you, lying to your left and right. Press the U key to cross the street, and the software says, "Crossed Frankfort Avenue."
Now turn left onto Frankfort Avenue by pressing the J key. The software says, "East on the right side of Frankfort Avenue at Haldeman Avenue."
Remember that you already crossed Haldeman Avenue before you crossed Frankfort. Also, notice that the software tells you that you are on Frankfort Avenue at Haldeman Avenue, but it does not tell you that Haldeman Avenue is running to your left and right. Because you already crossed Haldeman Avenue before you crossed Frankfort and turned east to continue traveling on Frankfort, Haldeman, though still perpendicular to your line of travel and lying to your left and right, is behind you. As noted previously, in order to let you know that a perpendicular street mentioned is behind you, we have used the language convention of not saying “left and right” or mentioning clock face directions when noting the perpendicular street. This can help you maintain an accurate mental map. When you hear the words “left,” “right,” “left and right,” or a set of clock face directions, you know that the perpendicular street is in front of you. When you hear the mention of the perpendicular street without these words, you know you have already crossed it and that it is perpendicular to you, but behind you; you know that you do not need to cross it again to continue traveling straight.
Continuing with our example, test this by pressing the I key for forward, and the software says, "261 feet east, Weist Place, right."
Now press F to find the list of POIs nearby. The second POI on the list reads, "Bussmann Bakery, Shop (food), Frankfort Ave, 123 feet, behind, west, right side." The software has just told you the location of some great pastry!
Let us look at another example from the Kentucky map. Remember that you are still on the right side of Frankfort Avenue at Weist Place. If you forget your current position, you can always tab through the fields on the Primary Software Screen to read about it. Let us say that you do not need (or even want) pastry, but you need to get a prescription medication filled at a pharmacy. If you do not know the location of any pharmacies nearby, you can use the Control-F command to find a specific Point of Interest as follows:
• Press Control-F.
• Select the Medical Service Category by arrowing down, pressing the letter M, or scrolling to it.
• Tab once and select the pharmacy Subcategory by arrowing down, pressing the letter P, or scrolling to it.
• Press Enter.
The software automatically reads the list of pharmacies that were found. You can also read each item by arrowing through the list. Here are the closest four pharmacies and the information shown about them.
• CVS Pharmacy, Brownsboro Rd, 0.44 mi, slight left, northeast
• Kroger Pharmacy, Brownsboro Rd, 0.46 mi, slight left, northeast
• Holistic Health, Story AVE, 0.55 mi, behind, northwest
• Walgreens Pharmacies, Frankfort Ave, 0.61 mi, ahead, east, right side
Because you are still located on Frankfort (our previous example took you to the right side of Frankfort Avenue heading east), and because Walgreens is also on the right side of Frankfort Avenue east of you, it makes sense to choose Walgreens. Now you can use the software to create a walking route to Walgreens or set Walgreens as your destination from the Actions Dialog previously discussed.
Exploring Areas with Multiple Adjacent Cities or Cities Divided into Regions
In many parts of the United States, cities and towns are adjacent to one another; on one side of a street, you may be in one city, and on the other, you may be another town. Sometimes small towns are surrounded by large cities. When exploring by street or Point of Interest, you can move across city boundaries seamlessly. However, if you check the City Field on the screen by either tabbing to it or by pressing C, you will note that the city name changes as you move into the new area.
When you are looking up an address, you need to use either the correct city name for the address or the correct zip code for the address. You can easily find this information by searching on the Internet. If you enter the wrong zip code, city name, or street name for a given address on the Address Lookup Screen, the software says, “No street found matching that name. Leave Street Field blank for a list of all streets for the city chosen.” If you believe that the address is in the city you provided and that you provided an incorrect street name, you can press the Enter key at this point and see a list of all streets in the city. Select the correct street by pressing enter. If you entered the correct street name, the particular address you entered may lie in an adjacent town. In this case, don’t press Enter to obtain a list of streets in the initial city. Instead, either write in the name of the correct city where the address is located or use the Zip Code search if you know the correct zip code.
Another option is to search again for the address, but this time examine the city field before you activate the Lookup Button. You may find that TomTom has divided the city into regions. Louisville, Kentucky provides an example of this division. After you have entered all of the address information On the Address Lookup Screen, shift-tab back to the city field for Louisville, Kentucky and arrow up and down. In this case, city options include Louisville Airport, Louisville Central, Louisville East, Louisville South, Louisville West, and Louisville/Jefferson Metro Gove. Gove represents the word Government with some of the letters cut off. The last option covers the combined Louisville and Jefferson County Metro area, and this is the one to select by arrowing to it. You may then need to fill in the number and street name again.
Exploring with a Destination Set
You have noticed the box on the Primary Software Screen labeled Destination. You can set a destination by using your current position, an address, a POI, or a latitude/longitude. You can also set a destination by using a Favorite or an item from your History List. To set a destination, do one of the following:
• Make your current position your destination. From the Primary Software Screen, press Control-D to bring up the Actions Dialog. Tab to the Destination Button and press Enter.
• Locate an address by using Alt-S and completing the Address Lookup Dialog; when the Address Actions Dialog appears, tab to the Destination Button and press Enter.
• Find a POI by any of the usual means, and press Enter or activate the OK Button. When the POI Actions Dialog appears, tab to the Destination Button and press Enter.
• Set a Lat/Lon by pressing Control-Y, filling in the new latitude and longitude in the appropriate fields, typing a name for the new position, and pressing Enter. In the Lat/Lon Actions Dialog, tab to and press Enter on the Destination Button.
• Select a location from the History List by pressing Control-H. Arrow or scroll through the locations and press Enter on the one that you want to use. In the History Actions Dialog that automatically appears, tab to the Destination Button and press Enter.
• Go to the Favorites List by pulling down the Location Menu and selecting the Favorites item, or by pressing Control-1. Select the Favorite you want to use, and press the Enter key. In the Favorites Action Dialog that automatically appears, tab to the Destination Button and press Enter.
After you set a destination, you can do the following:
• Always know the direction and distance from your current location to the destination by either tabbing to the Destination Field on the Primary Software Screen or by pressing the D key.
• Determine whether your exploration is taking you nearer or farther away from the destination by charting your progress with the D key.
• Create a pedestrian or vehicle route from your current position to the destination; routes are discussed in more detail later.
• Turn on automatic destination tracking by pulling down the Tools Menu, choosing General Options, tabbing three times to Automatic Destination Notification, and pressing the Spacebar or clicking to check the Checkbox. With automatic destination tracking turned on, the software will automatically tell you the distance and direction of your current position from your destination every time you press a forward, left, or right key.
Exploring Points of Interest From Your Current Position
APH Talking PC Maps not only allows you to move by block, but it also allows you to explore and move by individual Points of Interest. From your current location, you can move to the next Point of Interest by pressing the Shift-I key combination. Just as the I key moves you forward to the next intersection, the Shift-I key combination moves you to the next Point of Interest and announces the distance that you have virtually traveled to reach the next POI. This feature allows you to have the virtual experience of walking down a street and hearing the names of all of the places that you encounter. Now we will look at this feature in detail. If you have the Checkbox for Side-of-Street Tracking (in the Tools Menu, General Options) turned off or unchecked, the next POI will be announced for both sides of the street. Remember, when Side-of-Street Tracking is off, you are virtually flying above the middle of the street, looking down at the street. In this case, when you press the Shift-I key combination, you will hear the distance you have traveled to reach the next POI, the side of the street of the next POI (right or left), and the name of the next POI.
The software determines the distance to the next POI by using a series of estimations or educated guesses. The software sometimes lists a distance of zero when it does not have enough information to make distance estimations. Distance estimates related to the next Point of Interest should not be considered accurate data. However, the software does not have to make estimations about the order in which the POIs appear because this information is provided in the TomTom map data. If the map data is accurate, the order in which POIs appear on a block will also be accurate.
When Side-of-Street Tracking Is Turned On
If you pull down the Tools Menu, press Enter on General Options, and turn on the Side-of-Street Tracking item by tabbing to it and pressing the spacebar or by clicking it, then a new Checkbox appears in the General Options immediately after Side-of-Street Tracking. This Checkbox is labeled, Explore POIs Only on My Side of the Street. If you check this Checkbox, you will only be able to move by POI when the POI is on your side of the street. When Side-of-Street Tracking is turned on and Explore POIs Only on My Side of the Street is checked, pressing Shift-I will take you to the next POI on your side of the street. The distance to the next POI and the POI name will be announced, but the direction of the POI will not be announced because it can only be on one side of you, the side away from the street on which you are virtually walking.
If you turn Side-of-Street Tracking on but do not check the Box for Explore POIs Only on My Side of the Street, Shift-I will show POIs on both sides of the street; it will work the same way as it does when Side-of-Street Tracking is not checked.
Entering a POI
After you have located the next Point of Interest by pressing the Shift-I key combination, you can virtually enter the POI by pressing the Enter key or the Shift-E key combination. When you enter the POI, you will notice that you hear the sound of a door opening. When you enter the POI in this way, the POI details are automatically presented. You can arrow through the list of details and hear each detail spoken. Because details include the POI's address and telephone number, this is a particularly useful feature. You can tab to Print and Copy to Clipboard buttons on this screen; activating the Print Button provides the standard Windows Print Dialog, and activating the Copy to Clipboard Button allows you to paste the list of POI details into a word processor, text editor, or braille translation software. You cannot explore any farther until you have exited the POI by pressing the Escape key. When you press this key, you will hear the sound of a door closing, as if you had walked out of a real door. Pressing this key moves your position outside of the POI and places you facing the street named in the POI address. The software announces the name and distance of the side streets to your left and to your right and tells you the direction that you face. You must turn left or right to continue traveling on the street. This process should be familiar because it is the same process that occurs when you look up an address and set it as your current location.
Groups of POIs: When More Than One POI Has the Same Address
Now think of the situation where five Points of Interest might be in one building. An office building might contain two doctor's offices, one lawyer's office, one occupational therapist's office, and one psychologist's office. Although each of these offices might have their own room or suite number, the office building has only one street address. Generally, malls also have only one street address that is used for each store in the mall. In this situation, several hundred stores might have the same address. The map software uses the street address to determine which POI is next in your line of travel. When the street address for a group of POIs is the same, the software cannot determine which POI is next. To handle this situation, the software announces that a group of POIs occurs, and you must enter the group in order to learn about specific Points of Interest inside.
To enter the group of POIs, press the Enter key or the Shift-E key combination as you did to enter a single POI. You will hear one ding sound, bringing to mind a doorbell or an elevator, to notify you that you have entered a group of POIs. You can arrow up and down the list of POIs in the group. You can tab to the Print and Copy to Clipboard buttons, which allow you to print the list of POIs or copy them to the clipboard so that they can be pasted into a document for future use. Copying the list of 97 POIs in a shopping mall to the clipboard and pasting them into a word processor results in the creation of a file containing the names of many, if not all, of the stores in the facility.
You can press the Enter or Shift-E key combination to enter a specific POI. When you enter the POI, you will hear the door open as you did when entering a single POI. The POI's list of details appears, and you can arrow to any detail of interest. You can also tab to the Print and Copy to Clipboard buttons, which allow you to print or copy the POI details to the clipboard and insert them into another document. To leave the POI, press the Escape key. You will hear the door close.
Now you are back in the list of POIs in the group. You can arrow up and down this list to find another POI and enter it, or you can exit from the group of POIs by pressing the Escape key. When you exit a group of POIs, you will hear two dinging sounds, similar to a doorbell or an elevator sound. When you leave the group of POIs, the software again places you facing the street named in the POI address. It tells you the name and distance of the side streets to your left and to your right, and it tells you the direction in which you face. You must turn right or left to resume your exploration.
Exploring by POI at the End of the Block
When you are moving by Point of Interest and arrive at the end of a block, the next press of the Shift-I key combination announces the intersecting street that is between the current POI and the first POI on the next block. If Side-of-Street Tracking is turned off in General Options in the Tools Menu, you can press the Shift-I key combination to go to the next POI in the new block. If Side-of-Street Tracking is turned on in General Options in the Tools Menu, you must press the U or Shift-U key combination to cross the intersecting street before you press the Shift-I key combination to go to the next POI (the first POI in the new block).
Exploration by POI and by Street in Combination
It is very easy to combine these two types of exploration methods. Simply press Shift-I when you want to move to the next POI and the I key when you want to move to the next intersection. If you are located on the last POI in a block, pressing I or Shift-I will bring you to the street at the end of the block. If Side-of-Street Tracking is not turned on, pressing Shift-I at this point will take you across the street to the first POI in the next block; pressing the I key will bring you to the end of the next block to the next intersecting street. If Side-of-Street Tracking is turned on, you will need to press the U key or the shift-U key combination to cross the intersecting street. After this key press, Shift-I takes you to the first POI on the block and the I key takes you to the end of the block to the next intersecting street.
An Exploration Example
Now let us look at an example in which we explore both by Point of Interest and by street. You will notice that this example includes one group of POIs as well as several individual ones. This example is presented as a list of key presses and the resulting software text and sounds. In this example, Side-of-Street Tracking (in the General Options item in the Tools Menu) is turned off.
• Set your current location to 2335 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, Kentucky.
• The Event Field says "At 2335 Frankfort Avenue heading south. 4 feet left to North Keats Avenue, 73 feet right to South Keats Avenue."
• Turn left by pressing the J key.
• The Event Field says, "East on Frankfort Avenue, ahead and behind."
• Go to the next POI by pressing Shift-I.
• The Event Field says, "0 feet, right side, Quest Outdoors."
• Enter Quest Outdoors by pressing the Enter key. The opening door sound occurs.
• The software announces, "Quest Outdoors, shop/service, sporting goods, 40 feet, behind, slight left, right side." This means that Quest Outdoors is in the category of shop/service and the subcategory of sporting goods. The software estimates that, if you are facing the street named in Quest's address (Frankfort Avenue), Quest Outdoors would be approximately 40 feet behind you and to the left. Remember that the distance estimates are only estimates and cannot be used as accurate data. However, the location of Quest Outdoors relative to other POIs on the block is not an estimate.
• Notice that the screen shows all of the details for Quest Outdoors including the street address and phone number.
• Exit Quest Outdoors by pressing the Escape key. You will hear the door closing sound.
• The Event Field says, "At Quest Outdoors heading north. 73 feet left to South Keats Avenue, 3 feet right to North Keats Avenue."
• Turn right to continue east by pressing the L key.
• The event Field says, "East on Frankfort Avenue."
• Go to the next POI by pressing Shift-I.
• The Event Field says, "0 feet, left side, group of 2 POIs.” This means that there are two POIs at the same address on the left side of Frankfort Avenue and that the software cannot estimate how many feet these POIs are from Quest Outdoors.
• Go to the next POI by pressing Shift-I.
• The Event Field says, "Zero feet, right side, group of 2 POIs." This means that, at a distance to the east that the software cannot estimate, two Points of Interest exist at the same address.
• Enter this group of POIs by pressing the Enter key. Note the single ding sound when you enter the group.
• Read the current line with your screen reader's current line command or press the down arrow and up arrow quickly to read the current line.
• Current line: Burch Associates, Inc. shop/service. This is the name of the first POI in the group.
• Arrow down to read the next POI, which is American Marketing Association, government/service.
• Enter American Marketing Association by pressing the Enter key. Notice the opening door sound.
• The software says, "American Marketing Association, government/service, 59 feet ahead. This indicates that the POI's category is government/service and that the software estimates that this POI is 50 feet ahead of your location when you face Frankfort Avenue. Remember that this estimate is not relevant because it is only an estimate, but that the ordering of POIs is reliable.
• Notice that the POI details are listed on your screen. You can use the down arrow key to hear the category, phone number, address, and much more.
• Exit American Marketing Association by pressing the Escape key. Note the door closing sound as you leave the POI.
• Arrow up and down on your screen and notice that you are back in the group of two POIs, Burch Associates and American Marketing Association. At this point, you could enter Burch Associates by pressing Enter on it and view its details. Instead, let's leave this group of POIs.
• Exit the group of POIs by pressing the Escape key. Notice the two ding sounds that you hear, indicating that you are leaving the group of POIs to return to the street.
• The Event Field says, "At Burch Associates Inc. heading north. 74 feet left to South Keats Avenue, 3 feet right to North Keats Avenue."
• Turn right by pressing the L key.
• The Event Field says, "East on Frankfort Avenue."
• Go to the next intersection by pressing the I key.
• The Event Field says, "520 feet east, South Ewing Avenue, right and North Ewing Avenue, left."
• Go to the next POI by pressing the Shift-I key.
• The Event Field says, "Zero feet, right side, group of two POIs. The software has taken you across the street to the next group of POIs, which is on the right. Remember that the use of zero feet means that the software cannot estimate the distance to the next POI. Also remember that the software did not tell you to use the U key to cross Ewing Avenue because Side-of-Street Tracking is turned off.
• In this example, we could enter this group of POIs as we did previously, or continue to travel by POI or by street.
Creating and Following Routes
So far, you have explored the maps to learn the street layout of a particular area and to search for Points of Interest. But what if you want specific directions from one place to another? In this section, you will learn how to use APH Talking PC Maps to create, follow, and save routes and to print them and emboss them in braille. You will learn how to create an automatic (software-produced) pedestrian or vehicle route, and you will learn how to create a user-made walking route.
What Are Routes
Routes are a series of directions that take you from a beginning position to a destination, the place you want to go. If you walk from your apartment to your school bus, your route is the series of directions that you follow on the way. If you leave your apartment, turn right, walk to the door, walk straight to the sidewalk, turn left for half a block, and wait at the corner for the school bus, you have followed a route from home to the school bus stop. When you are familiar with your surroundings as in the school bus example, you probably do not need to think about the route you will follow. However, when you travel in unfamiliar areas or visit a location for the first time, you will probably need to spend some time finding out information about the route you will follow.
To create a route, you need to set a starting point and a destination. First, set your current position to the starting point of your route. You have already learned how to set your current position from an address lookup, a Point of Interest, a latitude/longitude, an item from the History List, or a Favorite. Second, set your destination. You have already learned how to do this using any of the same five types of information.
If you know your starting position and your destination, APH Talking PC Maps software can create a pedestrian or a vehicle route to get you there. If you want to create a route yourself, set only your starting point, and you can manually create a route, stopping when you arrive at your destination.
Concepts: Pedestrian and Vehicle Routes
If you walk to a destination, you can do some things that vehicle drivers cannot. For example, you can walk the wrong way down a one-way street. A driver must drive west on a one-way west street, but you can walk east or west, whichever way gets you closer to your destination. On the other hand, drivers can do some things that pedestrians cannot; for example, vehicles can travel on expressways and pedestrians are not allowed to do so. So the directions in a route will probably be different depending on whether the route is for a pedestrian or a driver. When creating an automatic, software-produced route, you must always define it as a pedestrian or vehicular route so that the software can make these adjustments.
Setting Options for Automatic, Software-Produced Pedestrian and Vehicle Routes
The software by default has set a series of options about how pedestrian and vehicle routes will be built. You will probably not need to change the default options. However, if you are curious or if you need to make changes, select the Route Options from the Tools Menu. To do this, press Alt-T, arrow to this item, and press Enter. You can also press the letter R after opening the Tools Menu. The keystrokes used to get to each of these items from the Primary Software Screen and an explanation of each item are provided below.
• Route Waypoint Mode: This Combo Box is the first item in the Dialog and is selected after you press Enter to open the Route Options on the Tools Menu. From the Primary Software Screen, type Alt-T, R, Alt-W. This item is a Combo Box with choices for two different ways of presenting route information: by Turns Only, or by All Waypoints. The software describes routes by giving you a list of Waypoints, telling you what to do at each Waypoint, and giving you the distance and direction between each Waypoint. A Waypoint is simply a point along the path of the route. The software sets each intersection as a Waypoint. This means that routes are divided into very small sections. You can set the software to describe the route in Turning Points, simply the points on the route where you make turns, if you want to see it in larger sections. You can switch between these two route presentation modes while in a route without having to recalculate the route. A more complete description of each mode follows.
o Turns-Only Mode: In this mode, Waypoints are created at turns or bends in the route, in the form of the distance and direction of the Turning Point plus the name of the turning street and the direction it travels. For example, "1 mile to Turning Point 10, proceed right on Market heading West.” It is common for highways to change names in the map database when passing through towns. This may cause a Turning Point to appear when there is one of these name changes. You are not actually turning in these situations; you are just making a transition from one street name to another, but staying on the same street.
o All Waypoint Mode: In this mode, each Waypoint is created at an intersection. When viewing a route in this way, you will arrow through many more Waypoints than you would in Turning Point Mode. However, you might find Waypoint Mode helpful if you are studying a new route and want to familiarize yourself with the names of all of the streets involved.
• Pedestrian Turn Preference: This Combo Box is the second item in the Dialog, and you can tab to it. From the Primary Software Screen, type Alt-T, R, Alt-P. If you want a route that gives you the shortest distance between the beginning point and the destination regardless of the number of turns involved, do not change the default option, Shortest Distance. If you would prefer your routes to have the fewest possible turns even if this means they will be longer, arrow down to Fewest Turns. If you select Fewest Turns, the system tries to create a route with less turns. It may take you longer to arrive at your destination, but you will not need to make as many turns. For example, a route that has 10 turns for Shortest Distance could have 6 turns when set to Fewest Turns, but could be 0.5 miles longer.
• Roundabout Preference: This Combo Box is the third item in the Dialog, and you can tab to it. From the Primary Software Screen, type Alt-T, R, Alt-R. This item is a Combo Box containing three choices: Normal (the default), None, and Avoid If Possible. None means that the system will not route you through roundabouts. Selecting Avoid If Possible will avoid roundabouts in your route if possible. Selecting Normal will include roundabouts in your route if appropriate. Roundabouts are a relatively new type of intersection; they make driving easier, but they are not so easy for pedestrians to manage.
• Vehicle Route Mode: This Combo Box is the fourth item in the Dialog, and you can tab to it. From the Primary Software Screen, type Alt-T, R, Alt-M. This item is a Combo Box containing two choices, Fastest (selected by default) and Shortest Distance. The Fastest item looks at the speed limits of roads and creates a route to get you to the destination as quickly as possible. If you select Shortest Distance, the system ignores the speed at which vehicles are allowed to travel and calculates the route based on the shortest distance between you and your destination. If you want a route that will get you to the hospital in the quickest time possible, do not change the Fastest option. If you are taking a taxi and want to obtain the lowest possible fare, choose the Shortest option.
• Vehicle Turn Preference: This Combo Box is the fifth item in the Dialog, and you can tab to it. From the Primary Software Screen, type Alt-T, R, Alt-V. This item is a Combo Box containing three choices: Fewest Turns, Favors Right (selected by default), and Favors Left. The Fewest Turns option works the same for vehicle routes as it does for pedestrian routes. The system attempts to create a route with the fewest number of turns. If you select the Favors Right item, the system attempts to create a route favoring right-hand turns. If you select the Favors Left item, the system attempts to create a route favoring left-hand turns. Drivers in countries in which driving is done on the right side of the road may favor right-hand turns because they do not have to cross lanes of traffic when turning right onto a busy street.
• Highway Preference: This Combo Box is the sixth item in the Dialog, and you can tab to it. From the Primary Software Screen, type Alt-T, R, Alt-H. This item is a Combo Box containing four items: Normal (the default), None, Preferred, and Avoid If Possible. None ignores highways completely; the system will not route you on highways. Selecting Preferred will use highways whenever possible, and selecting Avoid If Possible will avoid highways if possible. Selecting Normal results in a route that does not ignore highways and does not force their use. It is not recommended to create a long route with the highway preference set to None because such a route may take a long time to create.
• Toll Road Preference: This Combo Box is the seventh item in the Dialog, and you can tab to it. From the Primary Software Screen, type Alt-T, R, Alt-T. This item is a Combo Box containing three choices: Normal (the default), None, and Avoid If Possible. None means that the system will not route you along toll roads. Selecting Avoid If Possible will avoid toll roads if possible. Normal will use toll roads when appropriate.
• Waypoint Numbering On/Off: This Checkbox is the eighth item in the Dialog, and you can tab to it. From the Primary Software Screen, type Alt-T, R, Alt-N; Default is On. This Checkbox controls whether or not Waypoints are numbered. Beginners may wish to keep Waypoint numbering on to be very clear about their position in a route. Once the user is more experienced, the Waypoint numbers are not as important, and this feature can be turned off.
• Announce Nearby POIs: This Checkbox is the ninth item in the Dialog, and you can tab to it. From the Primary Software Screen, type Alt-T, R, Alt-A. By default, this Checkbox is not checked; this means that POIs near each Waypoint on a route will not be announced. If you want to know about Points of Interest near each Waypoint, check this Checkbox by tabbing to it and pressing the Spacebar.
• OK Button: This button is the tenth item in the Dialog, and you can tab to it. Activate this button to accept changes you have made to any of the options in this Dialog. You can activate the OK Button from anywhere in the Route Options Dialog by pressing Enter. You also can tab to the OK Button and press Enter there.
• Cancel Button: This button is the eleventh item in this dialog, and you can tab to it. Activate this button to cancel any changes you made in route options. Activate this button by tabbing to it and pressing Enter
• Reset Button: Tab to this button and press Enter or click on it if you want to return all route options to their default settings.
Automatic, Software-Produced Pedestrian and Vehicle Routes
In order to create a route, you must have the street maps loaded for the area in which you want the route to be created. Next, you must give the software a beginning point and an ending point. Your beginning point is always your current position. So, if you want to begin your route at a location that is different from your current position, you must use one of the methods already discussed (explore to a new location, Address Look-up, POI search, Lat/Lon, History List, or Favorites) to move to a new location. You must then set this new location as your current position.
Once your current position is at the beginning of the route you want to create, you must tell the software where you want to go and also tell it that you want to create a vehicle or pedestrian route to your destination. Actions Dialogs make this easy to do. You can set the ending point of your route and create a route in the following ways.
• Look up an address with the Alt-S key and press Enter or click OK after you have entered the number and street. In the Address Actions Dialog that appears, press Alt-P to create a pedestrian route ending at this address or Alt-V to create a vehicle route ending at this address. You can also press Tab once to the Create Vehicle Route Button and press Enter, or press Tab twice to the Create Pedestrian Route Button and press Enter.
• Find a Point of Interest by looking for nearby POIs using the F key command or by looking for specific POIs by using the Control-F command. Press Enter or click on the POI you want to use. In the POI Actions Dialog that appears, press Alt-P to create a pedestrian route ending at this POI or Alt-V to create a vehicle route ending at this POI. You can also press Tab once to the Create Vehicle Route Button and press Enter, or press Tab twice to the Create Pedestrian Route Button and press Enter.
• Enter a new latitude and longitude by using the Control-Y command, enter a name for this location, and press Enter. In the Lat/Lon Actions Dialog that appears, press Alt-P to create a pedestrian route ending at this address or Alt-V to create a vehicle route ending at this address. You can also press Tab once to the Create Vehicle Route Button and press Enter, or press Tab twice to the Create Pedestrian Route Button and press Enter.
• Look up a location from your History List by pressing Control-H and arrowing to the location that you want. You can also press the first character of the location's name to select it. Press Enter. In the History Actions Dialog that appears, press Alt-P to create a pedestrian route ending at this location or Alt-V to create a vehicle route ending at this location. You can also press Tab once to the Create Vehicle Route Button and press Enter, or press Tab twice to the Create Pedestrian Route Button and press Enter.
• Find a Favorite by pressing Control-1. You can arrow through your Favorites or press the first character of the Favorite that you want. Press Enter. In the Favorites Actions Dialog that appears, press Alt-P to create a pedestrian route ending at this Favorite or Alt-V to create a vehicle route ending at this Favorite. You can also press Tab once to the Create Vehicle Route Button and press Enter, or press Tab twice to the Create Pedestrian Route Button and press Enter.
• If you have already set a destination, you can create a pedestrian route from your current position to your destination by pressing Alt-R, then A, then P. Similarly, you can create a vehicle route from your current position to your destination by pressing Alt-R, then A, then V.
Using Automatic, Software-produced Pedestrian and Vehicle Routes
Reviewing Automatic Routes from the Keyboard
When you create a route, the Primary Software Screen includes two new items in addition to its normal material: the Route Distance, the distance between your present location and the end of the route; and Next Turn, a detailed description of how far to travel, when to turn, and the name of the street onto which you will turn. The software will speak the Route Distance information when you press the R key, and will read the Next Turn information when you press the T key.
There are two ways that people view routes. In Waypoint Mode, the route names each intersection that is crossed, gives the distance to the next intersection, describes the direction of turns, and names the street onto which you are turning. If you are learning a new route that you will later walk, this mode may be very helpful because you can memorize all of the details that you will need. However, if you are creating a route for a longer trip and want to print or braille it and direct someone who is driving, you may not want nor need all of this detail. In Turning Point Mode, the route lists the distance to travel to each turn, describes the direction of turns, and names the street onto which you are turning.
After you have created a route, you can review it with keyboard commands. Just as you could use the keyboard to explore the maps, you can also use it to travel a route that the software has made. You use the same keys that you used to explore, but now they will be used differently.
If you want to view a route by turns, the less detailed mode, press the I key to move forward to the next Turning Point and the K key to move back to the previous Turning Point. You can travel through the entire route, viewing all of the Turning Point information, by repeatedly pressing the I key. You can move backwards through the Turning Points on a route by repeatedly pressing the K key. When you explored the map, you could only move backwards one time; when following a route, you can explore the entire route backwards if you wish.
If you want to view a route by Waypoints, the more detailed mode, use the L key to move forward by one Waypoint and the J key to move backward by one Waypoint. You can move through the entire route by Waypoints by repeatedly pressing the L key. You can also move backwards through the entire route by Waypoints by pressing the J key.
You can view a route by a combination of turns and Waypoints. If you want to see the next Turning Point, press I; and if you want to see the next Waypoint, press L. Similarly, K will take you to the previous Turning Point, and J will take you to the previous Waypoint.
When calculating a long route (for example, a trip from Louisville, Kentucky, to Orlando, Florida), the software may require a few minutes. The longer the route, the more time it takes to calculate. You must install all maps needed for all sections of the route in order for the software to calculate it correctly.
Because on and off ramps to expressways curve a great deal, they may be listed several times as Waypoints or Turning Points in a route. Do not be surprised if you find you must press the I or J keys several times to follow a route onto or off of an expressway ramp. The best way to identify the expressway exit is to move through the off ramp and to the nearest intersection, which usually shares the same name as the exit. POIs by the intersection at the end of an off ramp may also give clues to the exit name.
It is important to remember that routes cannot take into account information that is not part of the map data set. Such information includes highway construction along the route, the presence or absence of sidewalks on the route, and the presence or absence of traffic controls at route intersections. Always check a route with other sources of information before following it.
Other Important Route Actions
Here are some additional important actions that you can take when using routes.
• Save the Route so You Can Review It Later: To save the route so that you can open it later to review, press Alt-R, then S to open the Save Route option in the Route Menu. Enter a name for your route, and then press Enter. The software saves the route in a Routes directory.
• Open Routes: Open routes that you have saved by pressing Alt-R, then O, to invoke the Open Route option on the Routes Menu. Shift-tab once and arrow through the list of routes that is displayed and press Enter on the one you want.
• Print the Route: If a route is open, press alt-R, then arrow down to Print Route and press Enter. Alternatively, press Control-P from the Primary Software Screen when a route is open. The software asks, "View route as?" Tab once to the turns Only Button and press Enter if you only want to print descriptions of turns that must be made. Tab again to the All Waypoints Button if you want to print a list of all intersections that are crossed in addition to turns.
• Show Route Details: Press Alt-R, then D, or click the Routes Menu and arrow to and click the Show Route Details item. Alternatively, press Alt-R, D from the Primary Software Screen when a route is open. The software will ask, "View route details as?" Tab once to the Turns Only Button and press Enter if you only want to see/hear descriptions of turns that must be made. Tab again to the All Waypoints Button and press Enter if you want to see/hear a list of all intersections that are crossed in addition to turns. The route can be read with a screen reader's Say All command and with the up-down arrows to read line by line. Mouse users can scroll through the route details. Tab once to the OK Button and press Enter to close the route details and return to the Primary Software Screen. Tab twice from the route details text and activate the Print Button to print the details on the printer that you select. Tab three times from the route details text to activate the Copy to Clipboard Button. Activating this button copies the route details to the clipboard. You can open a text editor, word processor, or braille translation software and paste the route details into a new document. You can then download the route into your notetaker or portable text player, save it in your word processor, or translate and emboss it in braille.
• Reverse the Route: Press Alt-R, then R again to reverse the route. Now the route shows you how to travel from your destination back to your original position. If you have trouble reversing routes when traveling, you can record, print, or braille a route, then reverse it, and record, print, or braille the route back to your beginning point. To do this, bring up route details, activate the Copy to Clipboard Button, and save the reversed route in an appropriate document.
• Annotate the Route: Press Alt-R, then A to make an annotation (comment) about the current Waypoint on your route. You will be able to read these annotations as you follow the route on the map. They will also print when you print the route and will appear in the Route Details file. The current Waypoint, your current position, in a route is always shown in the Event Field on the Primary Software Screen. You may find it helpful to include a description of a physical landmark that exists at this point, information about a particular place of business that lies at this point, or anything else that would help you learn the route and follow it when actually traveling.
• Close Route: Press Control-F4 or Alt-R, then C to close the route. If you have not saved the route, the software asks, “Route not saved. Save route?" Activate the Yes Button to save the route, and activate the No Button to close the route without saving. Select Cancel to return to the program with the route still unsaved.
Creating a Manual Walking Route
So far, we have given the software a starting point and an ending point, and the software has created a route for us automatically; the software itself was in charge of creating the route. Now we will consider walking routes that we can create ourselves. An instructor may want to create a specific route for a student who can then braille or record it and follow it while traveling. There is no guarantee that the software will create the exact route that the instructor wants the student to use. Similarly, an adult may want to follow a specific route because of features on the route with which the adult is acquainted (e.g., the presence of sidewalks or traffic lights at intersections). Again, there is no guarantee that the software will create this exact route when a beginning point and an ending point are provided. To solve this problem, the software allows the user to create a route by exploring and then saving the exploration.
To begin creating a Manual Walking Route, move your current position to the beginning of the route using any of the same methods you did for Automatic, Software-Produced Routes. When you have set your current position to the beginning point of the route, pull down the Routes Menu, arrow to the Manual Routes item, and press Enter. Press Enter on the first item in this menu, Start Creating a Walking Route. Alternatively, from the Primary Software Screen, press alt- R, then M, and then Enter. Beginning at this point, the path you explore will be saved as a route. When you have arrived at the desired ending point of your route, pull down the Routes Menu, activate the Manual Route Submenu, and activate the Finish Walking Route Button. The software will prompt you with the Save Route dialog in which you will be asked to name the route. After naming the route, press Enter or click OK. This route will be saved in the folder with your other routes and can be opened from the Open Route item in the Routes Menu. You can continue to create your walking route after you save it.
Every time you move to the next intersection with the I key when making a walking route, you will hear footsteps; but you will not hear footsteps when you are exploring and not creating a route. The footstep sound helps you remember that you are making a walking route and not simply exploring.
You can use the Show Route Details feature to view your walking route on-screen and to print it or save it to the clipboard for pasting into other applications. This file can be edited and downloaded to a notetaker or portable text player and used while traveling. It can also be loaded into braille translation software and embossed for use when traveling.
Note that you cannot use the Reverse Route item in the Routes Menu for these Manual Walking Routes. The software can reverse only those routes created by the software. You can view the next POI while making a walking route by using the Shift-I key combination; but the POIs will not be recorded in the file that results when you select the Show Route Details item on the Routes Menu.
Updating APH Talking PC Maps
As we noted near the beginning of this User Guide, the Check for Updates item on the Help Menu or it's hot key F3 will inform you about updates to the maps software, digital map files, user POI files, and Google Transit files. Some of these updates will be free and can be downloaded and installed immediately. Such updates may include bug fixes or small enhancements. Other updates will be purchasable from APH. If you are required to purchase an update, the update feature will inform you that an update is available, but that your account is not eligible to download it. When you receive this message, contact APH Customer Service at (800) 223-1839 for information about how to obtain the upgrade.
APH Talking PC Maps v2012 Command Summary
|Description | Command |
| |
|Where am I Commands |
|Nearest Street Address | A |
|Current City | C |
|Nearest Intersection | X |
|Detailed Description of Intersection | ALT X |
|Where Am I | SPACE |
|Heading | H |
| |
|Explore Commands |
|Look up an Address |ALT S |
|Move Forward One Intersection | I |
|Move to next POI |Shift-I |
|Turn to Next Street on Left | J |
|Turn Into POI on Left |Shift-J |
|Turn to Next Street on Right | L |
|Turn Into POI on Right |Shift-L |
|Move Backward One Intersection | K |
|Cross the Street |U or Shift-U |
|Other Actions on Current Position |CONTROL D |
| |
|Destination Commands |
|Heading and Distance to Destination | D |
|Clear Destination |ALT F then D |
| |
|Points of Interest Commands |
|Find Nearest POI | F |
|Advanced POI Search | CONTROL F |
|Announce Nearest POI | P |
|Find My POIs |CONTROL M |
| |
|Route Commands |
|Next Turn or Road Transition |T |
|Route Information |R |
|Route Options |ALT T, then R |
|Create Pedestrian Route |ALT R, A, P |
|Create Vehicle Route |ALT R, A, V |
|Open Route |CONTROL O |
|Save Route |CONTROL S |
|Print Route |CONTROL P |
|Close Route |CONTROL C |
|Move Forward One Turn |I |
|Move Backward One Turn |K |
|Move Forward One Waypoint |L |
|Move Backward One Waypoint |J |
|Explore Route Next Turn |T |
|Route Progress |% |
| |
|Miscellaneous Commands |
|Zoom Out |Page Up |
|Zoom In |Page Down |
|Zoom to show full route |HOME |
|Odometer | O |
|Copy |CONTROL C |
| |
|Information Center |
|About APH Talking PC Maps | ALT H, then A |
|APH Talking PC Maps Command Summary |F1 |
|Exit Maps |ALT F, then X |
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