OVER 2 YOU 218 (15/02/05)

SECOND SIGHT

I am partially sighted and whilst I can get around my own locality well enough venturing further afield can prove difficult. I’ve been following with interest the development of satellite navigation; my question therefore, is does anyone know of a handheld ‘talking’ GPS receiver that would help me to find my way about, and if so, are they accurate enough for someone on foot?

Ben Clifton, via email

The use of GPS as a navigation aid for people with visual disabilities has been an area of international research for number of years.  In the UK back in the 1990's there were trials of research units in Birmingham.  This was as part of European research collaboration. There are reports this on the RNIB Scientific Research Units web site at www.tiresias.org/reports/mobicf.htm

In terms of practical devices there is a Canadian product called the Victor Trekker, which is a fully featured GPS system specifically designed to support the mobility people with visual disabilities.  It is lightweight and has voice output to guide the user while travelling, as well as route planning capabilities, there’s more information at: www.visuaide.com/gpssol.html.   According to its website the UK supplier is: www.sightandsound.co.uk/index.htm

Possibly the UK suppliers, your local mobility trainer, or organisations such as RNIB, may be able to put you in touch with someone who has used these or let you try one out to see if meets your needs.  One thing to bear in mind is that any GPS system needs sight of satellites to position itself.  So if planning routes going under bridges, under thick tree cover or inside buildings you will be going into situations where you will not get a signal and the unit will lose its position. You will need to avoid these or plan an alternative method for guidance information while the GPS position is lost.  Open fields, open country lanes and footpaths, heath land, and wide urban streets and crossroads are all places to expect a good signal and be able to get good guidance information from a GPS.

Stephen Furner, Ipswich, Suffolk

The VoiceNote GPS combines two pieces of technology. The GPS satellite receiver and the VoiceNote, which is a PDA designed specifically for people with a visual impairment. This combination gives the user spoken information about the street they are on, the route they are taking etc. If Ben is a Braille reader he can use the BrailleNote GPS and have the added advantage of receiving the information in Braille as he is walking along, or as a passenger in a vehicle.

The system can be used in virtual mode so a route can be planned out before going out, and points of interest (POI) 's can be identified and searched, i.e. hotels, railway stations etc. The user can also add personalised POI i.e. a hazard like overhanging bushes, or a specific bus stop etc. Information on the VoiceNote and BrailleNote GPS is available at www.pulsedata.com

Alan Davis, General Sales Manager - UK, Pulse Data Europe.

PERFORMANCE TWEAK

It has been many years since I last ventured under the bonnet of my car and I was dismayed to find that things I used to be able to do, to maintain performance, like adjusting the contact breaker and setting the fuel mixture and so on, are now handled by a computer. I know garages have specialised equipment to connect to car computers but I was wondering if there are any ‘consumer’ programs that will work on a home PC, that will let me access and monitor my vehicle’s inner workings?

David Naughton, via email

You are talking about opening a very large can of worms. Messing around with a car’s Engine Management System computer, without specialist knowledge and equipment, can do irreparable damage. Garages and dealerships invest thousands of pounds in diagnostic equipment and software and staff go on lengthy training courses to learn how to use it. Whilst I have seen PC programs for makes like BMW, Rover and so on selling cheaply on the Internet I would advise David to leave well alone!

David Philips, via email

TAX CALC ALTERNATIVES

I have just received a letter from Intuit stating that they are withdrawing Quicken and TaxCalc from the UK market and ceasing support next year. I have looked at Microsoft Money, my attempt to convert a Quicken file to Money failed (a very simple set of records of a Charity for which I am a trustee and treasurer). My own records are more complex with the usual array of PEPS, unit trusts standing orders etc.

Can anyone suggest an alternative to Microsoft Money developed for the British market? An Internet interface with banks and financial institutions is now virtually essential as is a good technical help line.

Rodney Newth, (retired chartered accountant), via email

Keytime Systems provides replacement products for both TaxCalc and Quicken offering very similar pricing and better functionality. We have attempted to open negotiations with Intuit to develop a data conversion routine, but they have refused to cooperate with us on this front.

As such, to assist stranded TaxCalc and Quicken users move to our replacement products, we are offering a 10% reduction off our standard prices to partially compensate them for the time required to re-key their data. Anyone interested can obtain more information fro our website at www.keytimesystems.co.uk, or by calling us on 0845 456 3103.

Anthony Boggiano, via email

CAN YOU HELP?

An elderly friend of mine uses the Amiga 1200 (no USB, no Windows and no wish to convert) and his printer has gone totally u/s. The printer is an Epsom Stylus Colour 740, Model P110A and must be 8 to 10 years old. Current printers only seem to work with Windows or Apple and are USB connected anyway. Can anyone help locating the above model of printer or suggest a printer that is compatible with the Amiga 1200.

Bill Noise, via email

I have a friend who is an insulin dependant diabetic and is also blind. Until recently she had a meter for testing her blood sugar, which gave a spoken (audio) result. This meter is now broken; she has been unable to find a suitable replacement and has to rely on friends and neighbours reading her meter. I wonder if any readers have a solution?

Clive Hardy, Wimborne, Dorset