Sendero GPS 4.0 for Braillenote

This is in every way now the most powerful GPS tool for the blind. Check out the link above for the full list of new features and improvements.

Sendero GPS V4.0 Changes, June 27, 2007
After 15 months of development, Sendero has implemented 50 new features in version 4 in addition to many other improvements under the hood. This is the eighth and better than ever GPS version released over the past seven years.

** Highlights: Of the many features described in this document, here are the
top eight areas of improvement:

• New maps and POIs.
• New and improved address matching.
• Reorganized Help menus with active commands that work from within the Help menu.
• Ability to create and follow GPS log files for the GPS Replay feature.
• Task switching in and out of GPS.
• Improved heading so GPS fluctuations are smoothed out.
• Greatly improved routes for both calculation of routes and for waypoint and turn announcements including the new two-quick-turns feature.
• New Commercial and User POI subcategories including better editing of user points.


General Software Changes:

• GPS Replay: GPS Replay is a wonderful teaching and diagnostic tool for the BrailleNote GPS user. It allows the user to record and replay the exact positions during a GPS walk or ride. This provides the user the opportunity to review that session with an orientation and mobility specialist or to share it with another user or tech support person.

Buy a Feature in Sendero GPS 4 for the BrailleNote

This was just posted by Mike May on the GPS Talk Users mailing list.

A sign up form will be available on Sendero in the next week.

Buy a Feature

Also known as innovation through understanding, this program is an opportunity for Sendero GPS users to influence the features, which will be included in versions 4.0. There are far more features than we have time to include in a new release. This Buy A Feature program involves users in the difficult process of evaluating trade offs and prioritizing features important to them individually and perhaps more globally. Here is how it works.

At the LAX Marriott Suite 1718, CSUN, Thursday, March 22, 9-11 AM, the first Sendero Buy a Feature meeting will be held in conjunction with the Sendero on-line chat. Space is limited to 10 on the chat site and 10 people in person. In an effort to have a cross section of beginner and advanced users, Sendero will determine the selection of participants. Please indicate Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced skill when you sign up. Each participant who contributes the entire time, will receive a $25 Sendero gift certificate.

Each participant will be allocated an equal number of points. Each potential feature will be valued according to our estimate of how much time and effort it will take to implement. The total number of points will represent the amount of development time available before version 4.0 is released for final testing. The points allocated to each participant will be a function of the total available points divided by the number of participants.

A list of annotated features will be distributed. Participants will have the opportunity to hear a description of each feature including discussion among the group and then given an opportunity to spend their feature points for their favorite features. Participants may lobby others to invest in his or her favorite feature.

After all the features have been discussed, participants will review their notes to prioritize their favorite features. Each priority list will be given to Sendero. A discussion will then ensue as features are purchased. Once a feature is purchased, participants can move on to the purchase of other features until all their points are spent.

Sendero Group development will give serious consideration to the priorities determined from these sessions. Which features end up being included in Sendero GPS version 4.0 will be a function of the real amount of time and complexity associated with implementing all features. The Buy A Feature event will certainly help determine which features are included in Sendero GPS Version 4.0.