Product Evaluation: The Trekker Breeze Way-Finding Device by HumanWare
By Kendrick, Deborah; Access World, Volume 13, Number 1Publication Date: January 2012
Product review evaluates the accessibility of the Trekker Breeze way finding device to blind and visually impaired users. The device was developed by its maker HumanWare in response to feedback from blind and low vision customers. The Trekker Breeze is described as being about the size of a chubby remote control and weighing about 8 ounces. The unit functions most efficiently when carried over the shoulder with its included strap, where it hangs within easy reach of the user’s hand for pressing buttons as needed. Nine buttons of varying shapes and colors and spaced well apart provide immediate audible feedback via a built-in speaker, either beeping or voiced, when pressed. The power of the GPS signal, compass direction, and distance and rate of speed traveled can be found by pressing the information button. A “Where Am I” button announces the nearest address or landmark. The Trekker Breeze can be easily customized by using the Record button to record routes or landmarks. Selecting a landmark as destination results in the device creating a route for reaching it. Like other GPS guidance devices, the Breeze is accurate to about 30 feet. It reportedly works well in vehicles as well as in pedestrian mode and will automatically adjust itself to vehicle mode. The reviewer found the Trekker Breeze to be an easy and intuitive product to use and its user’s guide quite clear and reasonably concise. Waiting about 30 minutes for the product to warm up, however, was found to be annoying.
Assistive Products Discussed: TREKKER BREEZE
Published by: AFB Press (Website:http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=46)
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) (Web Site: http://www.afb.org )
Link to text: http://afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw130103
