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Remember when you were younger and wondered what it would be like to be blind?  I recall the first time I heard the story of Helen Keller and spent time on the playground, eyes closed, trying to figure out what it would be like.  I determined it was not easy, and couldn’t imagine living each day not being able to see the beauty in the world around me.

Of course, I didn’t think about the fact that we live in a world more advanced than the world that  Hellen Keller lived in.  When I was growing up, guide dogs were available, providing eyes for those that could not use theirs.  In a mere 20 years, we have come even farther thanks to a company called HumanWare.  The technology they offer for the visually impaired or blind would knock the socks off of Helen Keller.

Trekker Breeze, launched in 2008, is a talking GPS tracking device purported to bring high tech to more of the visually impaired population by making it the most affordable device of its kind on the market ($895).  Not only can the device lead the blind to their favorite places, it can also help them discover new places without fear of getting lost using the “What’s Around” feature.

The device will tell someone when they come to an intersection and what streets are intersecting, and also “point out” landmarks along the way.  The user can easily get back to where he/she came from and save the route traveled in the event they need to travel it again.

Leader Dogs for the Blind is using the Trekker Breeze in their classes offered for people new to using a guide dog.  This is a winning combination, as there may be new obstacles each day on the same path.  Maybe there’s a bike locked to a bike rack that wasn’t there yesterday, or part of the sidewalk is being repaired.  The GPS device won’t know this, but the dog will.  The Trekker Breeze is merely another tool, to be used along with a guide dog, to ensure autonomy for the visually impaired.  After all, a dog cannot tell you where the closest grocery store is.

Article Written by Khristen Foss