Loadstone GPS

Submitted by chris R on 27 July, 2017 and last modified on 4 October, 2017

Description of App:

Loadstone GPS is an app which enables blind pedestrians to "go blindly where
everyone sighted has gone before."
What sets Loadstone apart from other GPS apps for the blind?
* designed by the blind for the blind
* no data plan required
* available in multiple languages
* create, store, and share your own navigation waypoints with others
* see points in your neighbourhood
* highly customizable and configurable
* access to data from OpenStreetMap as well as points shared by other Loadstone users.
for more information please visit the Loadstone website at: https://www.loadstone-gps.com

Apple Watch Support:

Version:

1.1

Free or Paid:

Paid

Device(s) App Was Tested On:

iPhone

iOS Version:

10.3.3

Accessibility Comments:

This app was written primarily for blind users so as you would expect it is fully accessible.

VoiceOver Performance:

VoiceOver reads all page elements.

Button Labeling:

All buttons are clearly labeled.

Usability:

The app is fully accessible with VoiceOver and is easy to navigate and use.

Other Comments:

Loadstone has been around on the Symbian platform for over a decade and has finally been written for iOS. You can do almost everything here you could do on the Symbian version and it works great, I love it.
There are just a few minor annoyances which do not detract from this app's usability. E.g. In settings, adjustable controls such as the search and neighbourhood radius controls can only be adjusted using swipe gestures and not in smaller or larger increments.

App Store Link:

https://itunes.apple.com/app/loadstone-g...

Developer's Website:

http://shawnk.ca/index.html

User Options

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1 AppleVis user(s) have recommended this app.

chris R

8 Comments

load stone gps

Submitted by brandon armstrong on 27 July, 2017

can someone please do a podcast, or walk us thorugh how to use this app. I can't for the life of me figure out how to do anything usefull with it.

Can't figure out how to enter an address

Submitted by b swig on 29 July, 2017

In the go to box it wants longitude instead of an address. I can't even find any points of interest. This app needs some help documentation. I am rather disappointed so far.

Hi,

Submitted by chris R on 29 July, 2017

Hi,
The developer is still working on creating Ios documentation. A lot of the docs from the old version are still relevant but they are not available anywhere yet until the old website is archived..
I can see how this app is quite an unusual concept for those who haven't used the Symbian version before. It's quite an acquired taste, but if you take the time to learn about it you'll see how invaluable it can be.
Re the go to point option; this is meant to be where you enter a set of coordinates to simulate a location, to see what points are around that area. To understand this app you have to move away from thinking of addresses and such and more of visualising the area around you on a custom map inside your head.
This works best perhaps in more rural areas.
As soon as any documentation and such becomes available I will post it here.
Chris.

Thanks for that.

Submitted by b swig on 29 July, 2017

Hello,

I have been playing with the app a little more, and I am beginning to get the hang of it. I just think it is odd that the dev would release an app with no documentation.

V1.1 released

Submitted by chris R on 4 August, 2017

"What's new in this version:
* Simplified the initial setup screen so the Pointshare registration process
and getting initial data can all be done with a minimum number of steps.
* Fixed a bug that prevented sql databases received via email from working.
* Updates to various language translations.
* Added an Arabic language translation (not yet complete).
* Added an Italian language translation (not yet complete).
* Other minor bug fixes."

**User guide coming soon.

Thanks for the positive review!

Submitted by Loadstone-GPS on 9 August, 2017

We are constantly implementing changes based on users' questions and suggestions. This past weekend, August 6-8, 2017, we began posting video tutorials on our website. Text documentation is coming in the next week. For now, our Getting Started page contains useful details for new users. There is also a Frequently Asked Questions page on our website.

The Loadstone GPS website can be found at: https://www.loadstone-gps.com.

From our website, you can access our Facebook and Twitter pages. Please contact us with any questions!

Tutorials