Progress Report 2

First off, let's celebrate passing the 4500 word mark, whatever that means. I don't like word or page counting anyway, possibly as little as I do computer spell checkers.

This week I have continued to write about the building blocks (GPS, AGPS, DGPS, WLAN, ...) and have written about two of the most complex systems I have found (Drishti and SWAN). They are excellent prototypes and contain much of the functionality I seek. Interestingly, I haven't encountered any navigation system trying the paradigm of machine learning. As I see it now, there are two major directions to go forward:
1. Make multimodality really work. There are already excellent commercial GPS systems for the blind; It is time to extend that. Find a way to put all kinds of sensors in an efficient device that lasts an acceptable time on batteries. Find clever ways of using all the information and presenting it. Provide some minimal functionality at all times.
2. Let the machine think. One must be careful here, but if done right this could lead to a much easier to use system. One of the important properties I think a system should possess is minimal (and quick) interaction. This is true for mobile devices in general, where it is important to be able to perform tasks quickly.
A system capable of learning would also make adaptation much easier. Users' habis would be picked up and the presentation and behaviour would be adjusted accordingly. Locations that are especially difficult would be noticed and presentation verbosity would be adjusted... Consistency of behaviour is important though, and so if the machine decides to behave differently it has to do so in a way the user expects, or else it could lead to much confusion.

Next week I will write about a couple of other systems, and also polish up this section and check that I actually evalate the systems based on my own recently-established criteria! Also, the pervasive computing viewpoint is something I didn't initially consider, but is something I should definitely consider, as it is a viable future research direction. This paradigm is already applied in some other aids for the disabled including devices for those with dementia.

Also realised something simple and obvious while out walking yesterday with my phone's GPS system: It is by far not enough to just give directions when approaching an intersection, curvy roads can be difficult at times in the winter! In the winter, the world is a new one every day, I use to say.