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Bootpathguy Member
Joined: 18 Jun 2015 Posts: 1787 | TRs | Pics Location: United States |
Thought I'd try out the beta release of "Talking Trail"
Super simple
Pick a hiking destination.
There are a few basic commands that talk to you ( nice change from the standard woman's Siri type voice to a manly man voice )
"Go"
"Straight"
"Veer Left"
"Veer Right"
"Hard Right"
"Hard Left"
"Switchback Right"
"Switchback Left"
I tried listening to the commands just through the cell phone speaker, but ear buds were better.
The app has a built in step counter and you'll hear a command every 10 steps. Although there is a setting that allows you to set your step count as low as 5 and as high as 20.
I first tried a popular I90 trail that I'd never been on. You can start the app at your driveway or at the trailhead. I started it at the driveway. It took me directly to the trailhead, automatically went from driving mode to trail talk mode. I won't bore you with all the hiking details, but it was spot on from start to finish.
Next was a very obscure destination I've done once before. I don't have a GPS trac for it. Off trail. Snow covered. I didn't know what to expect with the verbal phone commands. I set the step counter to 10 steps between commands. Off I went without gps, map or compass. I just trusted the "Talking Trail" app. Wow! Extremely accurate. It gave me a command every 10 steps. It didn't put me in any compromising situations. Kept me out of danger. I was / am astonished at the accuracy of this app.
Scary folks. Many destinations will now be within reach for even the most novice of hikers.
I called and spoke with the app developers. I was most curious about my second destination and the apps accuracy on a route that has no published map or trail.
In summary he said they developed a bot to search cyber space and grab any and all routes that have ever been published or posted on the internet. They have thousands in their library. My second destination had a published route.
Crazy!
Experience is what'cha get, when you get what'cha don't want
Experience is what'cha get, when you get what'cha don't want
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rbuzby Attention Surplus
Joined: 24 Feb 2009 Posts: 1006 | TRs | Pics
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rbuzby
Attention Surplus
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Tue May 15, 2018 6:12 pm
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I can't wait for the full release version, where you can choose a celebrity voice to guide you.
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Randito Snarky Member
Joined: 27 Jul 2008 Posts: 9495 | TRs | Pics Location: Bellevue at the moment. |
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Randito
Snarky Member
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Tue May 15, 2018 6:14 pm
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Navigational skills no longer required -- just plenty of spare batteries and an armored case.
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neek Member
Joined: 12 Sep 2011 Posts: 2329 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle, WA |
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neek
Member
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Tue May 15, 2018 7:24 pm
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There are a couple experimental features you can enable if you know how to - "take selfie" and "launch drone". Before you scoff at this, think how it will revolutionize the hiking experience for the blind. And if it leads someone off a cliff, remember that social media is to blame, being the source of the data.
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Cyclopath Faster than light
Joined: 20 Mar 2012 Posts: 7694 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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Cyclopath
Faster than light
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Wed May 16, 2018 9:21 am
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I use that app when I hike, too, but I hurt my back, so I have a drone follow me around with a loud speaker, telling me which way to go every 10 steps. That way I don't have to carry it myself.
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boot up Old Not Bold Hiker
Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 4745 | TRs | Pics Location: Bend Oregon |
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boot up
Old Not Bold Hiker
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Wed May 16, 2018 10:19 am
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It's all fun and games until someone steps over the edge of a cliff on a switchbacky trail on step 9.
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thunderhead Member
Joined: 14 Oct 2015 Posts: 1511 | TRs | Pics
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Great, now skynet will be able to hunt us even in the woods.
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BdCast Member
Joined: 13 May 2011 Posts: 238 | TRs | Pics Location: Washington |
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BdCast
Member
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Wed May 16, 2018 11:31 am
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Where can we learn more about this app?
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zephyr aka friendly hiker
Joined: 21 Jun 2009 Posts: 3361 | TRs | Pics Location: West Seattle |
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zephyr
aka friendly hiker
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Wed May 16, 2018 8:48 pm
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BdCast wrote: | Where can we learn more about this app? |
Hmmm... Scorpions and ticks in the millions. The Puzzlr and RichP adventure.
Bootpathguy wrote: | C'mon folks. All the BS I've posted, it amazes me that anybody here takes me serious. |
He might be trying to reel some of us in. It is still April 1st isn't it? ~z
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BdCast Member
Joined: 13 May 2011 Posts: 238 | TRs | Pics Location: Washington |
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BdCast
Member
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Wed May 16, 2018 10:23 pm
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I visited those links but still didn’t find anything. I really need to find his app. With summer approaching I want to get out on some hikes badly, I need this app to guide me so I don’t get lost.
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