BlindSquare base requirements

BlindSquare has a few baseline requirements, each met by current iOS technology.

iPhone series 1, 4, 5, 6-6s and 6+

iPhone series 1, 4, 5, 6-6s and 6+

All models of the iPhone starting with the iPhone 4 support BlindSquare. However, later iPhone models have better GPS receivers, so the information provided by BlindSquare is more reliable on later models.The GPS receiver of the iPhone 3GS is not accurate enough to let BlindSquare announce street crossings as you walk. To use BlindSquare, iOS 5 or later has to be installed on your device.

BlindSquare requires access to the internet, GPS and when within a Beacon Positioning System, Bluetooth.   Early iPhones (series 1 and 4) lack all of these features.  iPhone 4s is the first that "will work" but newer models provide greater accuracy and benefits for the traveler.  On iPhone 5s and forward, more features within a BlindSquare BPS (ie,  altimeter and motion sensing) are unlocked and available for the traveler.

Does BlindSquare require an internet connection?

Does BlindSquare require an internet connection?

Since BlindSquare looks up information on your location and your surroundings on Foursquare and Open Street Map, your device must be connected to the internet in order to use BlindSquare.

In a future release we may add a feature that will let you download information about an area so you can use BlindSquare even when you are not connected to the internet. Currently, however, we recommend that you use BlindSquare with a data plan.

What is BlindSquare Event?

What is BlindSquare Event?

BlindSquare Event is a free version of the paid BlindSquare app. When it is used at an event of special interest to blind and visually impaired people which has been registered with MIPsoft, BlindSquare Event will make available for free all of the features of the paid version of BlindSquare at the location and time of the registered event. There are typically two limits.  1. The geography, called GeoFence, an area in proximity to the event location.  2. TIME: typically two days preceding an event, such as a conference

If BlindSquare Event is run at a different time and location, it will operate as a demo of BlindSquare. BlindSquare Event will simulate a predefined location and users will be able to try most of the features available in the paid version of BlindSquare as if they really were at the simulated location. We hope BlindSquare Event will help potential buyers to decide if BlindSquare can be helpful to them.

Organizations that hold an event for the blind and visually impaired and would like to give attendees an additional tool to make orientation at the location of the event easier are welcome to register their event. If you plan to attend an event that is not registered with MIPsoft, you may request the event to be supported by BlindSquare Event. MIPsoft will then contact the organization holding the event to ask if they are interested in making BlindSquare Event available to their attendees. If the organization agrees, BlindSquare Event will be activated for the event.

You can download BlindSquare Event from the App Store.

How can I check that BlindSquare is configured to read iBeacons?

How can I check that BlindSquare is configured to read iBeacons?

First, you must have BlueTooth enabled on your device.  

Second, as shown above, you can check within BlindSquare that it IS set to acquire iBeacon signals.  This setting is ON by default, but can be turned on or off by the user.

Can I use BlindSquare on an iPAD?

Can I use BlindSquare on an iPAD?

BlindSquare will work on an iPad. We recommend using a 3G or 4G model of the iPad, since only these models possess GPS capabilities. If you use BlindSquare on a non-3g or 4G iPad, please see the section on using BlindSquare on an iPod Touch.

If you want to run BlindSquare on an iPad, you will want to carry the iPad in a backpack. Make sure that the back of the iPad points in the direction in which you are traveling. Connect headphones to your iPad so you are able to hear announcements.

If you use bone conduction headphones or AirDrives headphones, your ears will not be covered and you will be able to hear environment sounds well enough to be safe.

A benefit of the iPad is its longer battery life compared to the iPhone. Touching the screen to perform a search, however, is more difficult. We recommend that you use BlindSquare with a headset that supports the Audio Menu. The Audio Menu allows you to perform different BlindSquare commands using the music controls of your headset. Both the AftersShokz and the Airdrives headsets support the Audio Menu. However, the Bluetooth models of the Aftershokz headsets do not support all of the Audio Menu features.

Can BlindSquare be used by people who are both blind and deaf?

Can BlindSquare be used by people who are both blind and deaf?

BlindSquare supports Braille displays so people who are deafblind can use it, too. To use BlindSquare with your Braille display, open the Tools menu and double-tap Braille Display to open a screen containing all of the spoken text.

While this screen is active, BlindSquare will not use the Acapela or iOS speech synthesizer, but will send all announcements to this screen so you can read it using VoiceOver and your Braille display.

You can shake your device to cause BlindSquare to display your current location. If you press the Home button to send BlindSquare to the background while the Braille Display Screen is active, BlindSquare will display all of the spoken text as notifications, which can be read on your Braille display, too. When BlindSquare mentions a place, you may double-tap the notification to open its Place Description Screen. If you perform any action on this screen e.g. checking in, BlindSquare will return to the Braille Display Screen, not to the main screen.

How should I hold my iPhone?

How should I hold my iPhone?

If traveling with your iPhone in your pocket or backpack, the back of the device should face the direction of your travel.  When using the iPhone indoors, the traveler should hold the phone in-hand vertically.  This to ensure that the device orientation can be properly sensed by BlindSquare and all sensors for direction, movement and attitude/altitude will be correct.

Additional BlindSquare tips

Additional BlindSquare tips

Additional BlindSquare information can be found here or by selecting the HELP icon, bottom left corner, of the BlindSquare main screen.