HumanWare announced the launch of the VictorReader Trek earlier this year and now they have started to ship out 200 units to fill their pre-orders with another 600 units coming later this month. Priced at 599 USD (795 CDN) and expected to go up 100 USD after pre-orders are filled. Combining the cutting-edge GPS technology of the Trekker Breeze with the innovative media reading & playback capabilities of the VictorReader Stream, this multiuse handheld device is designed to make mobility easy and enjoyable for people who are blind or visually impaired.
The best of both worlds
With its lightweight design and intuitive features, Trek allows users to toggle between always-on orientation mode and online or offline reading mode at the touch of a button, giving them the confidence to get where they’re going and stay entertained on the way.
Orientation mode
Trek is designed to help users move around confidently and independently with clear, easy-to-follow verbal instructions, allowing them to plan routes ahead of time and add landmarks along the way. If they get lost, they can simply press the “Where Am I” button and Trek will let them know exactly where they are at that exact point in time.
Whether you are listening to books or media, or navigating your commute to work, the Trek uses the same buttons to receive similar information in both modes. Need to identify intersections around you or your nearest address? Just press the where am I button. That same where am I button which tells you what page and percentage you are in the latest novel you are reading. Need to bookmark your place in a book? Just press the Trek’s bookmark key. That same key will drop a voice tagged landmark in your environment when in orientation mode. As people who are blind or visually impaired often travel with a cane or guide dog, helpfully, all functions of the VictorReader Trek can be operated with one hand. So there is no need to stop your progress while in transit.
Playback & reading mode
Trek offers instant access to the latest books, magazines, music, podcasts and more, allowing users to catch their favourite show while they’re riding the train, or play back audio notes from lectures when they arrive back home. If they get distracted or lose their place in a book, they can press the same “Where Am I” button to find it again in a flash.
The independence to travel freely
Trek was designed to make getting around a breeze, whether traveling by foot, car or public transport. Clear and safe pedestrian instructions ensure users understand their surroundings at all times, while vehicle instructions are simple and accurate to easily guide a sighted driver.
The confidence to navigate new environments
Navigating open areas like a college campus or park can be a challenge in new environments. But Trek puts users instantly at ease, allowing them to drop voice-tagged landmarks at different buildings—even if there are no streets around—so they always have a point of reference.
The future of orientation
The Trek allows users to download content wirelessly and with a bluetooth headset or external speaker, and play text documents with built-in text-to-speech software from Acapela. Trek is compatible with iTunes, DAISY libraries, NLS, Bookshare and more, and uses regularly updated map data from TomTom and in the future iBeacons for unmatched navigational accuracy.
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