Experience the seamless fusion of navigation and on-the-go entertainment with the limited-edition VR Cardinal – a portable tactile GPS system combined with a digital book player.
A limited edition, multiuse handheld device designed to make mobility easy and enjoyable for people who are blind or visually impaired.
The VR Cardinal is designed as an innovative orientation aid and an advanced high-performance DAISY, MP3, and NISO player for students, professionals, or on-the-go people who have extensive reading needs. It allows you to transfer content from your PC to its removable flash memory card and provides advanced navigation of multiple formats including DAISY, MP3, NISO and electronic text.
The user can toggle between Orientation Guidance and Book Reading modes
Uses GPS to provide auditory instructions for pedestrians and drivers
Navigation to a specific address or saved landmark
“Where Am I” key press to know your exact location and description of your surroundings
Record a voice-tagged landmark and create your own saved routes
Directly download or transfer books from dedicated libraries
Internet radio streaming or transfer content to listen offline
Wikipedia access
Record audio notes, to-do lists, lectures, meeting notes or save new landmarks
Numeric keypad and specific key shapes for different functions
Voice auto-switch mode: 2 languages in one device
The battery lasts between 12 and 15 hours and takes up to 4 hours to charge with the AC adapter
Weather resistant carrying case
USB cable
Power adapter
14 language modes: English (North America), English (UK), English (Australia), French (France), French (Canada), German, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Swedish, Spanish, Finnish, Italian, Arabic
Q: What is the VR Cardinal LE?
A: The VR Cardinal LE combines the simplicity of book reading and media playback with integrated navigation guidance technology. By pressing the online button, you can seamlessly transition from book reading or media playback to Orientation mode, where you can:
Utilize the “Where am I” button (key 5) to determine your current direction, upcoming intersections, intersection configurations, distance to the next intersection, and nearest address.
Create voice-tagged landmarks for familiar places you wish to revisit, like your home.
Enter an address using the telephone keypad to receive pedestrian or vehicle turn-by-turn instructions.
Search for nearby points of interest and receive turn-by-turn directions to restaurants, stores, hotels, and more.
Virtually explore map areas, familiarize yourself with your surroundings, and plan for trips from the comfort of your home.
And much more!
Q: Does the VR Cardinal LE have internal memory?
A: Yes, the VR Cardinal LE boasts 32 GB of internal storage, which is also where maps are stored. Books and media can also be stored on an external SD card if available.
Q: Can I connect the VR Cardinal LE to Bluetooth headphones or speakers?
A: Yes, the VR Cardinal LE is compatible with most Bluetooth speakers and headsets. To enable Bluetooth, press the online button to navigate to the online bookshelves, then press the 7 key to access the settings menu. Press 7 again to find the option for enabling Bluetooth. Once enabled, scan for and connect to your preferred speaker or headset, and audio will be routed through the selected device.
Q: When I’m stationary outdoors, my VR Cardinal LE’s position seems to move. Why is this?
A: Accurate GPS positioning depends on movement. While you may be stationary, the satellites and Earth are not. For optimal accuracy, it’s recommended to maintain a constant pace.
Q: How do I add additional map packages to my VR Cardinal LE?
A: Thanks to the VR Cardinal LE’s Wi-Fi capability, you can download maps and updates directly to the device without a computer. Additionally, with version 2.1 and higher, you can use a computer and an SD card for faster map installation. Consult the “install new map packages” section on the website or the user guide for step-by-step guidance.
Q: How will I receive software updates for my VR Cardinal LE?
A: The VR Cardinal LE supports automatic wireless updates. Ensure you enable the “automatic check for updates” option in the online menu.
Q: What’s included in the VR Cardinal LE box?
A: When you purchase your VR Cardinal LE, you receive:
VR Cardinal LE device
USB cable
Weather-resistant carrying case
Q: How do I record a landmark using the VR Cardinal LE?
A: In Orientation mode, activated by pressing the online button, travel to the desired location where you want to mark a landmark. Then, press the bookmark (diamond) shaped button or use the record button on the side of the device. Speak into the VR Cardinal LE to identify the location, and within a few seconds, the landmark will be recorded.
Q: How do I enter an address on the VR Cardinal LE?
A: In Orientation mode, press and hold the Go To button to choose a landmark as your destination. Press the left arrow to enter an address. Use the telephone keypad to input the city, street, and civic number. You can tap the sleep button to learn the characters represented by each keypad button.
Q: Can I use the VR Cardinal LE solely as a navigation assistant without reading books or listening to podcasts?
A: Yes, the VR Cardinal LE remembers the last mode used before powering off. If you primarily use it for GPS navigation, it will default to that mode when powered on.
Q: Is the VR Cardinal LE compatible with Audible?
A: Audible compatibility has been available since version 1.1.3. Make sure to enable “automatic check for updates” in the Online Bookshelf settings and connect your VR Cardinal LE to Wi-Fi to update to the latest software version.
Q: How do I activate my VR Cardinal LE to download Audible books?
A: To activate your VR Cardinal LE with Audible, use the Audible Sync software application. Download the Audible Sync app from the Audible website, connect your VR Cardinal LE to your computer, and follow the steps for activation.
Q: Is the VR Cardinal LE compatible with library sources like NLS and Bookshare?
A: Yes, the VR Cardinal LE is compatible.
Q: After updating the VR Cardinal LE, I see the message “GPS initialization Failed.” Is this a problem?
A: This is not a problem. You can resolve it by turning off the VR Cardinal LE, removing the battery for a minute, reinserting the battery, and then turning the device back on.
Q: My VR Cardinal LE seems to be showing the wrong street or “No GPS coverage.” What should I do?
A: If your VR Cardinal LE is new or hasn’t been used for some time, it may take a while to acquire a GPS signal. It’s recommended to give the VR Cardinal LE several hours to sync with GPS satellites or use the “Update GPS satellite position” option when connected to Wi-Fi. GPS signal acquisition is more effective when you are outside.
