Many Thanks to all My Volunteers!
Volunteers are a crucial part of successful completion of my project and they take on numerous roles, such as:
- Designing and developing special equipment and software for a nonvisual guidance system.
- Helping me become familiar and proficient with water conditions where I will be paddling.
- Providing guidance and paddling advice during training.
- Helping out with training and crossing day logistics.
- Helping me with media production such as taking photos, editing training videos etc.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Volunteer as a paddling guide throughout the year
From October to the end of May, I will be training 5-10 hours every week in and around SF Bay and from beginning of June to mid-July, I will be training 20-25 hours weekly in Istanbul depending on the weather and water conditions. You can join me as a paddling partner. It is always safer and more fun to paddle with someone. During our expeditions, I will be testing my equipment, map different areas of the Bay for a solo paddling adventure, and exercise for my crossing from Europe to Asia.
Volunteer Coaching Opportunities:
I always appreciate people who want to volunteer their time as a paddling coach. I use a special kayak that you pedal with your legs as oppose to paddling with your arms. However, I still want to improve my paddling technique and use it in combination with pedaling. Therefore, I need paddling coaches to train me to become a better and more efficient paddler. If you have experience, interest, or a background in coaching, please Contact Me
Design, Development and engineering Volunteer Opportunities:
Volunteers design and develop nonvisual guidance systems for my project. I still need help in many areas to improve my semi-robotic kayak. If you have experience in app/software development, Arduino sensors, Raspberry Pi Projects, ultrasonic/infrared sensors, obstacle collusion systems please Contact Me You can read about how HACEMOS at ATT helped my project by building a nonvisual guidance system here: Mr. Beep the Course Keeper Media Production Volunteer OpportunitiesI will record my trainings and experience in two different ways. First, I will produce video footage to document the whole process, from the very beginning to the end: (Setting up the kayak for the first time to crossing the Bosphorus solo.) In the first few videos, I will introduce the technology, equipment and gear I will be using such as the GPS app, talking compass, obstacle detection sensors, depth whisperer, hands-free kayak, etc. and I will show how I adapted them for this project. Each video in this series will be 10-12 minutes long and each video will cover one aspect of the technology and its special application. The following videos will focus on my time on the water. I will produce at least one short video every week to show how I set up and launch the kayak, map the area, navigate between the waypoints, use the tech devices, and what kinds of orientation techniques I use on the water. I will narrate every step to make sure videos are accessible to other Blind people. Videos will be posted to my YouTube channel and Ahmet the Blind Captain which is the Facebook page I created for this project: Ahmet The Blind Captain FaceBook Page I will videotape spectators’ reactions to my project in the United States and Turkey, using my crossing from Europe to Asia as an opportunity to document how my project changes people’s perceptions of the barriers between Blind and sighted people as well as the barriers between East and West. After I complete the project, I will work with a video editor to create a documentary using the video footage I took. The documentary will be ready at the Holman gala in December and I will upload it to my YouTube channel. I hope that documenting the project through film and writing will help to share it with an audience of Blind and sighted people. If you would like to take part in this exciting journey, please Contact Me
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How Can You Support?
I will be training from August 2017 to July 2018 for my Project "Paddling From Europe To Asia." I am looking for people who canpaddle with me around San Francisco and Istanbul
teach me currents of the Bosphorous
help me with electronics, mechanics, and software/app development such as installation of Obstacle Detection and collision Avoidance Systems (ultrasonic and laser sensors), building arduino and Raspberry Pi devices, ETC
take photos and videos during my trainings and crossing the Bosphorous
help me with video editing and creating a short documentary about my project "Paddling From Europe To Asia"
Be one of my sponsors
Please contact me at ahmet@theblindcaptain.com if you are interested in volunteering or sponsoring.
Tech devices I'll use on the kayak
- Mr. Beep the Course Keeper
- Audio Compass
- Ariadne GPS
- Depth Whisperer
- Loc8tor
- Trekker
- Other apps and devices
Fishing with me!
Fishing is one of my favorite activity. I do pier fishing around San Francisco Bay. During my training for "Paddling From Europe To Asia" I am hoping to get into kayak fishing as well.I want my website, www.theblindcaptain.com to be a platform where blind and sighted fisherman can connect and go fishing together.
If you are a blind fisherman looking for a sighted fishing buddy or if you are a sighted fishing enthusiast who wants to volunteer please contact me at ahmet@theblindcaptain.com.