This is an exciting new product. Personally I'd like one minus the braille
display, a bit smaller and cheaper, butit is a great step forward.
Norm
>Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2003 17:00:00 -0800
>From: ALVA Access Group Customer Support <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Press Release
>To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask],
> [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]
>X-Mailer: Novell GroupWise Internet Agent 6.0
>
>News Release
>
>
>
>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>
> Contact:
>Leanne Hartman
> 510-451-2582 ext.
> 115
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
>ALVA MPO(TM) Mobile Phone Organizer Ships in U.S.
>First accessible integrated cellular phone and personal organizer now
>available
>
>Oakland, Calif. - December 17, 2003 - ALVA B.V., a leading provider of
>assistive information technology for the blind and visually impaired,
>today announced that the ALVA MPO 5500, the first fully-integrated
>cellular phone and personal organizer, began shipping to customers this week.
>
>The MPO puts resources - people, data, and documents - at the user's
>fingertips in one small durable device that can be carried in a pocket,
>book bag, or briefcase and access using Braille or speech. Standard
>cellular phones and PDAs (personal digital assistant) have almost no
>accessibility features, short of a few voice-activated commands. Services
>are increasingly visually oriented, requiring the user to navigate through
>detailed layered menus and select options displayed on tiny screens.
>
>"The MPO represents the first wireless, all in one handheld for the
>visually-impaired," said Eric Weldink, ALVA president and CEO. "This is a
>case of technology really addressing a changing market. Our customers are
>very mobile, moving between home, workplace, and school - independent
>people who participate in their community but are hampered by the
>limitations of traditional mobile technology. They've been
>underserved. The MPO gives ALVA a chance to apply our Braille display and
>access expertise to a growing wireless market."
>
>The ALVA MPO offers all the key features traditional cellular phone and
>PDA users have come to expect, with additional features incorporated for
>blind and visually impaired users including 20 braille cells, 8-dot
>Braille keyboard with touch sensors, a high quality speech synthesizer and
>ALVA's Smart-Control(TM) navigation.
>
>Notable features include:
>
>· Fully accessible tri-band GSM cellular phone with built-in
>speakerphone and headset included;
>· SMS text messaging to send and receive text messages;
>· Essential notetaker with basic word-processing functionality;
>· Agenda/day planner with alarms;
>· Address book and contacts database;
>· Calculator;
>· System manager synchronizes data with PC or laptop, checks
>battery, customizes settings.
>
>The MPO has the familiar look and feel of ALVA's popular Satellite(TM)
>series of refreshable Braille displays, with a special emphasis on
>portability and durability. The MPO comes with a convenient carrying bag
>to be worn over the shoulder or neck or attached to a waist belt or can
>fit easily into a handbag, backpack, or briefcase. ALVA's rechargeable
>batteries last 10 hours with typical use and are included.
>
>The trademark purple ALVA MPO casing measures 9.4 inches long x 4.1 inches
>wide x 1.7 inches thick and weighs 1 lb. 9 oz. It features an attractive
>scratch-resistant finish that easily wipes clean.
>
>MPO 5500 Offers Solid Platform to Grow On
>The ALVA MPO 5500 represents a robust platform with an expanding set of
>functions, carrying ALVA's "Future-Safe" label. "Future Safe means that
>customers will benefit from our commitment to a stream of upgrades and
>extensions," said Weldink. "Beginning in early 2004, we will offer MPO
>Option Packages that only require simple software upgrades."
>
>Upcoming ALVA MPO features will include email synchronization with Outlook
>and added Braille terminal functionality. Users can expect more options,
>like an Internet browser, GPS (Global Positioning System), Daisy reader,
>and an MP3 player later in the year.
>
>MPO Reaches Growing Market
>There are approximately 10 million blind or visually impaired people in
>the U.S. The blind and visually impaired U.S. population is growing as
>the population ages. Nearly half are employed and many others attend
>school and college full-time. (source: American Foundation for the Blind
>Quick Facts and Figures on Blindness and Low Vision).
>
>"I feel like I can be more professional in my job," said Chris McMillan,
>AAGI Regional Manager. "When I'm in a group, a meeting or conference, I'm
>using the same tools as everyone else, but instead of a notepad I have my
>MPO. My manager likes that he can reach me anytime with text messaging
>and I'm able to respond fast and silently. I can find the agendas,
>meeting notes, run quick calculations, or search my database regardless of
>where my life takes me. I've even used the speakerphone for a group
>discussion in the middle of a conference."
>
>Pricing and Availability
>The ALVA MPO 5500 is available now through all authorized MPO resellers in
>the U.S. The MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price) is $4,295.
>
>About ALVA
>ALVA B.V. is a leader in the assistive technology industry. Founded in
>the Netherlands in 1984, ALVA is privately held with offices in the U.S.
>and Europe. With innovations that include the patented cursor routing
>switch, used on virtually every Braille display manufactured today, ALVA
>products and licensed technologies are helping people achieve their
>potential. The ALVA product family includes Braille displays, screen
>readers, speech synthesizers, screen magnification software, Braille
>software and printers, and handheld organizers.
>
>In collaboration with a network of regional Authorized ALVA Dealers, ALVA
>customizes access products for rehabilitation professionals, schools,
>government agencies, businesses, and end-users. ALVA products and
>services are available worldwide.
>
>ALVA Access Group, Inc., the U.S. division of ALVA B.V., is located in
>Oakland, California. ALVA Access Group, Inc. can be reached toll-free at
>(888) 318-2582 (ALVA) or [log in to unmask] For more information, please
>visit ALVA at www.aagi.com.
>
>ALVA B.V. is located in Arnhem, the Netherlands. ALVA can be reached at
>+31 26 384 1 384 or at [log in to unmask] For more information, please view
>the ALVA web pages at www.alva-bv.nl or www.alvabraille.com.
>
>ALVA B.V. and ALVA Access Group, Inc. are equal opportunity employers.
>
>###
>
>
>
>
>
>
>ALVA Fact Sheet
>Background on the Visually Impaired Market
>
>About the Visually Impaired Market
>Blindness or severe vision or sight-impairment currently affects about 10
>million Americans, about half of whom are over the age of 65. About 46%
>are employed.
>
>The term "sight-impairment" implies that careers and everyday living
>situations require adjustment, including the use of technology, to lead
>productive and satisfying lives. The U.S. federal government estimates
>annual losses of more than $4 billion in benefits and taxable income due
>to vision impairment and blindness. The causes of vision impairment are
>many, but given the aging U.S. population and the fact that blindness and
>vision impairment increase rapidly in later years, the U.S. has
>experienced an increase in the number of those who are vision-impaired.
>Since July1992, the demand for assistive information technology has
>increased due to the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act
>of 1990, commonly known as the ADA. The ADA prohibits private employers,
>state and local governments, employment agencies and labor unions from
>discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities. Disabled
>employees may be accommodated by acquiring or modifying equipment
>or devices, including IT equipment, that will allow them to do their
>job. An employer is required to make an accommodation to the known
>disability of a qualified applicant or employee if it would not impose an
>"undue hardship" on the operation of the employer's business.
>Small business are eligible for tax credits that can be used to cover a
>variety of expenditures, including the purchase of adaptive equipment and
>production of accessible formats of printed materials (i.e., Braille,
>large print, audio tape, computer diskette) to accommodate blind and
>visually-impaired people.
>About Braille and Braille Display Technology
>Braille is a system of reading and writing by touch used by the blind. It
>consists of arrangements of dots that make up letters of the alphabet,
>numbers, and punctuation marks. Experienced Braille readers read Braille
>at speeds comparable to print readers--200 to 400 words a minute. A
>computer user can now send a document to a standard printer to produce a
>paper copy in print or to a Braille embosser to produce the document in
>Braille. .
>
>Refreshable Braille Displays are electronic devices that are used to read
>text that a computer sends to the monitor. The device is connected to the
>computer by a serial cable and produces Braille output on the Braille
>display. Refreshable Braille displays only read one line of text at a
>time. These displays generally include directional keys that allow the
>user to navigate through a document. Larger displays (80 cells) also
>include a cursor routing function. Each cell contains eight small pins,
>allowing eight dot computer Braille rather than the traditional "print" or
>embossed six dot Braille.
>
>To be removed from our mailing list, please send a blank e-mail message to
>[log in to unmask] and put the word "remove" in the subject line.
------------------------------
EASI December Live Web Conferences (clinics) http://easi.cc/clinic.htm
EASI's January, month-long online courses:
Designing Accessible Course Content Using Familiar Software
http://easi.cc/workshops/dacc.htm
Beginner Barrier-free Web Design http://easi.cc/workshops/easiweb.htm
Train the Trainer http://easi.cc/workshops/train.htm
(a package of five courses will earn the Certificate in Accessible
Information Technology)
http://easi.cc/workshop.htm
Norman Coombs, Ph.D.
CEO EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information)
22196 Caminito Tasquillo
Laguna Hills CA 92653
home: (949) 855-4852
Cell: (949) 922-5992
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
http://www.rit.edu/~nrcgsh
-------------------------------------------------------------
See EASI Special October Bonus offer at http://easi.cc/clinic.htm
EASI November courses are:
Barrier-free E-learning, Accessible Internet Multimedia and Business Benefits of Accessible IT Design:
http://easi.cc/workshop.htm
EASI Home Page http://www.rit.edu/~easi
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