Maybe, it's time I learn WindowEyes?
Peter
Subject: Press Release
For Immediate Release
6/11/2002
Contact Information:
Jim Misener, President
303-795-6455
New Tool Offers Blind People The Power of a Computer Combined With the
Convenience of a Note-Taker
Littleton, CO. Beyond Sight, the nation's largest retail outlet for
products designed for blind and visually impaired persons announced this
week that it has created a new technology solution for Blind individuals
that has, in the past, been thought to be impossible. Appropriately named
"LapTalk", the product is, in essence, a screenless laptop computer with an
integrated text-to-speech application that enables non-sighted users access
to the same information that sighted people can view on a monitor.
Jim Misener, President of Beyond Sight, who is blind himself, has been
working on this idea for several years. "For a long time, blind people have
used voice-empowered notetakers", Misener says, "But these devices are very
limited and quite expensive. LapTalk changes all of that."
Indeed, the note-taking devices to which Mr. Misener refers have, on
average, 16 Megabytes of memory, shared between RAM and storage, whereas
the LapTalk boasts 256 Megabytes of RAM, and 20 Gigabytes of storage. In
addition to this, compatibility is insured, because the user will be
working in an actual Windows environment, rather than the proprietary
Operating Systems currently used on most note-takers.
"In the past," says Misener; "Blind people used a combination of note-taker
for portability, and a computer for power."
After all of the costs were added up, a system of that type cost the user
about $3500. Misener's LapTalk, on the other hand, is being offered for
about half that. LapTalk is light, weighing in at a mere 2.6 lbs, and its
physical dimensions are 11 7/8 inches long, 9 7/8 inches deep, and only
1inch high. The advantages, according to Misener, are virtually limitless.
"Not only will the LapTalk replace the traditional computer, note-taker,
and PDA for blind people, but it will have more functionality as well." He
says. "This machine will be running Windows XP, offer complete internet
access through either the built-in modem or network port, and will have
full versions of Internet Explorer and Outlook Express. We are also adding
a Microsoft Office compatible Word Processor, Spreadsheet, and Database
applications. To my knowledge, there is nothing like this out there."
And everything will be available to the blind because LapTalk also includes
an integrated version of Window Eyes by GW Micro Corp., a well-known player
in the field of adaptive technology. Clarence Whaley, Director of Sales and
Marketing for GW Micro says, "This is the perfect solution for people who
are blind and who are on the go.
The power of LapTalk coupled with the "Rock Solid" performance of
Window-Eyes Professional gives those of us who are blind power in the
classroom, at home or in the workplace. No more having to envy our sighted
peers with their PDA's. Now, we have that ability too." Now, blind people
no longer have to choose between power, portability, and accessibility,
because, as Misener says, "LapTalk has it all."
A companion product which will be released simultaneously is DeskTalk. This
is the non portable version of LapTalk, and will have most of the same
features, including the integrated Window Eyes Screen Reader. DeskTalk will
be priced at $995, and will most likely be welcome by parents of young
blind children, as well as by blind seniors who would primarily use a
computer at home.
Today, a computer and Screen Reader must be purchased separately, and that
average cost today can be up to $1400 or more! $500 is an amount that young
parents and seniors will like saving. Curtis Chong, Director of Technology
for the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore, said simply, "This
is going to knock the bottom out of this market."
Clarence Whaley
Director Of Sales And Marketing
GW Micro
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
Direct Voice (615) 383-6248
Direct Fax (615) 269-5288
GW Micro Voice Number 260-489-3671
http://www.gwmicro.com
gw-news list which is an announce only list used for news,
product information and the Voice of Vision newsletter
distribution.
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