To Peter and others on this list who may have been tricked by this:

Peter, you might point this out to others with whom you shared this, 
or from wherever you got it.

There are many signs that indicate that this is really old info.

If you go to the page, or you look closely at the link, you can see 
that this press release came out in the year 2000.

So, my question is:
Why's this old thing begun to circulate like it's a big deal?

Pulse Data, by that name, doesn't even exist any more.

Are books even developed for Microsoft Reader any more?

Clearly, the deal fell through, and the dream must not have been too 
compelling.

Jennifer

At 12:03 PM 9/21/2007 -0400, you wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2000/Nov00/PulseDataPR.mspx
>
>
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>
>
>   Microsoft and New Zealand Company Pulse Data To Make Thousands of EBook
>Titles Available to the Blind
>Microsoft Reader Software to Be Integrated Into BrailleNote, Pulse Data's
>Family of Personal Data Assistants
>
>
>
>REDMOND, Wash., and CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, Nov. 20, 2000 - Microsoft
>Corp. signed an agreement with Pulse Data International Ltd. that will
>provide
>the visually impaired with easy access to thousands of new and existing
>electronic books. Pulse Data, a specialist in enabling access to information
>for
>the visually impaired, will collaborate with Microsoft in delivering a
>blind-friendly interface for eBooks created for MicrosoftR Reader.
>
>
>
>Microsoft Reader software will be integrated with Pulse Data's BrailleNote,
>a family of screenless personal data assistants based on the Microsoft
>WindowsR
>CE operating system that offer feedback through speech and electronic
>Braille.
>
>
>
>"We at Microsoft have a dream that people with visual impairments will have
>access to books and literature at the same time and with the same
>availability
>as sighted readers," said Janine Harrison, group program manager of
>Microsoft Reader. "This collaboration is a wonderful step in making that
>dream a reality."
>
>
>
>
>Russell Smith, managing director of Pulse Data, shares this enthusiasm and
>sees Microsoft as the driving force behind the alliance. "Clearly we are
>very
>excited about the opportunity and consider this the next step forward in our
>relationship with Microsoft USA and Microsoft New Zealand. Integrating
>Microsoft
>Reader into the BrailleNote family is a further justification for our
>decision to use the Windows CE operating system in the BrailleNote family of
>products."
>
>
>
>
>To read an electronic book with BrailleNote, users will need to download an
>eBook title from an online distributor to their BrailleNote device, then
>open
>the file. They will have the option to listen to the speech version of the
>eBook or read the electronic Braille display.
>
>
>
>Jim Halliday, president of HumanWare Inc., the North American distributor of
>BrailleNote, is thrilled about the possibilities for the technology. "The
>implications
>are enormous. With the integration of BrailleNote and Microsoft Reader,
>blind schoolchildren will be able to read the same eBooks as their sighted
>classmates,
>and blind people will have virtually instant access to literally thousands
>of titles that would take months or years to create through traditional
>paper
>Braille publishing."
>
>
>
>Geoff Lawrie, managing director of Microsoft New Zealand, said, "Pulse
>Data's work has been instrumental in promoting New Zealand's software
>development
>reputation on the world stage, and we are delighted to be working with Pulse
>Data to further enhance its innovative products for the visually impaired."
>
>
>
>
>About Microsoft's Accessibility Efforts
>
>
>
>With more than a decade of experience and dedication, Microsoft has been a
>leader in making accessible products and raising the standard for the
>industry.
>In addition to developing products, technologies and services that are
>accessible and usable by all people, Microsoft works closely with companies
>that
>produce accessibility aids to achieve a common goal of improving the lives
>of people with disabilities by making computers a positive force in
>employment,
>education and recreation.
>
>
>
>About Microsoft
>
>
>
>Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT" ) is the worldwide leader in
>software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business
>computing.
>The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower
>people through great software - any time, any place and on any device.
>
>
>
>About Pulse Data International Ltd.
>
>
>
>Founded in 1988, Pulse Data international has become a world leader in the
>design, manufacture and distribution of innovative products and software
>that
>enhance the lives of visually impaired people. These include electronic
>magnifying systems for people with low vision and hardware and software
>products,
>which use synthesized speech and electronic Braille for the totally blind.
>
>
>
>Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of
>Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
>
>
>
>The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
>trademarks of their respective owners.
>
>
>
>Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on
>Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at
>http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/
>on Microsoft's corporate information pages.


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