OcuSource Announces Virtual Conference for VisionImpairment Industry
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>>PR WEB
>>Saturday, May 07, 2005
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>>OcuSource Announces Virtual Conference for Vision Impairment Industry
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>>OcuSource Announces Virtual Conference for Vision Impairment Industry:
>>Brings Presentations, Services & Products Directly to Consumers Desktops
>>
>>(PRWEB) May 7, 2005 -- OcuSource.com, the vision impairment industry
>>portal, announces the OcuSource EXPO - a virtual conference for the
>>visually impaired and the service providers who support them. Through the
>>integration of a web conferencing utility called tcConference, visitors to
>>this online event can participate in interactive online presentations,
>>visit exhibitors "booths," visit the "Café," and even attend nightly
>>entertainment. The conference is scheduled for June 8-11, and may be found
>>at www.ocusource.com/expo/expo.cfm.
>>
>>"The OcuSource EXPO fulfils the needs of the vision impairment industry in
>>numerous ways" states Dr. Lou Lipschultz, CEO of OcuSource.com. "There are
>>somewhere between 12 to 14 million individuals who have some form of
>>vision loss in the United States. Yet, we estimate that only 10,000
>>visually impaired persons attend the five major vision impairment
>>tradeshows. There is obviously a significant access issue here," stated
>>Lipschultz, a low vision specialist and former executive of one of the
>>manufacturers of technology for the visually impaired. "Financial
>>constraints prevent most visually impaired individuals from experiencing
>>"physical" events where individuals can attend lectures, view products,
>>and interact with others. OcuSource is now bringing conferences to the
>>attendee, rather than the attendee having to go to the conference, and
>>doing it all through an accessible, interactive online venue."
>>
>>The intuitive "conference center" has easy-to-navigate "presentation
>>halls" and "exhibit halls" allowing the visitor to easily find his or her
>>way to the topic of interest. Presentation topics include macular
>>degeneration, living with vision loss, new products, and presentations for
>>vision care professionals. Exhibit halls are filled with "booths" staffed
>>by manufacturers, vendors, agencies, organizations, and other entities
>>eager to share information about their services and products. The key
>>component in each conference booth is the ability to speak to the
>>company's representative. Each booth has its own online voice-chat and
>>presentation room called tcConference, which is supplied by Talking
>>Communities, a web-conferencing solutions provider. Exhibitors are free to
>>schedule presentations within their booths regarding their services or
>>products. Visitors who are unable to attend the live portion of the
>>conference can still experience all the benefits through archived
>>streaming vide
>>
>>Attendees have access to the other resources found on the OcuSource
>>portal. In addition to the many searchable resources such as doctors,
>>agencies and not-for-profit organizations, corporate purchasers such as
>>schools and rehabilitation organizations have immediate access to
>>OcuSource's e-procurement service, OcuBid. If a product or service is
>>desired, the purchaser can create a bidding opportunity, also called an
>>RFB or RFP (request for bids or proposals) which is immediately
>>distributed to hundreds of vendors to obtain competitive pricing. Visitors
>>may also browse auctions of used devices like magnifiers and Braille
>>products.
>>
>>"Our greatest challenge is spreading the word to the seniors of North
>>America. We're hoping for distribution throughout the network of
>>senior-oriented websites, as well as from the many senior organizations.
>>The expo is now accepting applications for exhibitors, presentations, and
>>sponsors, all of which are available online at
>>www.ocusource.com/expo/expo.cfm.
>>
>>About OcuSource
>>
>>California based OcuSource.com, LLC is the owner and operator of
>>www.ocusource.com , an internet portal dedicated to assisting the low
>>vision and blindness industry with essential online resources. OcuSource's
>>mission is to enhance access to products, information, and services to
>>individuals with vision impairment, as well as the professionals who
>>assist them, through a set of integrated web-based resources. OcuSource
>>provides vision impairment-specific resources such as auctions of adaptive
>>products and accessories, search tools to find local and national
>>resources like doctors and agencies, as well as other tools useful to eye
>>care and rehabilitation professionals. The privately held company was
>>founded in 2003, and is headquartered in Placentia, California.This may be
>>off topic for certain lists, but here's an article I thought people would
>>be interested in reading.
Harvey