Although a couple of months old, I recently found this
press release on a French web site. I don't recall seeing it on
these lists, so I'm forwarding a copy, which I think may be
of interest to others who track technology access developments.
Regards,
Jamal
----------
From the web page http://www.eurobraille.fr/WILAxxF0/WIT805U0.htm
For Release 9 a.m. PDT
May 27, 1998
Microsoft and euroBRAILLE Announce Joint Development Agreement
Resulting Technologies Will Enhance Accessibility Aids for
Computer Users With Disabilities
REDMOND, Wash. -- May 27, 1998 -- Microsoft Corp. and
euroBRAILLE SA today announced an agreement to work together to
produce components that will be included in the Microsoft®
Screen Access Model (MSAM). The MSAM is a set of technologies
that will make the Windows® operating system more accessible for
people with disabilities, especially those who are blind or have
low vision. These technologies will provide new ways to access
and store information from the graphical user interface,
information that had previously been difficult for software
developers to obtain. Also included are new standard interfaces
for using braille and speech output.
MSAM will make it easier for independent software vendors (ISVs)
to produce accessibility utilities for the Windows operating
system. Customers will benefit from MSAM because it will lead to
higher-quality accessibility utilities.
MSAM will be shared with ISVs through the Microsoft Developer
Network. Preliminary versions of MSAM components were delivered
to accessibility ISVs at the CSUN disability technology
conference in California in March 1998. Final release, including
the components developed jointly by Microsoft and euroBRAILLE,
is expected during fall 1998.
MSAM technology will be compatible with the Windows 95, Windows
98,
Windows NT® 4.0 and Windows NT 5.0 operating systems. MSAM may
also be included in future versions of Windows.
Microsoft is working with euroBRAILLE to improve the efficiency
of software developers who create accessibility technology and,
ultimately, to foster demand for high-quality accessibility aids
across all the target platforms.
Based on the MSAM components, euroBRAILLE is developing a family
of accessibility aids, including DRACULAwin, DRACULAnet and
DRACULAvox, that will provide blind users with simple, intuitive
access to Windows. According to euroBRAILLE, beta testers of the
DRACULAwin and DRACULAnet products have shown that, using only
three simple functions, they are able to navigate in Windows
with a braille device with less than one hour of training. The
DRACULAvox product will be similar to DRACULAwin and DRACULAnet,
but will be based on speech output.
For more technical information about the Microsoft Screen Access
Model, see http://www.microsoft.com/enable/. For information
about euroBRAILLE, visit http://www
.eurobraille.fr.
euroBRAILLE, a French company located in Paris, develops,
manufactures and sells adaptation devices for visually impaired
people. The company's primary activity is the manufacturing of
its patented euroBRAILLE-CLIO Braille device family (desktop or
laptop braille device of 20 to 84 characters).
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide
leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a
wide range of products and services for business and personal
use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more
enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of
personal computing every day.
#########
The information contained in this press release relates to a
prerelease software product that may be substantially modified
before its first commercial release. Accordingly, the
information may not accurately describe or reflect the software
product when first commercially released. The press release is
provided for informational purposes only, and Microsoft makes no
warranties, express or implied, with respect to the press
release or the information contained in it.
Microsoft, Windows and Windows NT are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States
and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of
their respective owners.
For more information, press only:
Jenny Moede, Waggener Edstrom, (503) 245-0905, [log in to unmask]
Ioan Montane, euroBRAILLE, +33 1 53 72 85 10,
[log in to unmask]
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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