from the British Computer Assoc. of the Blind


IBM Web browser talks to visually impaired
By Emily Fitzloff
InfoWorld Electric
Posted at 5:01 PM PT, Oct 21, 1998
At this week's Closing the Gap conference, in Minneapolis, IBM launched
a talking Web browser that is designed to give blind and visually
impaired computer users access to the Internet.
Called Home Page Reader for Windows, this software solution navigates
users through their Web experience by reading aloud the information
found on a given Web site.
The expressed goal of IBM's Home Page Reader is "to minimize the
information gap between the sighted and the blind," according to Chicko
Asakwa, a blind researcher at IBM's Tokyo Research Laboratory who played
a pivotal role in the development of the product.
The software uses IBM's ViaVoice OutLoud U.S. English text-to-speech
technology and Netscape Navigator to speak Web-based information in a
clear and easy to understand format, according to the company.
Home Page Reader uses a 10-key numeric keypad interface so that blind
and visually impaired users can interact with their computers and
navigate the Internet. A male voice reads text and a female voice reads
links so that users can distinguish Web page information when it is
spoken.
Functions such as fast-forward, bookmarks, and integrated e-mail are
also included.
IBM Home Page Reader for Windows is scheduled to ship next January for
Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT. Pricing will start at $149.
IBM Corp., in Armonk, N.Y., is at www.ibm.com <http://www.ibm.com>. More
information about IBM Special Needs Systems offerings can be found at
www.ibm.com/sns <http://www.ibm.com/sns>.



  Check the VICUG-L list archives and subscribe!
     http://trfn.clpgh.org/vipace/vicug/subscribe.html