Optelec Announces Innovated Near and Distance Low Vision Solution with the FarView

Optelec announced the release of FarView, a portable and powerful magnification solution that redefines how low vision users are able to access, store, review and share information. The unique design of the Optelec FarView and incomparable functionality of near and distance viewing sets a new standard for other portable and desktop devices currently on the market.

The FarView enables the user to store the data for up close review in more detail at any time. Capture a complete document or multiple pages of a book or magazine. Up to 100 images can be stored on the device and accessed at any given moment. Stored images can be adjusted to the users needs via an integrated menu. Ergonomic scrolling buttons help the user to navigate through any document easily and comfortably, with an auto-scroll function which brings the user back to the beginning of the text line within a snap. Adjust images and text to the needs of the user though rotation, picture alignment, contrast and brightness settings.

Also, FarView offers the user flexibility to connect to an external monitor or PC, encouraging the user to access printed text and photos comfortably and efficiently, and share this information with colleagues, friends and family.

"We are ecstatic to be bringing a product such as FarView to an industry thirsting for innovation," states Michiel van Schaik, CEO of Optelec Holding B.V. "We at Optelec are 100% committed to combining the intelligence within a product with a flexible, powerful design in order for the consumers of our products to exponentially receive more functionality for the money that they spend."

Whether the needs are for on-the-go portability, viewing street signs, storing class notes, reviewing important documents, reading the morning newspaper or sharing information the Optelec FarView puts freedom and independence in the palms of the user.

Optelec expects to be delivering FarView to users in January, 2009. Contact your local Optelec distributor or sales office for more information and pricing details.

Visit Optelec webSites

Serotek releases System Access 3.0

Serotek released the first full-featured screen access product with support for 64-bit operating systems. This support is not only an essential breakthrough for IT professionals working in 64-bit environments in the course of their employment, but for the average consumer as well. Blind individuals can now walk in to any of the increasing number of retail stores who stock their shelves exclusively with machines running 64-bit operating systems, and purchase a new computer without wondering whether or not the machine will be accessible when they take it out of the box. From the smallest Netbook to the most powerful server, System Access delivers fast, reliable, and easy to use accessibility. Remote Training and Support is now better than ever. System Access users have long had the ability to remotely access other users' computers for the purposes of support, training, or just for fun. Now System Access has added a voice over IP feature which allows for crisp and clear voice chat between connected users, eliminating the need to communicate by phone or through third-party VOIP software such as Skype.

Accessibility Anywhere is right at your fingertips with support for the Alva BC640 Braille display. With this light, portable, and fully plug and play Braille display, users can have full access to Braille in all their favorite applications both at home and on the go.

Whether you're at home or on the go, you'll always want the ability to keep in touch with friends and family. In addition to Serotek's built-in client supporting MSN Messenger and AOL Instant Messenger, subscribers to the SA Mobile Network can now easily communicate with each other through text or voice. Users can add their SAMNet friends to a list of SA Mobile Network contacts, and have the ability to initiate a text or voice conversation with those friends.

Visit Serotek for more information

Dolphin Computer Access Announce Their Acquisition of Software Express Distribution

Dolphin Computer Access Limited, the UK software company responsible for delivering independence to vision and print impaired people, announced its acquisition of Software Express Distribution Limited. This acquisition enables Dolphin to bring on board a rapidly growing UK software development company, most recently recognised for developing Guide, an innovative and award winning access tool for blind computer users. By merging with Software Express, Dolphin strengthens its continuing commitment of delivering independence to vision and print impaired computer users.

The joining of the two firms also brings together some of the strongest brands and most widely used access technology available in the market.

Dolphin has made significant strides over recent years in transforming ourselves into to an organisation that is squarely focused on creating easy-to-use software tools that meet the real life needs of our vision and print impaired customers. The acquisition will further accelerate this process for both companies.

We're very excited about this development - the Dolphin team is very enthusiastic about our products and the prospect of marketing them worldwide through their established network of dealers. In addition, the acquisition will increase our capacity to deliver even more innovative and customer focused solutions to the market.

Noel Duffy Managing Director of the Dolphin Computer Access Group explains, "The acquisition of Software Express broadens the Dolphin brand portfolio and offers Dolphin the flexibility to deliver easy-to-use solutions to the fastest growing sector of the access technology market, the over 60's."

Software Express Limited will remain in Durham, UK and will continue to serve the UK market. Managing Director Mary McMahon and Technical Director Adrian Sach will continue to lead the company in their crucial roles.

Mary McMahon explains, "We're very excited about this development - the Dolphin team is very enthusiastic about our products and the prospect of marketing them worldwide through their established network of dealers. In addition, the acquisition will increase our capacity to deliver even more innovative and customer focused solutions to the market."

Dolphin Computer Access was founded in 1986 and now employs over 60 people in their UK, US and Swedish offices. Developing access technology software for low vision & blind computer users, Dolphin is most well known for Supernova Reader Magnifier, a full screen reader and screen magnifier with Braille display support. Supernova is has been the preferred total solution for many visually impaired individuals, colleges and public access environments internationally. Hal Screen Reader, Lunar Screen Magnifier and LunarPlus Enhanced Magnifier are also a part of the Supernova family of access tools, all of which are available in over more than 16 different languages.

In 2005 Dolphin were also first to market with the Dolphin Pen, a portable USB stick that enables visually impaired users to take their Dolphin screen magnification and screen reading software with them to any PC. More recently Dolphin has diversified into developing alternative format creation software, harnessing their long history of innovative DAISY creation and playback tools.

Software Express has now been selling Guide software for over 4 years and, more recently, its Guide Handsfree software, which enables users to access all of the easy-to-use features of Guide using voice activation.

Guide software was developed by Adrian Sach in 2003, after a family friend began to lose his sight. Adrian realised that this friend had very little technical ability and was unable to achieve results with the other access technology he had tried. Adrian therefore developed Guide as an easy-to-use package, which was easy-to-learn and enabled this friend to achieve results quickly.

Guide and Guide Handsfree software are now the leading software packages in the UK for those who are unable to use Windows, or who have little or no technical ability.

The financial terms of the deal are not being disclosed, however it is confirmed that there will be no loss of jobs.

Dolphin Computer Access Launch the Dolphin Scripting Zone www.YourDolphin.com/Scripts

Dolphin Computer Access announced the official launch of the Dolphin Scripting Zone at www.YourDolphin.com/Scripts. This dedicated mini-site is now available and open to all Supernova, Hal, Lunar and LunarPlus users, 30-day demo customers and budding script writers. Visitors can download and rate a free script, find a script writer, contribute to the scripting forum or learn more about Dolphin Scripting. Dolphin’s Scripting Engine is uniquely powerful in offering the flexibility to customise the behaviour of Dolphin’s screen magnifying, screen reading and Braille display support in one unique script. This single script can then be adopted by Supernova Reader Magnifier, Hal Screen Reader, Lunar Screen Magnifier and LunarPlus Enhanced Screen Magnifier users alike. Dolphin Scripting does not replace Dolphin's mapping facility in enabling improved access to applications, but through the addition of Dolphin’s Scripting engine it creates a unique environment that is both powerful, flexible and unmatched. Mike Hill, Dolphin’s Development Director explains “The scripting engine gives you more choice; you can completely script an application, or you can completely map the application, or if you want to you can combine the two for a quicker and more powerful approach. Ultimately the choice is yours!”

"Dolphin do not charge an extra fee for the Scripting functionality and it comes included with Supernova, Hal, Lunar and LunarPlus. We believe that the benefits should be available to ALL of our screen magnification, screen reader and Braille users."

“Dolphin’s Scripting engine was originally introduced in version 9 of Supernova, Hal, Lunar and LunarPlus and its functionality has been growing quickly and consistently over the last 6 months. The launch of the dedicated Scripting Zone coincides with the official release of version 10”

Dolphin Scripting has already proved its substance in many of the version 9 and 10 features that users already know and love, from improved WinAmp support to Office 2007 ribbon support, in addition to the frequent free that are delivered direct to customers via Dolphin’s internet updater. However the Scripting Zone offers users the chance to download FREE scripts including the ‘Dolphin Tip of the Day’ Script, a ‘Half Speed spelling’ script, a nifty Windows Explorer script that delivers concise header and column information, as well as many others. Users can then rate the scripts they download or even propose their own brilliant scripting idea.

Dolphin Computer Access have already trained an international team of Dolphin accredited script writers who are listed on the scripting zone and are available for private script writing contracts. Equally Dolphin offer their own Scripting services in the UK, US & Sweden. Steve Bennett, Dolphin’s Sales Director explains that Dolphin Scripting is already proving a popular choice.

“We are being approached by companies and individuals on a daily basis. The demand seems to stem from their desire for a total solution that includes a magnifier, a full screen reader as well as Braille display support. Being able to run one access technology solution that meets the individual needs of all visually impaired uses is an attractive prospect. Total accessibility is a top priority for organisations that are looking to comply with current disability legislation”

Thanks to the synergy of Dolphin Scripting and Supernova’s magnification, screen reading and Braille, Supernova just got a whole lot more powerful and the possibilities appear endless!

Visit Dolphin Scripting Zone

Google Starts Accessible View Experiment

Google has started an experiment to improve access to Google search by visually impaired. By only using the keyboard you can navigate through search results. Google also added a magnification lens that highlights the users selected search result. Since launching Accessible Search, one of the most requested features has been support for low-vision users. While implementing the keyboard naviagation, google incorporated the magnification first introduced by Google Reader. The Google Accessible View only works with Firefox 3.

As user of a screen reader with support for full screen magnification I'm not very impressed by Google Accessible View.
My braille display and magnifier does not track the keyboard actions, like they do by pressing the TAB or SHIFT + TAB key to selecT a next or previous link.
The magnifier lens is realy too small to help people with low-vision.

Click here for more information about Google Accessible View

Freedom Scientific Releases JAWS® 10

Freedom Scientific today announced the English release of JAWS version 10, the worlds leading screen reader for visually impaired computer users. This new release includes new features that will expand employment, training, and educational opportunities for users at all levels. These new features include AutoForms Mode, JAWS Tandem, and RealSpeak™ Direct Solo. “The new AutoForms Mode makes it easier than ever for new users to work with Internet Explorer, FireFox 3, and Acrobat Reader,” said Eric Damery, Vice President of Software Product Management. "There is no question that JAWS 10 has taken working with HTML and PDF forms or Web-based applications, especially the new Web 2.0 Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA), to a new level."

“JAWS Tandem provides an accessible remote assistance option for anyone with access to the Internet - including dial up. Technical Support staff, consultants, trainers, dealers, and knowledgeable friends now have a simple and powerful tool to assist JAWS users from a distance. It literally lets our Tech Support team make house calls," added Damery. "Perhaps the most important part of this feature is that friends can now help friends. Whether troubleshooting a problem on their friend’s computer, teaching them something about JAWS, or even test-driving some new software with JAWS on their friend’s machine before buying, it has already proven to be a huge success."

The RealSpeak Solo Direct Synthesizer is another new feature in JAWS 10. RealSpeak Solo is much more responsive than the SAPI 5 option in JAWS 8 and 9. Customers will also appreciate the 43 different voices in 19 languages and the convenient on-line location where everyone can sample and download any of the RealSpeak Direct voices r use with JAWS and the upcoming MAGic 11 update. These new voices are even available for use with demonstration licenses of JAWS.

To make learning JAWS even easier, free DAISY training material for JAWS and MAGic is now offered via the Check for Updates feature. JAWS 10 now includes 17 DAISY titles which can all be read using the free software DAISY player (FSReader Demo) installed with all versions of JAWS and MAGic. MP3 versions of all the DAISY training material are also available free of charge on the Training Downloads Web pages.

For more information vistit Freedom Scientific