Nokia Rolls Out New Free screen Reader For Visually Impaired

Nokia has announced a screen reader this week at Nokia World 2011, in addition to a number of accessibility apps. These new products matter because they will make it easier for people with disabilities to use Nokia devices.

The software supplier for the Nokia Screen Reader is Code Factory, based in Spain. The CEO Eduard Sánchez describes the situation:

For a blind person, the only way to use a mobile phone without accessibility software is to know it by heart. That is, you need to know that if you press the Menu key and scroll down four times, you will be at the Message folder. And, when you get there, it is necessary to press the right softkey to open Options. It’s difficult to learn the different functions and memorize them. This makes the phone largely inaccessible. The Nokia Screen Reader provides a great alternative.

The Nokia Screen Reader is an application that converts screen content into speech. It’s helpful not only for users with sight limitations, but anyone who is not able to dedicate their attention to the screen. For example, it allows you to listen to text messages when you exercise.

Besides calling and texting, the screen reader is helpful for browsing the internet, accessing call lists and contacts, and managing the calendar. It works on touch screen devices and those with a physical key pad. The reader features a simple command structure which is easy to remember, as well as a configurable control panel. It’s available at launch in eight different languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Finnish, Swedish and Italian.

The Nokia Screen Reader can be downloaded from the Nokia Store free of charge. It will be available before the end of the year for the C5 5 MP, Nokia 700 and Nokia 701 with Symbian Belle. We’re also exploring opportunities to bring screen reader technology to feature phones to reach as many customers as possible.

The launch of the Nokia Screen Reader coincides with another important development: the new Accessibility Channel in the Nokia Store. This channel aggregates apps that can assist people with vision, hearing and speech, as well as cognition and dexterity problems.

So what kind of apps are available? Well, there is Vlingo, a voice recognition app that carries out commands on the device. Or T9 Nav, which finds information on your device when you type what you’re looking for. Or, if you left your glasses at home, try Font Magnifier, which allows you to zoom the text by 140%. There are now some 50 apps available for download from the Nokia Store for selected Nokia devices.

If you need assistance downloading the Nokia Screen Reader, please call Nokia Customer Care in your country, or send them a message on Twitter @NokiaHelps.

Sourec: Nokia

Freedom Scientiefic Releases Jaws 13 Screen Reader

JAWS® for Windows version 13, including Convenient OCR, a feature that performs Optical Character Recognition on text that is displayed as an image, thereby enabling blind computer users to read items that were previously inaccessible. Examples of such screens include a PDF file, the setup screen of an application, or the menu of selections on a DVD. JAWS now provides an opportunity to read and interact with these screens, including locating and clicking on text which may be required to activate a control.

JAWS 13 also includes Results Viewer, a new HTML interface that displays the results of features like Research It. The new interface enables faster navigation with Navigation Quick Keys and switching to other windows without losing the results of your lookup. Sports scores have returned to Research It and are easier to navigate than ever before. The INSERT+V keystroke now opens the new Quick Settings, which replaces Adjust JAWS Options and matches the easy-to-use Settings Center style interface introduced last year in JAWS 12.

“This release represents a huge step in accessibility for screen reader users,” says Eric Damery, Vice President of Software Product Management for Freedom Scientific. “Whether trying to identify and read inaccessible PDF documents that are just scanned images or interacting with graphical controls that could not previously be located, the new Convenient OCR option built into JAWS 13 has been described as a real game changer. JAWS 13 is also packed with other features and enhancements that have been selected and designed to improve access and ease of use for all users.”

The upgrade is an SMA release and can be downloaded as either a 32-bit or 64-bit version from the JAWS downloads page. DVD shipments to SMA holders and new product customers will commence on Nov 1, 2011.

More Info: Freeddom Scientific.