Greetings everyone!  I'm Jayna Sheffield at the business desk and it's time for our weekly news round-up.  We'd like to thank the many emailers who have taken the time to give us their feedback and we hope to continue this feature.

 

Enjoy!

 

Table of contents
August 22 2007

 

1  Nokia Licenses Immersion's VibeTonz(R) Tactile Feedback for Mobile Devices
2  GhostReader (Mac) offers high quality text to speech
3  Presto Computerless e-mail service emphasizes accessibility
4  The IT Director's guide to accessible IT
5  Google Book Search Gets Text Layer
6  Email service turns text into Braille for blind
7  PC Access Solution for the Visually Impaired:  GUIDE, Easy to Learn and Use, Introduced by EVAS

 

TMCnet.com (Technology Marketing Corp)
Monday, July 02, 2007
 
Nokia Licenses Immersion's VibeTonz(R) Tactile Feedback for Mobile Devices
 
By Press Release
 
SAN JOSE, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- Immersion Corporation (NASDAQ:IMMR), a leading developer and licensor of touch feedback technology, today announced that Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) has obtained a long-term, worldwide license for Immersion's VibeTonz(R) tactile feedback system for mobile devices. The license gives Nokia, the world's leading mobile device manufacturer, the rights to use VibeTonz technology to enhance mobile device operation.
 
"This license with Nokia supports the potential for very widespread use of our VibeTonz System -- and the VibeTonz System supports the potential for a much fuller, more multisensory experience for users," said Immersion CEO Victor Viegas. "With VibeTonz technology, Nokia can very purposefully access the sense of touch and add value throughout the mobile device."
 
A single implementation of the VibeTonz System can supply several advantages, including off-load dependence on sight and sound, which can enhance safety and ease operation in some situations. Tactile feedback has also been found to improve execution time, error rate, and information capacity.(1) More specifically, the technology allows touchscreen-based mobile devices to provide unmistakable tactile cues in response to touchscreen presses. It can enliven mobile games with touch feedback similar to that found in console games; heighten the music and ringtone fun-factor by "turning up the sub-woofers" with a vibe beat; make operation easier and more intuitive by pairing audio/visual with tactile cues for events such as call dropped, ringing, and busy; and make alerts more discernible and memorable by varying how they feel, from a reverberating gong effect to a subtle tapping.
 
Under the license, Nokia has the right to use Immersion's VibeTonz Mobile Player in its mobile devices sold worldwide. Immersion will supply its VibeTonz SDK to Nokia's Forum Nokia developer community for creating downloadable applications and content for VibeTonz-enabled products.
 
(1) The Value of Haptics: A summary of recent published findings on the value of haptic feedback in human-computer interaction. Immersion Corporation, 2007.
 
http://www.immersion.com/valueofhaptics.php
 
About the VibeTonz System (www.vibetonz.com)
 
The field-proven VibeTonz System, comprised of VibeTonz Mobile Player and VibeTonz SDK, delivers a broad range of tactile feedback effects to make user interface features, applications, and downloadable, multimedia content more intuitive and engaging. Embedded in mobile devices, VibeTonz Mobile Player exerts precise, high-speed control over the vibration actuator to produce tactile effects with unprecedented subtlety and dynamics. VibeTonz SDK provides cross-platform APIs and a suite of authoring tools for making development and customization of tactile feedback fast and easy.
 
About Immersion Corporation (www.immersion.com)
 
Founded in 1993, Immersion Corporation is a recognized leader in developing, licensing, and marketing digital touch technology and products. Using Immersion's advanced touch feedback technology (www.immersion.com/corporate/products/), electronic user interfaces can be made more productive, compelling, entertaining, or safer. Immersion's technology is deployed across automotive, entertainment, industrial controls, medical training, mobility, and three-dimensional simulation markets. Immersion's patent portfolio includes over 600 issued or pending patents in the U.S. and other countries.
 
Forward-looking Statements
 
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove incorrect, could cause the results of Immersion Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
 
All statements, other than the statements of historical fact, are statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements, including any projections of earnings, revenues, or other financial matters; any statements of the plans, strategies, and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning the breadth of and timeline to implement force feedback technology into mobile devices or into games or other content, release of VibeTonz-enabled mobile devices, release of content by service providers, or any change in revenue that may occur from such implementation; any statements regarding consumer response that may occur as a result of having touch feedback in mobile devices or content, or consumer and market acceptance of force feedback products in general; proposed products or services; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; statements of belief; and any statement or assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Immersion's actual results might differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties associated with Immersion's business, which include, but are not limited to, delay in or failure to achieve commercial demand for Immersion's products or a delay in or failure to achieve the acceptance of force feedback as a critical user experience.
 
For a more detailed discussion of these factors, and other factors that could cause actual results to vary materially, interested parties should review the risk factors listed in our most current Form 10-Q, which is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in this press release reflect our beliefs and predictions as of the date of this release. We disclaim any obligation to update these forward-looking statements as a result of financial, business, or any other developments occurring after the date of this release.
 
Immersion, the Immersion logo, and VibeTonz are trademarks of Immersion Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

 

http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2007/07/02/2755359.htm

 

Macworld.com
Thursday, July 05, 2007
 
GhostReader (Mac) offers high quality text to speech
 
By Peter Cohen
 
AssistiveWare and ConvenienceWare on Thursday announced the release of GhostReader 1.1, a replacement for their previously released TextParrot software. It's text-to-speech software for Mac OS X that features high quality, multilingual voices. It's priced starting at $39.95.
 
LINK:
http://www.convenienceware.com/ghostreader.php
 
GhostReader converts text to speech which you can use to listen to documents. You can export the content to iPod-ready iTunes tracks, or just use it to speak selected text instead. With some applications (like Safari, for example), you can use Ghostreader to speak text by pointing the cursor at the text.
 
GhostReader is multilingual (based on the license you purchase), and can be used in English, Czech, Finnish, French, German, Icelandic, Italian, Danish and many other languages.
 
Differences between TextParrot and GhostReader include new languages with high and medium-quality voices, German localization, buttons that let you relisten to the current paragraph or sentence, or the next one, other interface and usability enhancements and more.
 
GhostReader 1.1 is a free update for TextParrot 1.0 users (they utilize the same activation codes).
 
GhostReader requires Mac OS X v10.4 or later and is a Universal binary.
 
http://www.macworld.com/news/2007/07/05/ghostreader/index.php

 

Bryan College Station Eagle, TX, USA
Thursday, July 05, 2007
 
Presto Computerless e-mail service emphasizes accessibility
 
By BRIAN BERGSTEIN, Associated Press
 
BOSTON - By offering technology that allows people without computers to read e-mail, Presto Services Inc. took on a bold challenge. Yet Presto and its Internet-connected printer that spits out the e-mails are remarkably well conceived.
 
I tested this service with my grandparents in California, ages 86 and 87, and thought of it as a dual experiment. While putting Presto through its paces, I wanted to see how people tuned to slower social rhythms felt about becoming more connected to today's constantly firing communications culture.

 

This is not a complete transformation, because Presto is one-way: Recipients get printed e-mails but have no keyboard or computer screen for responding. For that reason, my grandfather told me he didn't think he'd enjoy Presto.
 
But it turned out that even being brought part way into the e-mail fold - which meant a steadier stream of photos of their three great-grandchildren - was elating. Ultimately, my grandfather delivered such an effusive verdict that I suspect even Presto would tone his comments down in an advertisement, for believability's sake.
>So let's just put it this way: They liked it so much I'm going to pay Presto to keep them on as customers (it's generally $100 for the printer, plus $10 a month or $100 a year for the e-mail service).
 
Here's how it works. First someone orders Presto's color printer - probably someone on the Web-connected side of the equation, because this is available mainly online, at least for now. (It also can be ordered by phone.)
 
The "Printing Mailbox" printer is custom-made for Presto by Hewlett-Packard Co. It is simplified so it has a just a few buttons - including volume controls, because the printer chimes when it has delivered something.
 
It's pretty easy to get it going. The printer has to be plugged into an outlet and an active phone jack, and fed with the ink cartridge and plain white paper. (Twenty sheets are included.)
 
I had one ready within 15 minutes of opening the box. My grandfather needed a bit more time when he set his up, because it wasn't clear to him at first where the lone ink cartridge went.
 
Either before or after the printer is running, the Web-connected friend or relative uses Presto's Web site to activate the recipient's service. In addition to e-mail, Presto can deliver newspaper columns, recipes and puzzles.
 
The person who sets this all up is the "account manager," who can monitor settings on the Printing Mailbox remotely. As account manager, I selected an e-mail address at Presto.com for my grandparents and assembled a "white list" of people who could send them messages. Anyone not on the list is barred, to prevent spam.
 
Next, I set five times of day at which the printer would dial a local Presto phone number to retrieve messages (these times can be changed), and chose how the e-mails would be formatted.
 
Another thoughtful touch is that Presto prints the last page of an e-mail first. That means the stack that greets the recipient is as user-friendly as possible, with the first page on top. And photos sent as attachments are automatically printed following the text.
 
My grandfather said Presto e-mails are better than a letter, because they are more timely. He also realized that a series of e-mail updates revealed my family's life in more detail than he could glean in weekly phone calls.
 
When you're 86 and 87, such new sources of joy aren't always easy to come by. That's a huge point for Presto, even if it's not cheap.
 
 
http://www.theeagle.com/stories/070507/business_20070705017.php

 

PublicTechnology.net - UK
Friday, July 06, 2007
 
Free download: The IT Director's guide to accessible IT
 
By Posted by: Editor
 
This was published: 2007-07-06 08:10:00
 
The Information Technologists' Company has published an important new (and free to download) guide, "THE IT DIRECTORS' GUIDE TO ACCESSIBLE IT". It should be exceedingly useful for all managers and directors in public sector IT roles.
 
LINK: You can download the document at this link (PDF)
 
http://www.publictechnology.net/downloads/index.php?IT_Directors_Guide_to_Accessible_IT.pdf
 
Information Technology (IT) underpins the operation of most organisations in the private, public and voluntary sectors in delivering services to customers and in supporting internal business processes such as email, finance and personnel. For a growing number of organisations good IT can be a source of competitive advantage.
 
But for some time large companies have been aware that there are a sizeable number of customers and employees who have difficulty or discomfort using off-the-peg hardware or software and have been trying to do something about it. Making IT systems flexible enough to be as useable by as many people as possible is at the heart of accessible IT - the subject of this Guide.
 
IT has enormous potential to enable disabled people to better integrate within society and the economy through overcoming some of the barriers of communication and physical travel that can prevent them accessing goods and services or getting into or remaining in employment. There are 11 million disabled adults in the UK, 20% of the population, but disabled adults of working age are only 50% as likely to be in work as non-disabled people. Similar statistics of disadvantage are seen in further and higher education.
 
This represents not only a significant source of untapped potential for workforce talent but also a market for services, estimated by the Institute of Employment Studies to be of the order of £80 bn-a-year. Organisations have been required by law since 1995 to make reasonable adjustments under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) to ensure that disabled employees and customers are not disadvantaged. In the public sector the Disability Equality Duty, introduced December 2006, has strengthened this requirement. The recent Age Discrimination legislation has meant that organisations now need to think about age in combination with disability, as the majority of impairments which are classed as disability under the DDA will be acquired or worsen with age.
 
Most organisations of significant size have developed diversity policies, recognising the benefits of having a diverse workforce that reflects the diversity of their customer base. The introduction of the new Commission on Equality and Human Rights later in 2007 will mean an increasing focus upon understanding the needs and rights of the individual.
 
IT Directors and Chief Information Officers play an increasingly pivotal role in the transformation of business through IT. Working with colleagues in marketing, operations, finance and HR, they have the best overview of how IT needs to be integrated with those functions to deliver business benefit. Integrating disability within the organisation's IT policy and strategy is part of this. Arguably, few organisations have done this well mainly because of a lack of information or concern over costs or complexity which usually proves unfounded. They are therefore both missing out on business opportunities and also running the risk of non compliance with legislation.
 
The purpose of this Guide is to enable IT directors to understand and communicate to colleagues the necessity of taking an integrated approach to disability within IT and to provide some practical guidance on the best way to go about it. In the following pages the Guide looks at the available technology, sources of advice and how to measure and report progress.
 
There are many ways in which the IT department can help disabled employees and customers access company systems. Sometimes this will involve providing special purpose software or hardware, but in the majority of cases accessibility will be a matter of adjusting mainstream systems so that they are more comfortable to use. Often professional help from the IT department will be required to set up systems, but in many cases users should be able to make changes themselves through accessibility features built into their systems.
The degree of assistance that people need to use IT varies enormously. Users who have difficulties seeing or whose body movements are limited probably need most help. Talking computers that use screen reader software and programs that magnify text or allow users to adjust the appearance of information are invaluable to people with sight problems or who suffer from dyslexia. Solutions need not be complicated - some visually impaired people may just need a bigger screen.
 
Those with physical difficulties may require other ways of entering data and controlling a system than via a conventional keyboard or a mouse. A variety of alternative devices are available to plug into desktop systems including trackballs, switches, onscreen keyboards and adapted keyboards.
 
IT departments do not have to make decisions about exactly what adaptive equipment to buy there are specialist assessors who can be hired to advise on what is most suitable for each individual. The important thing is to consider disabled users when systems are commissioned so that accessibility is built into the fabric of enterprise computing rather than bolted on as an afterthought.
 
An effective policy for accessible IT enables a company to increase its available pool of employees, make the most of the talents of those already working for the organisation and demonstrate its concern for all employees. The testimony of many disabled people in the case studies in the appendix at the back of this Guide is that accessible IT makes it possible for disabled people to have a job and opens the door to more rewarding work.
 
Employees who are not disabled also stand to gain from an approach to IT that acknowledges the differences between people and makes alternatives to standard systems available.
 
Related links to this article:
The Information Technologists' Company
http://www.wcit.org.uk/
 
You can download "THE IT DIRECTORS' GUIDE TO ACCESSIBLE IT" at this link
 
http://www.publictechnology.net/downloads/index.php?IT_Directors_Guide_to_Accessible_IT.pdf
 
(Source URL below)
 
http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=10153

 

WebProNews.com
Thursday, July 05, 2007
 
Google Book Search Gets Text Layer
 
By Doug Caverly
 
Google Book Search has, up until now, provided images of text; these were fine for reading, but not so great for anything else.  So the service is taking a step forward and offering true "text layers" of many of its out-of-copyright books.
 
"[T]his opens the book to adaptive technologies such as screen readers and Braille display, allowing visually impaired users to read these books just as easily as users with sight," explains Bethany Poole, Google's Product Marketing Manager, on the Inside Google Book Search Blog.  T.V. Raman goes into greater detail over at the Official Google Blog.
 
LINK:
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/ever-more-books-to-read.html
 
"But the new plain-text layer also provides access for cutting and pasting, text-mining, and other forms of processing," notes Peter Suber, who continues, "Making these books accessible as texts, and not merely as images, is a breakthrough for all users."  If you've ever tried to retype a lengthy quote (perhaps for a book report or something of that nature), you'll heartily agree.
 
That's not to say that the new text layers are perfect - the "squished" formatting makes for rather slow reading, and something about it actually seems to have given Googlified's Haochi Chen a case of motion sickness.  Also, Google Blogoscoped's Philipp Lenssen has spied a pack of spelling errors in one of the Shakespeare texts.
 
Still, for some applications, the text layers are a big improvement over the old scanned images.  If you don't agree, well . . . the scanned images are still available, and remain Google Book Search's default mode.
 
About the Author
 
Doug is a staff writer for WebProNews. Visit WebProNews for the latest eBusiness news.
 
http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2007/07/05/google-book-search-gets-text-layer

 

The Irish Independent
Monday, July 09, 2007
 
Email service turns text into Braille for blind
 
Monday July 09 2007
 
PEOPLE with reading difficulties can now translate text into Braille or audio by email.
 
The innovative email-based translation service is located at St Joseph's School For The Visually Impaired, Drumcondra, Dublin.
 
Known as RoboBraille, it enables blind, partially sighted, dyslexic, the elderly and other people who find it difficult to read, to send documents as attachments by email and receive contracted Braille documents or audio files by return.
 
For more information about RoboBraille and how to use the service check out the website www.robobraille.org.
 
Contact Lina Kouzi at the National Council For The Blind Of Ireland, lina.kouzi@ncbi.ie.
 
Alternatively, call 01 8642266.
 
http://www.independent.ie/health/lastest-news/email-service-turns-text-into-braille-for-blind-995708.html

 

PRweb.com (Press Release)
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
 
PC Access Solution for the Visually Impaired: GUIDE, Easy to Learn and Use, Introduced by EVAS
 
GUIDE is an all-in-one software suite with easy-to-learn and easy-to-use applications with built-in speech and large print. GUIDE uses a simplified menu structure for each task. The menus are controlled using the keyboard and displayed on uncluttered screens, overlaying the Windows® Desktop. GUIDE is an award winning assistive technology solution providing access to computers for the blind or visually impaired, older adults and those that have difficulty working in Windows. 
 
GUIDE is unique among assistive technology software in that it requires very little training while still providing access to a full range of computer tasks. This product is also an innovative solution for those who have little or no previous experience with computers. This was confirmed when GUIDE received the Simply the Best Award from the Royal National Institute for the Blind in the UK.  
 
Westerly, R.I. (PRWEB) July 10, 2007 -- Electronic Vision Access Solutions (EVAS) announces its distribution and support of GUIDE throughout the United States. Building on its foresight that the independence and quality of life of people with disabilities can be enhanced by Computer-Based Assistive Technology, EVAS launched its U.S. distribution of GUIDE. GUIDE software is an award winning computer access solution for people with low vision or who are blind. EVAS has formed an alliance with Software Express of the UK to provide national distribution and support of this innovative yet straightforward Assistive Technology.
 
Adrian Sach, Director of Software Express said "We look forward to working with EVAS to support them as they offer and support GUIDE software throughout the United States. We are pleased to work with a company that has long demonstrated its commitment to serving people with disabilities."
 
Visit
http://www.lowvisioncomputers.com/
 
to learn more about GUIDE or request a Trial Version.
 
Jerry Swerdlick, CEO of EVAS said, "GUIDE is unique among assistive technology software in that it requires very little training while still providing access to a full range of computer tasks. This product is also an innovative solution for those who have little or no previous experience with computers. This was confirmed when GUIDE received the Simply the Best Award from the Royal National Institute for the Blind in the UK."
 
GUIDE is an ideal solution for the blind or visually impaired, older adults and those that have difficulty working in Windows, or those users who:
 
Have little or no experience with computer technology
Have little or no technical ability
Lack the motivation or capability to acquire or retain detailed technical knowledge
Have tried other assistive technology but are unable to learn or use them effectively
Want an easy to use set of applications with Large Print/Speech Access outside of Windows
 
Using GUIDE's well-designed programs, and built-in large print and speech access, documents can be created, e-mails can be sent/received, printed material can be scanned and read, the web can be surfed and much more.
 
The look and operation of GUIDE can be fully adjusted to suit individual needs. Among other things, users can change the screen background color, text color, and font and select a male or female voice. Magnification and voices can also be independently controlled and menus customized to suit user preferences. Additional interactive features include news reader, internet radio and pod casts, audio and graphic file capabilities, calendar, address book, dictionary/thesaurus and calculator.
 
"With the simple to use GUIDE software, it will be easier than ever for people who are visually impaired and have no computer technology experience to communicate effectively and gain independence and a better quality of life" said Jerry Swerdlick, EVAS' CEO.
 
EVAS also announced today availability of its new Value Series Systems. These disability specific systems are fully integrated with application software, peripherals and assistive technology, installed and configured. GUIDE Value Series Systems are based on DellT OptiplexT Computers with 19" Flat Panel Monitors, large print keyboards and all-in-one printers. The systems are covered by Dell's Three Year Warranty and protected by AVG Anti-Malware. Value Series Systems: Quality, Performance, and Prompt Delivery, at an Excellent Price, all in a total solution that runs right out of the box.
 
"Computer-based assistive technology can go a long way to meet the reading, writing, communication and information needs of people with disabilities", said Jerry Swerdlick EVAS' CEO.
 
Learn more about EVAS' Computer Access Solutions for people who are visually, physically, hearing or learning disabled at http://www.evas.com/
 
EVAS, serving people with disabilities since 1979, has teamed with DellT to create Computer-Based Assistive Technology Solutions specifically designed for people who are visually, physically, hearing or learning disabled. These Plug & Play Systems run right out of the box with Application Software, Peripherals and Assistive Technology installed and configured. EVAS' Assistive Technology Solutions are tools that can be used to gain independence - an independence, which can open the doors to further education or employment opportunities and a better quality of life.
 
Contact Information
 
Corinne Bergen
EVAS
Visit LowVisonComputers.com
(800) USA-EVAS
(800) 872-3827

 

http://www.prweb.com/releases/guide/software/prweb538432.htm

 
At the business desk, I'm Jayna Sheffield wishing you a pleasant evening.