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January 31 NEWS RELEASE Media Contact: Janelle Schulenberg Tacet Consulting 612-720-1068 janelle@tacetconsulting.com Nonprofit Launched to Bring Free Accessibility Worldwide The AIR Foundation committed to 'accessibility is a right' Orlando, Florida - January 31, 2008 - The AIR Foundation, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. was announced today at a press conference held during the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) 2008 National Conference at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando,Florida. The mission of the foundation is to promote universal accessibility so that every blind and low-vision person in the world has access to digital information over the Internet and Worldwide Web. The foundation's executive director, Art Schreiber, also announced that the organization's first offering will be free usage of a Web 2.0 accessible screen reader. The product is provided through an exclusive license in perpetuity granted to The AIR Foundation from Serotek Corporation, the leading provider of Internet and digital information accessibility software and services. The screen reader is called SA To Go and is powered by Serotek's award-winning System Access software which provides immediate text to speech, magnified visual, and Braille access to digital information presented through the Web or other means, while the user is directly connected to the Internet. The software does not remain resident on the user's computer when the connection to the Internet is interrupted or terminated. Users can obtain access to the free software by calling 877-369-0101 or visiting www.AccessibilityIsaRight.org <http://www.accessibilityisaright.org/> . "The basic tenet of The AIR Foundation is that accessibility is a fundamental human right, regardless of financial or geographic constraints" said Art Schreiber, executive director of The AIR Foundation, "by allowing the blind and visually impaired to have equal access to computer and Internet information through the free use of an advanced screen reader like SA To Go, we have already taken great strides toward our mission." The AIR Foundation will solicit funds and contract development of product enhancements including availability in other languages. The organization's first priority is to make SA To Go available in Mandarin Chinese. "SA To Go is highly intuitive and requires minimal training to use," said Serotek CEO, Mike Calvo, "the user not only has access to information displayed on Web pages, but to Web-based applications such as Internet telephone service, and to applications resident on the host computer. The user can also access PDF files, fill out forms, and otherwise interact with information with the same facility as a sighted person." The AIR Foundation will operate through the generosity of organizations donating their time, expertise, and funds. It invites other nonprofits, assistive technology vendors, mainstream hardware and software companies and anyone interested in promoting accessibility as every person's right, to align with the AIR team. The AIR Foundation The AIR Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advocate, teach, and deliver information accessibility tools. We focus on the accessibility needs of blind and low-vision people. Our mantra is "accessibility is a right" and we work with corporations and agencies worldwide to deliver free accessibility to all. For more information, call 877-369-0101 or visit www.AccessibilityIsaRight.org <http://www.accessibilityisaright.org/. Serotek Corporation Serotek Corporation is a leading technology company that develops software and manufactures accessibility solutions. Committed to the mission of providing accessibility anywhere, Serotek launched the first online community specifically designed to meet the needs of people with disabilities. Since then, Serotek has introduced several powerful, affordable solutions that require minimal training and investment. For more information, visit www.serotek.com http://www.serotek.com/. ### Sincerely,
Christopher McMillan, CIO
CEEK Technology
http://ceektechnology.spaces.live.com
http://www.ceektechnology.com
Skype: chrismmcmillan
WM: chrismcmillan@ceektech.com or christophermcmillan@hotmail.com
E-mail: chrismcmillan@ceektech.com or christophermcmillan@hotmail.com January 30 
2008 ATIA Conference HumanWare presents
ClassMate Reader, A revolutionary Portable reading system for K-12 students with reading difficulties.  Orlando, Florida, January 29 - During ATIA's conference being held this week in Orlando, Florida, HumanWare will present the ClassMate Reader, a revolutionary tool to help students in and out of the classroom improve reading comprehension, increase reading speed and develop strong vocabulary. This tool is indispensable for students who need to refer back to previously recorded notes, tests or chapter summaries, as well as for "anytime, anywhere" learning.
The ClassMate Reader is a unique, portable and lightweight system about the size of a portable gaming system with a large color LCD screen. Students can listen to the audio version of their textbooks and study materials, while following the highlighted text on screen. This portable system is ideal for students in any learning setting, including the classroom, resource room, library, extended learning programs and at home. The system promotes phonetic recognition and fluency, and will significantly boost the support of teachers who work with students who are dyslexic. The ClassMate Reader has several features only found on more expansive PC-based software solutions such as text-to-speech, highlighting, dictionary, text and vocal notes and audio book navigation. It can be part of the teacher's strategy to build students' independence in the learning process and enhance their confidence and self-esteem. The system's design was carefully crafted to engage students and dispel the notion that assistive devices are unappealing. Scientific studies have demonstrated the advantages of a multi-modal based reading approach (audio and visual) for dyslexic students. With the simultaneous use of text and audio, students will improve their reading comprehension, which is conducive to improve academic achievement and higher test scores. The ClassMate Reader can be used as an accommodation when administering tests, eliminating the need for the teacher to read the exam to students. The ClassMate's study features are built to assist in retrieving information through the use of text notes, highlighting, bookmarks and voice notes. The ClassMate Reader can play various electronic book formats starting with the new NIMAS (National Instructional Material Accessible Standard) format, including DAISY, Bookshare.org, text, wav, MP3 and audio files. The player also provides integrated text-to-speech for reading books in text format, such as those from Bookshare.org. It uses a removable SD flash memory card or USB memory stick to store books and electronic texts. It can easily transfer files from a PC with its standard USB connection. Brenda McBride, Product Manager for HumanWare said, "We developed the ClassMate Reader from input of students with learning disabilities and their supportive networks around the country. Taking their needs into account, we better understood the features and tools they require to be successful readers and lifelong learners. I am especially excited about our built-in dictionary to help students instantly look up words with vocal output." The ClassMate offers all of the most advanced DAISY functions, as well as navigation capabilities for any book or textbook. Students will appreciate the ClassMate Reader for quickly and effectively consulting their school books, making voice notes, study and practice and recording their teacher during class. Attendees at the ATIA conference can watch demonstrations of ClassMate by visiting the HumanWare booth (Booth #522). Presentations and special events for the launch of ClassMate are also planned during the ATIA Conference. The ClassMate is available for purchase online in the U.S. at www.humanware.com or from Don Johnston Incorporated at www.donjohnston.com (800-999-4660) at an affordable price of $439. About HumanWare
HumanWare is the global leader in assistive technologies for the print disabled. HumanWare provides products to people who are blind and have low vision and students with learning disabilities. HumanWare offers a collection of innovative products include BrailleNote, the leading productivity device for the blind in education, business and for personal use; the Victor Reader product line, the world's leading digital audiobook players, and SmartView Xtend, the first fully modular and upgradeable CCTV-based video magnifier. For more information:
HumanWare Canada
Nicolas Lagace
Tel.: (450) 463-1717
E-mail: nicolas.lagace@humanware.com Bookshare.org and Code Factory Announce Partnership To Introduce Mobile Technology for Print Disabled Readers FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Ann Harrison - Benetech - x001 415 637-5262 Contact: Caroline Ragot – Code Factory - 0034 93 733 70 66 Palo Alto, CA - Barcelona, Spain, January 30, 2008 Bookshare.org and Code Factory have announced the formation of a partnership to introduce technology that allows Bookshare.org members to read digital books on their mobile devices. Code Factory will demo V2.0 of its Mobile Speak for Windows Mobile at the conference of the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) at the Caribe Royale All-Suite Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, USA. The demo will be hosted at the Benetech booth (Lobby 2) on Friday, February 1 from 4:30 to 5:00 pm.
Code Factory launched V2.0 of Mobile Speak for Windows Mobile Smartphones in November of 2007 and will soon release V2.0 of Mobile Speak for Pocket PCs. Both products feature a built-in software application for reading Braille formatted (BRF) files with synthesized speech output, Braille, or both, as well as a Bookshare.org unpacking utility. “For a long time we’ve admired Bookshare.org for its great achievements in increasing access to books for the blind and visually impaired,” said Eduard Sanchez, Code Factory CEO. “Our American users constantly tell us that the excellent Bookshare.org services have changed their lives.”
“We are excited about the possibility of Bookshare.org subscribers reading books on their mobile devices using Code Factory’s screen readers. We will examine the Mobile Speak product line closely and test features that allow users to access Bookshare.org on the move, anytime and anywhere,” said Jim Fruchterman, CEO of Benetech, the nonprofit organization that operates Bookshare.org. About Bookshare.org Bookshare.org is an online community that allows people with print disabilities to legally download books and periodicals to be read as Braille, large print or synthetic speech. Offering the world’s largest accessible library of scanned books and periodicals, Bookshare.org received a $32 million five-year award from the U.S. Department of Education to significantly expand the availability of accessible electronic books and software for reading those books. Bookshare.org is operated by Benetech, a Palo Alto, CA-based nonprofit technology development organization that creates social enterprise projects for the disability, literacy and human rights communities. About Code Factory Code Factory is a software company committed to the development of products designed to remove barriers to the accessibility of mobile technology for the blind and visually impaired. Code Factory is the leading provider of screen readers, screen magnifiers, and Braille interfaces for a wide range of mainstream mobile devices including Symbian-based and Windows Mobile-powered Smartphones as well as Pocket PC phones and PDAs. Code Factory is the only accessible software provider to support close to two hundred different phone models working on the GSM, CDMA and WCDMA networks. To learn more about Code Factory and its mission of bringing complete accessibility to mobile devices, visit http://www.codefactory.es. January 29 Released: January, 28, 2008 Guerilla Technologies is announcing the release of their Professional Model of MobilEyes Portable OCR Plus. The Professional Model adds complete Laptop Computer services to the already impressive list of devices encompassed in MobilEyes Basic, released last year. A full Intel Processor drives the Windows Based Professional Desktop Environment, utilizing nearly 3 times the RAM memory of cell phone devices or PDA's. Your favorite Screen Reader or Magnification Software can easily be loaded onto MobilEyes Professional [Low Vision Users can utilize the 7" viewable screen or project to any viewing source]. Refreshable Braille Displays are also supported. Full sized Qwerty keys make accessing the computer functions easy and natural. There is no need to keep track of multiple storage media cards since MobilEyes has up to 40 times the storage capacity as mini handhelds. However, one Compact Flash and two USB 2.0 ports are available if needed. WI-FI, Bluetooth, and LAN connectivity are all available as well as GPS [optional]. While MobilEyes is ready for everyday use, The Professional Model meets the demanding needs of the student as well as the business person. See all that MobilEyes can offer at the MobilEyes Lab, held during the ATIA Conference, Friday, from 3:30pm to 5:30pm. Carribean Room 6. Richard Greiner VP, Sales & Marketing Guerilla Technologies Inc. Office (772) 215-4957 Fax (772) 287-0960 Richard@GuerillaTechnologies.com www.GuerillaTechnologies.com
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