Talking browser for visually impaired (fwd)

[Teresa Ashley]

Has anyone used a product like the one described here?  We want to be 
able to make our information sources accessible to visually impaired 
users and as we begin to develop web resources, will want to have a way 
for the visually impaired to "read" them.

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                               Teresa Ashley                                
                              tashley at bga.com                            
   
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 14 Feb 1996 15:25:54 -0800
From: Peter Scott <scottp at moondog.usask.ca>
To: Multiple recipients of list <web4lib at library.berkeley.edu>
Subject: Talking browser for visually impaired (fwd)

Date:         Tue, 13 Feb 1996 13:50:22 -0600
From: Christine Chiu <pitsco at PITSCO.COM>
Subject:      Talking browser for visually impaired
To: Multiple recipients of list LM_NET <LM_NET at LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>

Thought some of you might find this of interest:

Internet software vendor Productivity Works [http://www.prodworks.com/] in
Trenton, New Jersey, has unveiled a browser that talks to the user to help
the visually impaired get World Wide Web access.  Called pwWebSpeak, the
browser translates information content from Web pages into speech. The
intelligence built into the browser reads HTML code and automatically
disregards non-HTML content such as graphics and multimedia.  The browser
also creates large character interpretations of Web pages for partially
sighted users.  There are 27 million visually impaired individuals in the
United States and Europe, according to Productivity Works.  The company
will begin beta testing pwWebSpeak in March. Beta testers must be visually
impaired, have a PC running Windows 3.1 or Windows 95, Internet access
running a TCP/IP connection, and an audio card. The browser will be
available in April for free. The company is asking for a $100 maintenace
fee, but will waive the cost if needed, according to officials.
Productivity Works was assisted in developing the browser by De Witt and
Associates interface consultants and the Thomas Edison State College. 

Christine Chiu
GUI Designer/webmaster
Pitsco Technology Education
chiu at pitsco.com
http://www.usa.net/~pitsco/