Hello all, I know this is a bit off topic, but I thought it of general tech interest, and also that it might be of personal interest to some. Just to tie in with Apple and the Mac, seems to me that this is Microsoft's attempt to catch up with Apple and provide a more sophisticated free screen reading option. cheers, Donna Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message> > Date: January 14, 2014 at 1:29:44 PM > > > Subject: OT: FW: GW Micro Announces Global Window-Eyes Initiative for users > of Microsoft Office > > Jan-14-2014 > > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE > > Fort Wayne, Indiana (January 14, 2014) - GW Micro, Inc. > (www.gwmicro.com<http://www.gwmicro.com>) is proud to make a revolutionary > announcement. GW Micro and Microsoft Corp. have partnered to make Window-Eyes > available to users of Microsoft Office at no cost. Window-Eyes is a screen > reader that enables people who are blind, visually impaired, or print > disabled to have full access to Windows PCs and makes the computer accessible > via speech and/or Braille. > > To better deliver Window-Eyes to the people who need it most, GW Micro and > Microsoft have collaborated on this global initiative, available in over 15 > languages, to enable anyone using Microsoft Office 2010 or later to also use > Window-Eyes for free. Access to technology is critical to people who are > blind or visually impaired in order to have the same opportunity to compete > in the workplace. As such, this initiative between GW Micro and Microsoft has > the potential to reduce barriers for millions of people who are blind or > visually impaired around the world. > > As the population ages, technologies like Window-Eyes will become more and > more important as the number of people with age-related macular degeneration > and other retinal degenerative diseases increases. "This significant change > in the way we are doing business reflects the changing perception of > accessibility and also technology in general. Rather than wait for the world > to change, Microsoft and GW Micro are leading the way," said Dan Weirich, > Vice President of Sales and Marketing for GW Micro. Weirich believes this > technology can help millions of people gain access to their PC, and that > providing it free of charge will open a whole new world of assistive > technology to many people. > > In light of the rapidly changing face of technology and specifically, the > changing face of assistive technology, the combined efforts of GW Micro and > Microsoft have the goal of providing accessibility to people who are blind > and visually impaired for the long term. > > Microsoft continues to take accessibility seriously. “By partnering with GW > Micro in this endeavor we are demonstrating Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to > provide all of our customers with the technology and tools to help each > person be productive in both their work and personal lives.” said Rob > Sinclair, Chief Accessibility Officer for Microsoft. > > Eligible customers, using Microsoft Office 2010 or higher, will be able to > download a full version of Window-Eyes starting today at > www.WindowEyesForOffice.com<http://www.WindowEyesForOffice.com>. The website > provides download instructions as well as additional details about this offer. > > GW Micro, Inc. (www.gwmicro.com<http://www.gwmicro.com>) has been a trusted > pioneer in the adaptive technology industry since 1990, and continues to lead > with innovative, customer driven solutions. > > Contact: > Dan Weirich, VP of Sales and Marketing > d...@gwmicro.com<mailto:d...@gwmicro.com> > (260) 489-3671 > > > > ### > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
