Sight and Sound Technology – the leading UK provider of hardware and software solutions for visually impaired and blind users, as well as users with learning and reading difficulties, will be showcasing the latest cutting-edge assistive technology at BETT 2012 (http://www.bettshow.com).
The latest versions of the world’s leading software solutions for the visually impaired, JAWS and ZoomText, will be showcased.
JAWS 13, from Freedom Scientific, improves its reading sophistication and user experience with new features such as; Convenient OCR – advanced Optical Character Recognition for text in image formats – giving blind computer users access to PDF files, DVD menus, application setup screens and other material that were previously inaccessible; and Results Viewer which provides a faster and easier navigation experience of existing features such as Research It.
ZoomText 10, the latest version from Ai Squared, includes a significant upgrade with four new features, including the; ZoomText Camera, which provides users with an inexpensive CCTV alternative; Background Reader, which allows spoken text to be read aloud in the background for multi-tasking; Enhanced Web Finder, which provides a faster, efficient web navigation experience; and the ZoomText Recorder, which lets users create audio files from any text on screen to be transferred to portable device(s) for access on-the-go.
The latest version of the popular text-to-speech learning tool for users with learning disabilities, Kurzweil 3000 Version 13, which will also be on the Sight and Sound Technology stand, is now available to users with an unlimited web licence and a fully integrated simplistic ‘cloud’ service called Firefly.
Glenn Tookey, CEO of Sight and Sound Technology, explains: “BETT is well known for its long standing tradition of showcasing the best available assistive technologies to the public. Our reputation has been built on the same approach, working with customers to take advantage of technology to provide the right solutions and support. Keeping up with the fast pace of technology development is always a challenge, but we continue to build our Master Distribution relationships ensuring that we are able to offer choice, best of breed products and great support to our customers.”
In addition to software, Sight and Sound Technology will be showcasing hardware solutions at BETT including The PLEXTALK Pocket, which uniquely provides portable DAISY playback, recording and tracking, as well the ability to record in MP3, WAV and other audio file formats, to users with print disabilities.
Bruno Cozette, International Account Executive of PLEXTALK comments: “We are very pleased that our DAISY player and recorder, the PLEXTALK Pocket, is now available through Sight and Sound Technology. Sight and Sound Technology are a passionate team with expertise in innovative and high-quality products, making mainstream technology accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired and for those with learning and reading difficulties.”
Freedom Scientific’s Scanning and Reading Appliance/CE, or SARA™ and SARA CE™, the user friendly solution for users with low vision and little computer experience, now features the ABBY FineReader® in its OmniPage® OCR engine, increasing the accuracy and speed of character recognition and playback to the user.
Freedom Scientific’s TOPAZ® XL HD, brings high definition to desktop video magnification. The TOPAZ® XL, which has become an indispensable tool for users with visual impairments, now offers High Definition clarity at below two times magnification levels, fitting more text on the screen, and removing the nuisance of repeatedly manoeuvring the magnified document under the camera. With Freedom Scientific’s optional GEM™ software, low vision users can bring the magnified image to their PC, control the TOPAZ XL HD from their keyboard, and see the magnified document and their application on screen simultaneously, enabling multi-tasking and increased productivity.
The new TOPAZ XL HD line offers 20-inch, 22-inch, and 24-inch widescreen models, as well as 17-inch standard monitor and camera only models.
Sight and Sound Technology will be exhibiting at BETT 2012 on stand SN40 in the SEN zone.