Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Humanware Talks CSUN Success And More

Humanware came into this year's CSUN with a lot of questions about what was happening considering their recent layoffs in New Zealand. I am guessing here but this Press Release is coming out to boast about their new products and reassure all that Keysoft will continue. Take a look and decide for yourself.

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HumanWare Innovation Continues in 2008 by Building on Strong Successes of 2007

March 19, 2008 -- HumanWare's participation in last week's 2008 CSUN Technology and Persons with Disability Conference, where they made two new product announcements, demonstrates HumanWare's continuing global leadership in developing and providing assistive technologies for the print disabled.

The CSUN conference offered the opportunity to listen to and talk with international attendees from around the world, including Europe, Asia and Australia. Town Hall meetings with customers and round table discussions with education technology leaders allowed HumanWare to hear firsthand customer needs and product requirements. This feedback helps HumanWare continually update its current products as well as plan for future products to meet specific customer needs.

As recently stated by Gilles Pepin, Group CEO of HumanWare, "The BrailleNote Family is our flagship product and we are committed to investing in its future development and innovation. Our goal is to create a more mainstream approach to product development. We will continue to have innovative and successful products for the BrailleNote family in the future, just as we have done with the Stream, ClassMate, and Breeze." In addition Mr. Pepin announced a new KeySoft upgrade for the BrailleNote later this year.

HumanWare Announces 2008 Launch of Two Innovative Products:

Last week, at the 2008 CSUN conference HumanWare unveiled a new talking GPS for people who are blind. The Trekker Breeze was designed for use when travelling in familiar surroundings and provides talking GPS directions that help users know where they are and where they are going whether on foot or in a vehicle. This new model is an addition to the popular Trekker and BrailleNote GPS systems, which have thousands of users worldwide. HumanWare offers the most complete line of GPS tools for visually impaired people.

HumanWare, in partnership with the Washington State Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH), has developed the Deaf Blind Communicator (DBC) which provides three types of communication for deaf blind users: face-to-face, TTY, and SMS Texting. The DBC consists of two separate components that deaf blind users can easily carry wherever they go. These two components communicate wirelessly with each other using Bluetooth.

HumanWare Builds on Innovative Products Launched in 2007

Since last summer's launch, HumanWare's Victor Stream has sold thousands of units worldwide. This versatile, powerful NIMAS, DAISY-MP3 and NISO player lets users read and navigate through complex reference manuals and school books, as well as novels and magazines. Members of NLS (National Library Services) and RFB&D (Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic) enjoy an enhanced reading experience. With the latest release of Version 1.2 on March 10, 2008, Serotek customers with a subscription to their System Access Mobile Network services can now listen to most content from that network. No other DAISY player offers so much in such a small package and at an affordable price.

HumanWare's ClassMate Reader, a new portable and affordable digital audio book player announced in the fall 2007 continues to prove helpful to students in increasing their reading speed, comprehension and vocabulary. The ClassMate reads aloud and simultaneously displays and highlights text on its full color screen. It also includes helpful study tools that enhance learning through bookmarks, recording and a speaking dictionary. With built-in text-to-speech, the ClassMate Reader works with e-text or NIMAS files. The ClassMate is a completely portable stand-alone solution.

About HumanWare

HumanWare (www.humanware.com) 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 about these or other HumanWare products, please contact us:

U.S.A
call toll free 1-800-722-3393 or (925) 680-7100
Email: us.info@humanware.com

Canada
call toll free 1-888-723-7273
Email: ca.info@humanware.com

UK/Europe
Tel: +44 1933 415 800
Email: eu.info@humanware.com

Autralia/Asia
Tel: +61 2 9686 2600
Email: au.sales@humanware.com

Media contact:
Nicolas Lagace
Tel.: (450) 463-1717
E-mail: nicolas.lagace@humanware.com

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