March 06

Regular readers of this newsletter will know of the tragic death of our founder and CEO, Dr Russell Smith late last year.

Since Russells death we have been conducting an international search for his replacement, in the intervening period Gilles Pepin, CEO of HumanWare Canada, has been acting CEO of the HumanWare Group.

I am pleased to advise all readers that we have now successfully completed this search and have found an outstanding candidate in Dr Richard Mander. Dr Mander is a New Zealander with a strong background in technology, research and product development and a particular interest in the human interface with technology.

Dr Mander worked for 14 years in the United States, including seven years at Apple Computer. After leaving Apple, he spent seven years as a consultant advising technology companies on customer-centred product design and methods for improving product development. He has advised New Zealand companies on these matters and in 2004 received the World Class New Zealander Award from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. This is an annual award for expat New Zealanders who make an outstanding contribution to New Zealand’s economic development.

Prior to his appointment with HumanWare Richard was employed by Navman, in the role of Chief Technology Officer.

He is a lovely bloke and has a wealth of technology experience behind him. I look forward to introducing him to you when he next visits Australia.

Scott Freeman has been appointed to the position of Low Vision Consultant for Victoria and Tasmania based in Melbourne. His office telephone number is (03) 9855 2365 and full contact details are on the back page of this edition.

Scott brings a high level of expertise, desire and skill to this position. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have acquired his services. I know our customers in the southern states will be pleased with his professionalism and willingness to “go the extra mile” on their behalf.

Scott has already received training on all our low vision products - MaxTV glasses, PocketViewer, SmartView , myReader and everything in between.

myReader Takes Over

This will change the way you look at Low Vision forever.

We thought we were busy when we were just doing SmartView and PocketViewer demonstrations. Then we released myReader and we got really busy!

The market has responded so positively to this new technology that everyone wants to see it. In particular, well informed low vision specialists like Ophthalmologists and Optometrists are requesting it for

The Victor Reader Wave is the latest model in HumanWare’s popular line of Digital Talking Book Players.

Based on the popular Victor Reader Vibe, the world’s first mainstream MP3 player adapted to play DAISY books, the Victor Reader Wave has all the advantages of an adapted mainstream player, with its portable design and affordable price (only $395), and also includes many new enhancements:

A clam shell style lid with the familiar telephone style keypad of the Victor Reader Classic+ player.
Enlarged file system to play complex DAISY books.
Expanded memory to store hundreds of bookmarks.
Audio prompts added for MP3 CD playback.
Larger screen with text feedback for commands and display of book title and headings.

Contact Ramona or Anthony on (02) 9686 2600 to find out more

mPower is Exciting

An outstanding audio presentation on the features and benefits of BrailleNote mPower has been prepared by our Blindness Product Manager, Jonathan Mosen. Similarly, we have a state of the art PowerPoint presentation and we will be happy to send a CD of either (or both) to you. Please request your copy now by phone or emailing: ramona.mandy@humanware.com

This new generation BrailleNote gives us an exciting new hardware platform on which many innovative upgrades can occur.

Here's the deal. The customer keeps their existing Braille display (the most expensive single part of the device) and has that display transplanted into a brand new BrailleNote mPower.

Customers get an entirely new unit, the next generation BrailleNote, by a transplant of their Braille display. The cost is a tiny $2,750 - which includes a clean and check of your existing Braille cells.

I am writing to you to say that the longer I use the BrailleNote the more uses I find for it. The first comment to make is that every claim made for it has been made good. It is light, even taking my arthritic wrists into account; quiet enough to be used during a lecture; the voice is as clear an artificial voice as I have heard; the speed of the speech has a wide range as does the volume, and can be turned off; the Braille display is clear without being hard on the tips of the fingers and there is a choice of the grade of Braille. It follows that the machine can run on either a battery or on mains electricity.

The prompts are simple and adequate. It is easy to gain access to the "help" menus; and one is returned to that point in one's work: no bothering about finding the place each time. Whether it is the address book, e-mail with a built in filing system, internet, access to sites offering books and a word-processing system adapted to the needs of blind people; and so much more.

Writing is so convenient, that more and more I find myself jotting down information, writing myself little notes. My choice was for a Perkins touch, although a qwerty keyboard is available they tell me.

The required knowledge of computers is soon gained. Of course I have made mistakes that a wider knowledge would have averted, but have done no damage to any software.

I can read and write in English and in French. I do not anticipate making any use of, for example, the capacity to print addresses or transcribe hard-copy Braille. But who knows?

It is wonderful what adaptable equipment can prompt one to do what one never even dreamed of doing.

Window Eyes – Version 5.5 Released

There is no doubt that Window-Eyes has raised the bar once again, with support for Microsoft Office applications. 100% accurate, 100% of the time is the continuing goal.

In addition to those features, Window-Eyes 5.5 used with Firefox gives a dynamite web browsing experience. W.E. 5.5 is powerful enough for advanced users, simple enough for beginners, and ensures a reliable computing environment for everyone. For a complete list of the new features in Window-Eyes 5.5 please visit: http://www.gwmicro.com/window-eyes .

Window-Eyes Training

To say Clarence Whaley is very well known internationally is somewhat of an understatement!!

Clarence has for many years been the face of GWMicro and Window-Eyes in the US and has responsibility for international training.

We have been trying for some time to get Clarence to Australia so more people can have the Window-Eyes experience and escape the costs of only knowing one screen reader. We have now been successful!

HumanWare is sponsoring Clarence on his first Australian trip. He will be conducting a series of beginner and advanced “train-the-trainer” 2 day sessions in the eastern states beginning in early May.

We know that we won’t be able to satisfy everybody who wants to be a part of this market-changing event, but please register your interest with Anthony or Phil as soon as possible and we will do our best.

ZoomText 9.0 a Winner

Packed with new features and now available ex stock for only $625 for the Mag only version and $865 Mag / Reader – ZoomText V9 is a real winner with clients. Call us for particulars on:

MaxTV Glasses for TV Viewing

Maximize the size of TV screens with the easiest-to-fit, binocular, telescopic distance system ever introduced - MaxTV glasses!

These hands-free, head-mounted glasses provide 2.1x magnification and can be adjusted so that each eye lens can be focused separately. The glasses will focus on objects from distances of 3m [10 feet] to infinity and are perfect for watching TV, sporting events, movies, theatre, or any other distance viewing activity where a magnified image would be helpful.

With flexible temples, the MAXTV telescopic glasses are the most comfortable television viewing device ever.

Maestro PDA

Maestro, the first mainstream pocket computer accessible to the blind and visually impaired, allows you to manage appointments and contacts, take text notes with a standard or Braille keyboard, record voice memos, consult and edit documents, read books, listen to music, and more, all in the palm of the hand. Maestro is great value at only $1,660.

KeyMaestro - the Wireless Braille Keyboard

We are pleased to announce the release of KeyMaestro, a portable Braille Bluetooth keyboard, offering enhanced notetaking capability to the Maestro PDA. Now users can input data quickly and conveniently in computer Braille or Grade 2 anytime, anywhere.

KeyMaestro is a full Perkins-type keyboard. The user can input data in Braille, quickly access favourite applications, enter commands with special function keys and enjoy the convenience of compact portability. KeyMaestro can be used alternatively with the tactile keyboard of the PDA without quitting the active Maestro application.

The KeyMaestro keyboard has an improved power management system. The keyboard has a power on/off key, battery autonomy of 100 hours of continuous use and a power-saving auto-sleep mode. Visually impaired users can also know the battery status via audio feedback.

The Bluetooth Manager of the Maestro platform has been finely tuned to provide users with a robust, easy-to-connect interface. Once the keyboard has been enabled, Maestro automatically communicates each time you want to use it, as soon as the Maestro and KeyMaestro have been turned on.

KeyMaestro comes with a carrying case and four AAA batteries and is available now from HumanWare for $580.

SmartView – Special Offer

We are pleased to be able to extend our popular trade-in offer on SmartView, announced in the last TechStyle. This great offer will help our low vision clients upgrade to the latest technology.

If you have an old ViewPoint or SmartView video magnifier (or even an opposition brand) you could now benefit from our special trade-in offer on the purchase of a new SmartView or myReader low vision auto-reader.

Ask your local supplier about the free mono PocketViewer offer available with every SmartView purchase!

SmartView – now with LCD monitors

Firstly, let’s look at the difference between CRT and LCD monitors.

Most people are familiar with the general functioning of a television set. A television tube consists of a large vacuum tube with an electron beam inside of it. This beam is constantly scanning across the front of the tube containing phosphorus, exciting the particles and producing the light. CRT monitors use the same technology to produce the computer display for the user. In fact, many early CRT monitors were modified television screens used to display text from the computer.

Disadvantages: Takes up lots of space, very heavy, uses large amounts of energy, generates excess heat.

LCDs have been around for many years in the portable computing market. A liquid crystal display functions when electricity is applied to the crystals. A matrix of these crystals forms up the film of the display which can have the colours turned on or off by the application of a current. A backlight behind the film then illuminates the film so that it is visible in any lighting condition.

Advantages: takes up little space, is light weight, energy efficient, causes less eye fatigue.

Disadvantages: it’s relatively expensive, motion blur on very fast moving images.

Yes, LCD screens are more expensive - but we have absorbed that extra cost, so you may enjoy the benefits of less fatigue. It also makes the SmartView so much easier to set up because the LCD monitors are more than 50% lighter. New SmartView purchasers will enjoy this new screen technology.

SmartView Feedback

“Thanks so much for the delivery of your wonderful SmartView video magnifier to help me cope with my lack of sight caused by Macular Degeneration. It has changed my life! I can now read my mail, write letters and sign cheques where needed. I just couldn’t live without it now and wish all folk afflicted like myself could know about your wonderful SmartVew.”

At HumanWare we are well aware of the large up-front costs of equipment. Sometimes that one up-front cost is just too much for people who could really benefit from our products and that’s a shame!

Following lots of requests from clients, we felt it was time to find a customer friendly lending institution. One with competitive rates that was able to listen to our client needs.So we asked Wizard Home Loans to assist.

We have spoken with Mr Everard Vaz from Wizard Home Loans and asked him to assist HumanWare customers in purchasing their adaptive technology needs. (HumanWare do not receive any commission from these purchases.)

If you wish to purchase equipment and pay in instalments, please speak with Everard Vaz from Wizard on (02) 9980 6511.

HumanWare are very proud to be a major sponsor of the Macular Degeneration Foundation (MDF). In November 2005 Scott Freeman (Victorian Low Vision Consultant for HumanWare) co-traveled to 13 different locations around Victoria with MDF.

Scott presented HumanWare’s full range of low vision products and spoke at each venue along with Optometrists and representatives from other related organisations.

“It was great to be able to show people in rural areas the range of equipment that is available to them. The demand for the equipment was even greater that we expected, particularly for myReader – being the only machine of its type in the world, ” said Scott.

The tour culminated with the draw for a PocketViewer portable magnifier valued at $1280. Congratulations to Mrs. Marnell from Hamilton who was the lucky recipient of this prize and also congrats to Mrs. Roddy of Dubbo who received a PocketViewer from the NSW MDF tour.

Reading Edge Kurzweil Reader (V.2.0)
A book edge scanner for easy reading of bound material; Dectalk speech; colour coded speed and volume controls; Serial port for transfer of scanned documents to a computer or notetaker; Earphone jack, and output line jack for recording. This is a complete pack.
Price: $2000 ONO. Contact: Amanda Heal
Phone: 0418 515 715 Email: pebbles11@actewagl.net.au

5 years old and only done a few hours work. In excellent condition, comes with Keysoft 4.02. Previous owner is changing over to a BrailleNote PK as I need a Braille display)