Talking browser for visually impaired

[Christine Chiu <pitsco@PITSCO.COM>]

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@pitsco.com
http://www.usa.net/~pitsco/