News from Handy Tech North America - KNFB READER & the N82

Fri Feb 1 05:17:35 CST 2008

Bret,

Isn't indeed accessible certainly with WFN v7, and will continue to get
worse as WF bring out more newer versions of Navigator, and Nuance do not
work on making it work, as they are now supporting Access. 

Neil Barnfather
WF Access List Administrator
TalkNav is a Nuance Accessibility software reseller and authorized
distributor of Wayfinder products. 

www.talknav.com
www.wayfinderaccess.com 
Telephone: - +44 (0) 870 351 7532
MSN: - neil at ehosting.com
-----Original Message-----
From: blindphones-bounces at mosenexplosion.com
[mailto:blindphones-bounces at mosenexplosion.com] On Behalf Of Brett
Sent: 31 January 2008 08:52
To: The Accessible Phones Discussion List
Subject: Re: News from Handy Tech North America - KNFB READER & the N82

Hi,

Wayfinder access is the one designed for blind people, WayFinder navigator
is the one that is used by the general public and probably isn't as
accessible.

cheers,
brett.

----- Original Message -----
From: "LaBrentha Coles" <lamaco at cox.net>
To: "The Accessible Phones Discussion List" <blindphones at mosenexplosion.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 11:06 AM
Subject: Re: News from Handy Tech North America - KNFB READER & the N82

hello Neil,
I updated to WayFinder Access 2.00.10 purchased from talkNav at the end of
last year.  The license is lifetime, for the full North American zone.
Is there a difference between WayFinder Access 2.0 and WayFinder Navigator
V7?
If so, please elaberate.

Lala

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Neil Barnfather - TalkNav" <talks at talknav.com>
To: "'The Accessible Phones Discussion List'"
<blindphones at mosenexplosion.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 10:25 AM
Subject: RE: News from Handy Tech North America - KNFB READER & the N82

USA from us is $379.99, a quick look on a few sites within the USA offers
WFN v7 for $124.99, be sure to do a like for like, this is Wayfinder
Navigator v7, life time licence for full North American zone.

It's so easy to think you're getting like for like, but end up with WFN v6,
or not the life time licence, or just your regional area.

By my math that is give or take 2.5 times the cost.

Neil Barnfather
WF Access List Administrator
TalkNav is a Nuance Accessibility software reseller and authorized
distributor of Wayfinder products.

www.talknav.com
www.wayfinderaccess.com
Telephone: - +44 (0) 870 351 7532
MSN: - neil at ehosting.com
-----Original Message-----
From: blindphones-bounces at mosenexplosion.com
[mailto:blindphones-bounces at mosenexplosion.com] On Behalf Of Rusty Perez
Sent: 30 January 2008 16:16
To: The Accessible Phones Discussion List
Subject: Re: News from Handy Tech North America - KNFB READER & the N82

Well, it's been a long time, but when I looked in to it about two years ago,
it was $99.00 here in the US. and the access version is like $449.00 It may
have gone up here, but I think there's still a disparity here in the US. I'm
too lazy to go look, so if some one has more current prices for the US.
please chime in.
Rusty

On 1/30/08, Neil Barnfather - TalkNav <talks at talknav.com> wrote:
> Rusty,
>
> WFA from us is only 2.5 times the price of navigator, this is not a
> defence of the price, it is what it is, and if you are unhappy that is
your right.
> But it is not four times the price.
>
> £99.99 for full European licence of Navigator verse £259.99 for full
> European licence of Access.
>
> Regards.
>
>
> Neil Barnfather
> WF Access List Administrator
> TalkNav is a Nuance Accessibility software reseller and authorized
> distributor of Wayfinder products.
>
> www.talknav.com
> www.wayfinderaccess.com
> Telephone: - +44 (0) 870 351 7532
> MSN: - neil at ehosting.com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindphones-bounces at mosenexplosion.com
> [mailto:blindphones-bounces at mosenexplosion.com] On Behalf Of Rusty
> Perez
> Sent: 30 January 2008 07:17
> To: The Accessible Phones Discussion List
> Subject: Re: News from Handy Tech North America - KNFB READER & the
> N82
>
> I agree, $1595 is way too much, but I don't think knfb has done good
> research. The first unit started out at 3500 and is now at 2595. I'm
> hoping they will come to their senses. I'm also mad at the cost for
> wayfinder accessibility. Wayfinder for sighted folks cost a quarter
> the amount that the special one does. I don't think that a few more
> info options are worth four times the cost.
> But who ever said that they know the feds or the state will buy it was
> right.
> I had a teacher who always said you can't make money off the blind,
> but people are trying.
> Rusty
>
> On 1/29/08, Information for Gwen <informationforgwen at verizon.net> wrote:
> > Well, look at what nfb was charging for its hand-held ocr reader...
> > All of this technology is really expensive. I guess nfb figures the
> > states will just belly up, or the feds, and buy everything for us.
> > Those of us who work, have home expenses, pay for insurance,
> > property taxes etc, and pay for stuff in the real world, this is
> > crazy! I would not
> get one... Can't afford it.
> > And then there are the dog expenses for those of us who have guides,
> > vet bills, special food, whatever... Thanks but no thanks...
> >
> > Gwen Givens and guide dog Mia
> > SEGDI dog extraordinaire
> > skype id gwen.givens
> > "A dog has many friends because he wags his tail and not his tongue."
> > --- Anonymous ---
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: blindphones-bounces at mosenexplosion.com
> > [mailto:blindphones-bounces at mosenexplosion.com] On Behalf Of David
> > Poehlman
> > Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 4:21 PM
> > To: The Accessible Phones Discussion List
> > Subject: Re: News from Handy Tech North America - KNFB READER & the
> > N82
> >
> >
> > yea, but I've seen single voices go for as much as 700 dollars so
> > you can sort of understand this.
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Stephen Giggar" <sgiggar at sbcglobal.net>
> > To: "The Accessible Phones Discussion List"
> > <blindphones at mosenexplosion.com>
> > Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 3:20 PM
> > Subject: Re: News from Handy Tech North America - KNFB READER & the
> > N82
> >
> >
> > They are asking way to much for the software for the cell phone.
> > $1,595 USD is to high for the KNFBReader software by itself. That is
> > over 5 times the price of the screen reader for the Nokia N82. That
> > is over 4 time the cost of Way Finder Access. That is over 3 times
> >
> > the cost of the cell
> > phone.
> >
> > It is bad when the makers of the KNFB reader haven't done any
> > research to see what software is going for and if they want to make
> > it a must have; They need to lower the price to
> >
> > about $400 or so. After
> > all; They didn't have to do any research or stuff like that. Being
> > they had a copy already running on a Windows PDA. All they had to do
> > is to convert it to the Symbian platform.
> >
> > I do not see very many people buying the very costly KNFBReader
software.
> > Now if they lower the
> > price of it like I said above; Then they will find that their sell
> > probably will go way up.
> >
> > Signed: Stephen Giggar
> > sgiggar at sbcglobal.net
> > Skype: dr-phone.
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Bob Campbell" <robert-c at pacbell.net>
> > To: "The Accessible Phones Discussion List"
> > <blindphones at mosenexplosion.com>
> > Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 10:57 PM
> > Subject: News from Handy Tech North America - KNFB READER & the N82
> >
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi.  I got this from another list and thought it would be of
> > > interest to others who use the N82 or anyone interested in new
> > > accessibility issues. I don't intend  it as  promoting the product:
> > > just sharing the info. Bob C.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > K-NFB Reading Technology
> > > January 28, 2008
> > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > >
> > > --Cell Phone Can Read Documents for Blind
> > >
> > > Dear Customer:
> > >
> > > Handy Tech North America is pleased to be an authorized dealer of
> > > K-NFB Reading Technology products.  We are now taking orders for
> > > the newly released K-NFB Reader, version 2 software which runs on
> > > the Nokia N82 Symbian phone. The cost of the K-NFB Reader bundle
> > > from Handy Tech North America is $2,495.
> > > This package includes the Nokia N82 phone, K-NFB Reader software
> > > and your choice of either Talks or Mobile Speak screen reader.
> > > Note that the K-NFB Reader is a self voicing application which
> > > does not require the use of a third party screen reader; however,
> > > a screen reader is necessary to access the other features of the
> > > phone such as contacts, messaging, calendar appointments, caller
> > > ID and call logs. We are pleased to offer the newly released KNFB
> > > Reading system to our customers.
> > >
> > >
> > > Here is a link to a demo of the reader:
> > >
> > >
> > > http://www.triumphonic.com/demos/readerdemo.mp3
> > > (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001JDx4ckL3Yd9AOcW8mM9c_8YoxlawKaAPgkIEaT
> > > dU
> > > fo
> > > EK59lT4YrJRJtBP0WpdGbsCrQEJFE66T1kxuchMlRRcWGlaEsIkY-smspyqMNZgMG3
> > > Nm
> > > 55
> > > 3JhER1U2zX8rgIropZPbNqW66JUBWrnziyDdTg==)
> > >
> > > The following is the press release of the K-NFB Reader announced
> > > earlier this morning:
> > >
> > >
> > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > > Cell Phone Can Read Documents for Blind
> > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > > By ALEX DOMINGUEZ
> > >
> > > BALTIMORE (AP) - Chris Danielsen fidgets with the cell phone,
> > > holding it over a $20 bill.
> > > "Detecting orientation, processing U.S.
> > > currency image," the phone says in a flat monotone before
> > > Danielsen snaps a photo. A few seconds later, the phone says,
> > > "Twenty dollars."
> > > Danielsen, a spokesman for the National Federation of the Blind,
> > > is holding the next generation of computerized aids for the blind
> > > and visually impaired.
> > >
> > > The Nokia cell phone is loaded with software that turns text on
> > > photographed documents into speech. In addition to telling whether
> > > a bill is worth $1, $5, $10 or $20, it also allows users to read
> > > anything that is photographed, whether it's a restaurant menu, a
> > > phone book or a fax.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > While the technology is not new, the NFB and the software's
> > > developer say the cell phone is the first to incorporate the
> > > text-to-speech ability.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > "We've had reading devices before," Danielsen said, noting similar
> > > software is already available in a larger handheld reader housed
> > > in a personal digital assistant. Companies such as Code Factory
> > > SL, Dolphin Computer Access Ltd. and Nuance Communications Inc.
> > > also provide software that allows the blind to use cell phones and
> > > PDAs.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Inexpensive hand-held scanners such as WizCom Technologies Ltd.'s
> > > SuperPen can scan limited amounts of text, read it aloud and even
> > > translate from other languages.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > However, the $2,100 NFB device combines all of those functions in
> > > one smart phone, said James Gashel, vice president of business
> > > development for K-NFB Reading Technology Inc., which is marketing
> > > the phone as a joint venture between the federation and software
> > > developer Ray Kurzweil.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > "It is the next step, but this is a huge leap," Gashel, who is
> > > blind, said in a telephone interview. "I'm talking to you on the
> > > device I also use to read things. I can put it in my pocket and at
> > > the touch of a button, in 20 seconds, be reading something I need
> > > to read in print."
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Ray Kurzweil, who developed the first device that could convert
> > > text into audio in the 1970s and the current NFB device, said
> > > portability is only the first step. Future versions of the device
> > > will recognize faces, identify rooms and translate text from other
> > > languages for the blind and the sighted.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > The inventor plans to begin marketing the cell phone in February
> > > through K-NFB Reading Technology. The software will cost $1,595
> > > and the cell phone is expected to cost about $500, Kurzweil said.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Dave Doermann, president of College Park-based Applied Media
> > > Analysis said his company is working on similar software for smart
> > > phones that could be used by the military for translation and by
> > > the visually impaired.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > "We don't anticipate ours being that expensive, but unfortunately
> > > we're not quite to the release yet," said Doermann, who is also
> > > co-director of the University of Maryland's Laboratory for
> > > Language and Media Processing.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Doermann said the company, which has received funding from the
> > > Department of Defense and the National Eye Institute, hopes to
> > > have its software ready in the next 12 to 18 months.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Kurzweil's device uses speech software provided by Nuance, said
> > > Chris Strammiello, the director of product management at Nuance,
> > > who said the company has also developed a director of product
> > > management at Nuance, who said the company has also developed a
> > > prototype reader that uses the Internet to access more powerful
> > > server-side computers.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > "As you can harness the power of remote environments and do that
> > > so quickly with the Web technologies, it gives a lot more
> > > capability, flexibility and options to the way you solve these
> > > type of problems," Strammiello said.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > There are about 10 million blind and visually impaired people in
> > > the U.S., a number that is expected to double in the next 30 years
> > > as baby boomers age.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Kurzweil said those with vision problems are not the only ones
> > > expected to benefit from the technology. Dyslexics, for example,
> > > are expected to be among the users of the current device because
> > > of its ability to highlight each word as it's read aloud, helping
> > > them cope with their disability, which affects the ability to
> > > read. The highlighting function can also help them improve their
> > > reading skills, he said.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > "What's new here is both blind people and kids can do this with a
> > > device that fits in their shirt pocket," Kurzweil said.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Marc Maurer, president of the National Federation of the Blind,
> > > said the device and its PDA predecessor are a "form of hand-held
> > > vision" that will make the visual environment "much more readily
> > > available to the blind."
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > > Contact Information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > > email: earle at handytech.us
> > > phone: (651) 636-5184
> > > web:
> > > http://www.handytech.us
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
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