First Hand-held for the Blind

[Russ Smith]

Handhelds came into being at a time when all computers were moving to fully graphical user interfaces. So it's no wonder that handhelds were developed with visual metaphors for operations. That's great for the majority of people with even passable eyesight, but what about the visually impaired? A handheld is a great platform for listening to audio books as well as providing access to schedules, contacts, and other information which would be as handy for the visually impaired as it is to sighted persons, but the user interface is hopelessly graphical. Filling that niche is what HP and VisuAide had in mind when they created the Maestro -- the first mainstream handheld for blind and visually impaired persons (http://www.visuaide.com/news_maestro_en.html).

The Maestro isn't exactly a custom-built handheld. It's built around the HP 1940 series iPAQ, but has a membrane keypad the covers the screen and specialized software, including text-to-speach, specifically tooled to visually-impaired use. By using an existing platform, HP can bring the Maestro to market more inexpensively and faster than a truly custom-built product.

The Maestro is slated for shipping in September of this year. Pricing is not yet available. Options include a Braille or standard external keyboard.

The device also integrates with other VisuAide products including the Trekker GPS-enabled location-based information product (http://www.visuaide.com/news_trekker2_0.html) for the visually impaired that VisuAide introduced in 2003.

[Pony99CA]

I wonder if HP will keep the Maestro name. I can't imagine Audiovox (or the company that took over their Pocket PCs) would let them.

Steve

[DavesPPC]

That's great!
Really, those with impaired vision (or blind), will love to have more gadgets to use! I have a blind relative, and two others that have impaired vision...they are all for it!