[Fwd: [webwatch] Another Talking Web Browser Under Development]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [webwatch] Another Talking Web Browser Under Development
Date: Thu, 28 Oct 1999 07:53:50 -0700
From: Kelly Ford <kford@teleport.com>
Reply-To: "webwatch" <webwatch@telelists.com>
To: "webwatch" <webwatch@telelists.com>

Hi All,

My_Eyes, scheduled to be released on November 15 of this year, is yet
another talking web browser being developed.  Details can be found at:

http://www.code-it.com/my_eyes.htm

Following is a description of the program taken from the web page.  I
don't
know anything beyond what appears below.

My_Eyes

"My_Eyes"  is an IBM / Comp. software / INTERNET based application
that is
in the development stage, soon (target date = Nov.
15, 1999) to be offered as Freeware. This software is being developed
in an
effort to help blind or vision impaired people
to experience the World Wide Web in a much more friendly way then is
currently available. It will be available as a software
application that will be loaded on to your hard drive via a setup
program
supplied on CD, floppy disks, or available for
download off this and other web sites. This application connects to
the
INTERNET via the users ISP connection.

Basically, it is a web browser that "speaks" (using Microsoft Active X
technology) the text from web pages for the benefit
of the blind or vision impaired person. Please do not confuse this as
another "screen reader" as it is a totally different
concept to make the Internet experience, as well as simple word
processing,
available in a more user friendly way. It will
be operated  via user keystrokes, user mouse clicks, and / or user
voice
recognition, thus giving the sight impaired user
the ability to navigate (with the skills or senses available to them)
within the program. We have made a point of designing
this software to be VERY simple to operate, thus giving a wider
audience
that can take advantage of it's use. It will not
require any other software to be installed on the system (a stand
alone
program).

After the beta release of this software (and receiving feedback), we
may
consider developing a more advanced version so as
not to slow down the experienced user.

The stages and target dates of development are as follows...

Approx. November 15, 1999. Version 1.0 will be released as Freeware.

It will include the following features:
The application will have the ability to be operated completely via
user
function keystrokes or user mouse clicks as to allow
the blind or impaired vision person to execute program features
without the
need of a "helper".
The application will "talk" all functions and the help menu so as to
allow
the user to rely on their hearing ability only
(to extend their own self reliance).
The application will have a set  of "channels" or pre- determined web
pages
programmed to "hot keys" so that the user can
go to (and have the contents spoken) popular web sites in a easy
fashion.
It  MAY also include current weather forecasts
for their local area. These "channels will be accessed via function
keys so
that, for instance the user wants to hear the
"news headlines of the day", that by pressing the F3 key it will load
into
the browser and be spoken to him or her. Making
the operation SIMPLE to operate has been our main goal! No confusing
keystrokes to master.
The application will feature a "live chat room" that will speak the
contents of what the user has typed in and the response
from the other client on demand. This will be limited to the other
user
having this software installed on there computer
as well. Peer to peer communications.
The application will give the options of changing the font size, font
color, screen background color so to allow, the person
with limited sight, to use the screen color, font color and font size
best
for their needs.
It will also include a simple word processor that "guides by speech"
the
user in every way and will "talk" back the text entered
on demand. It will give the user the ability to load, edit, save, and
create new documents. This feature should extend the
user's involvement and computer skills.
Last but by all means not least, a simple web browser. This will
"talk" the
text that is displayed on any web site that the
user elected to navigate to and load. In simple language it is a
"talking
web browser".

Approx. January 1, 2000. Version 1.1 will be released as Freeware.

It will include the following added features:
The application will give the user the option of using voice
recognition
(i.e. the computer will convert the user's speech
to actual computer commands that will operate just like a keyboard and
mouse does now) and / or the user's keystrokes and
mouse clicks to activate all the functions.
The "talking" web browser will allow the  user to surf the web by
means of
the users  function keystrokes OR speech recognition.
Our main goal is to keep it simple so that the user does not have a
long
"learning curve" to master the software operation.
This browser will speak the contents of the page text and  give the
user
the ability to execute any of the links that are
included within the web site selected.
Also, we hope to have an email and a "site bookmark" feature added to
the
software that will not require sight to operate
simply, as well as other features and improvements that feedback from
beta
users have indicated would be useful.

Received on Thursday, 28 October 1999 18:51:21 UTC