The Voice of the World Wide Web

Spoken Internet/Web Access for Blind and Visually Impaired Users

Introducing IBM Home Page Reader Version 2.0 for Windows

Leveraging the power of voice, Home Page Reader takes Internet access for blind and visually impaired users to a dramatic new level. In short, this innovative product is a spoken on-ramp to the Information Highway.

Unprecedented Web Access

By teaming up the tremendous capabilities of IBM's ViaVoice OutLoud ^TM text-to-speech, SAPI-compliant speech synthesizer and Netscape^TM Navigator^TM, Home Page Reader orally communicates web-based information just as it is presented on the computer screen. From graphics descriptions and text in column format to tables and data input fields, Home Page Reader audibly provides the complete information the user needs. Quickly. Easily. And efficiently. No extra hardware synthesizer to buy. The user simply interacts with the computer using a basic numeric keypad in a Microsoft^R Windows^R environment. Home Page Reader opens exciting new doors of opportunity to independently access the vast resources available on the Internet.

Valuable Capabilities

What can the user do with Home Page Reader? Just imagine the convenience of this talking web browser.

Access Comprehensive Information

Home Page Reader audibly communicates complete information from graphical user interface web pages to the user, including tables, frames, forms, and even alternate text for images. The full range of web page data is provided in a logical, clear and understandable manner. Home Page Reader speaks link information or ALT text for objects like images and image maps. In addition, the product speaks HTML 4.0 information provided by web page authors, providing valuable information like summaries and table captions.

Navigate With a Simple Numeric Keypad

Using the numeric keypad as an interface, Home Page Reader allows the user to navigate and manipulate web page elements like image and text links, form elements, standard text and frames. With the convenient keys help mode, the user can press any Home Page Reader key combination and hear a description of its use.

Skim Information Quickly As Desired

With Home Page Reader's fast forward key, the user can skim web pages to quickly locate the desired information. A male voice reads text, while a female voice provides the word links. This simple- to-follow differentiation lets the user navigate the Internet much more efficiently and productively. By accessing page summary data or using a "where am I" command on the keypad, the user can also instantly determine the number and location of elements on the current web page.

Enjoy Convenient Online Help and Bookmarks

Home Page Reader provides the user with access to online help and bookmarks, easily retrieved as local web pages with hypertext. Saving and organizing bookmarks with Home Page Reader is easy too.

Use Electronic Mail

To expand the user's communication with family, friends and business associates, Home Page Reader includes an integrated electronic mail feature called Home Page Mailer.

Exciting Benefits

• Enjoy simple, voice-prompted installation and setup
• Access complete information -- instantly and independently
• Increase productivity with a rapid reading speed and valuable shortcuts
• Enhance efficiency with helpful auditory distinctions and fast forward mode
• Improve communications with the electronic mail feature
• Gain new opportunities through this powerful yet affordable tool

Systems Information

Home Page Reader is available in English for users of Microsoft Windows 95, 98 or NT. Featuring simple, voice-prompted installation through a standard InstallShield program setup, the product can be used by itself or in conjunction with other applications such as screen readers. For new Internet users, an optional installation of Netscape Navigator is included. Through Netscape, Home Page Reader automatically provides proxy support to access web pages outside firewalls.

Hardware Requirements

• Processor performance equivalent to Intel Pentium^R 150 MHz MMX
• 32 MB RAM for Microsoft Windows 95 or 98, or 64 MB RAM for Windows NT
• 10 MB hard disk space available
  (Note: An additional 18 MB is required if installing Netscape Navigator.)
• SVGA graphics card (640 x 480 with 256 colors)
• 28.8 KBPS modem
• Windows-compatible 16-bit sound card
  (Note: Sound/modem combination adapters in lap-top computers are not supported.)
• Windows-compatible double-speed CD-ROM drive
• PC-compatible numeric keypad (integrated into the keyboard or sold separately)

Software Requirements

• Microsoft Windows 95, 98 or NT
• Internet Service Provider Connection
• Netscape Navigator V3.01 or higher*

To use Home Page Mailer, users with Windows 95 or 98 must install Microsoft Personal Web Server V4.0. Users with Windows NT must install Microsoft Peer Web Services V2.

*Note: Netscape Navigator is provided on the Home Page Reader CD-ROM for user installation if needed.

More information about Home Page Reader is available from a paper given at "Closing the Gap". To receive information on any IBM product for persons with disabilities, please write or call:

IBM Special Needs Systems
11400 Burnet Road
Austin, Texas 78758
USA-Voice: 1-800-426-4832
USA-TTY: 1-800-426-4833

Home Page Reader will be available to order in January 1999.

A free trial version will soon be available from this Web site.

SNS Home |  E-mail |  Worldwide |  Accessibility |  Resources 
| | | |

©1998 IBM Corporation