- From: David Poehlman <poehlman@clark.net>
- Date: Thu, 28 Oct 1999 20:17:02 -0500
- To: WAI User Agent Working Group <w3c-wai-ua@w3.org>
-------- Original Message -------- Subject: my eyes Date: Thu, 28 Oct 1999 20:07:21 -0400 From: isaac obie <iobie@WORLD.STD.COM> Reply-To: isaac obie <iobie@WORLD.STD.COM> To: BLIND-L@LISTSERV.UARK.EDU Subject: my eyes link http://www.code-it.com/my_eyes.htm 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 as 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 supplied on CD (that will be installed on the hard drive) that 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 experiance, 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. 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. 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 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 set "channels" or pre- determined web pages (that we will update daily) that the user can go to (and have the contents spoken) that will include "news of the day", "up to date stock quotes for inputted values", "joke of the day", "story of the day", "game of the month", "MTV snippets". It MAY also include current weather forecasts for their local area. These channels will be accessed via function keys. 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 require both users to have the software installed on thier computer. 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 to best suit 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. A simple web browser that will load and "talk" the web page text to the user. Simply stated it is a "talking web browser" that will be operated via function keys. Approx. January 1, 2000 . 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 have the added feature to allow the user to surf the web by speech recognition. This browser will speak the contents of the page text and will give the user the ability to execute any of the links that are included within the web site selected. A "talking email" program will be added that will can also be controlled via voice recognition. This page is still under construction, so please bookmark if you have an interest in this software as there will be more information added as soon as we "get it together". We're excited! How about you? Please give us any feedback or reserve your beta copy by submitting info below. Comments Category Web site Contact Information Name Company E-mail Submit Feedback Reset Form This page is Bobby Approved! approved.gif (2958 bytes) link http://www.cast.org/bobby Bobby's Home Page
Received on Thursday, 28 October 1999 20:17:42 UTC