[Colorado-Talk] Vispero Accounts: An Explanation, an Apology, and a Path Forward

[Curtis Chong]

Greetings:

 

Those of you who use and rely upon programs such as JAWS, ZoomText, or
Fusion may be interested in this blog post from Vispero, put out just two
days ago. Suffice it to say that the pricing for Vispero products and/or
recent practices introduced by the most recent updates have created
confusion, not to say annoyance, within the Vispero user community.

 

Here is the post from Vispero.

 

Link to Original Source
https://blog.freedomscientific.com/vispero-accounts-an-explanation-an-apolog
y-and-a-path-forward/

 


Vispero Accounts: An Explanation, an Apology, and a Path Forward


 <https://blog.freedomscientific.com/author/rbassett-spiers/> Rhonda
Bassett-Spiers November 24, 2025

We want to begin by acknowledging something important: we should have
communicated these changes earlier, more clearly, and with greater
transparency.

Several of you have shared that the rollout of user registration felt
abrupt, confusing, or too personal. We understand this feedback, and we
sincerely apologize for the delay in responding. We are committed to
improving how-and how often-we communicate going forward.

Creating an account should never feel like an obstacle between you and the
products you rely on. Our intention was to introduce functionality that
benefits users, but we recognize that without proper explanation, it created
uncertainty instead. Thank you for your patience and for continuing to share
your concerns. We are listening, and we will get better.

Below is a clearer, more transparent explanation of why we ask for certain
information, how it is used, and what will change based on your feedback. I
have also included
<https://blog.freedomscientific.com/vispero-accounts-an-explanation-an-apolo
gy-and-a-path-forward/#faq> Frequently Asked Questions for your reference.


Why Accounts Exist


Accounts unlock features that were not previously possible-starting with the
ability to sync your settings across devices so your experience stays
consistent wherever you use JAWS, ZoomText, or Fusion. Over time, accounts
will enable more personalization, better reliability, and improved access to
new features-including AI-assisted capabilities.

But we should have explained this earlier. That is our oversight, and we
apologize.


What We Ask For-and Why


Age Verification


Birth Month, Birth Year (changing soon-update follows). We are legally
required to verify age because privacy laws differ for adults, teens, and
children, especially when using services connected to AI features. Some
third-party AI integrations cannot legally be used by minors. Age
verification ensures we comply with regional laws and provide the correct
experience for all users.


Login Method and Contact Information


Email Address, First/Last Name, Password. If you sign up with Google, only
basic contact information is shared, never your password.

This information helps us:

*	Confirm account ownership
*	Contact users in the event of outages or product issues
*	Support account recovery and prevent unauthorized access

We should have explained more clearly that your information is not used for
marketing unless you explicitly opt in.


User Details for Adults (18+)


These questions help us understand where and how our software is used-at
work, at home, in school, or across multiple settings. This allows us to:

*	Prioritize improvements that benefit the greatest number of users
*	Understand real-world workflows for people who are blind or
low-vision
*	Allocate engineering effort responsibly

However, we recognize we asked for too much upfront. Many of these fields
will soon become optional (details below).


Country


This ensures your account is created under the appropriate legal and
regional framework (privacy laws differ by country). It also helps ensure
product options are correct for your location.


Phone Number


This field was added as a secondary contact method during outages. Based on
your feedback, we know this can feel unnecessary, and we will revisit this
as part of simplifying registration.


Product Use Information (Work, Personal, School)


These questions help us understand usage patterns so we can improve the
product. They are also useful for evaluating adoption across enterprise
agreements with employers or school systems.

However, these fields should not have been required at initial sign-up-and
that will change.


User Details for Teens (13-17)


Privacy rules for minors are strict. For teens, we only request:

*	Country
*	School name (to support educational licensing and adoption tracking)
*	Required consent statement

We intentionally collect less information from young users to protect their
privacy.


Our Data Security Practices


We apologize for not communicating more clearly about how your information
is protected. All account data is:

*	Stored in AWS data centers with industry-standard protections
*	Encrypted in transit and at rest
*	Protected by AWS network security, WAF, and IDS
*	Accessed only under tightly controlled, audited processes

We take data protection very seriously and will publish a more detailed
security overview soon.


Changes Coming to the Registration Flow


We have heard your feedback clearly, and we are making improvements.

Over the next few weeks:

*	Most fields currently required will become optional
*	Only age confirmation and basic contact information will remain
mandatory
*	Age verification will change to a simple "Over 18?" confirmation
*	Users under 18 will still be able to use the products but will have
certain AI features disabled
*	Workplace, school, or personal use information will be optional, not
required

These changes maintain legal compliance while removing friction for users.


Our Commitment to You Moving Forward


The purpose of accounts is to make the products better-not to make your
experience more difficult.

We recognize we did not communicate this well enough, and we apologize for
any frustration or confusion this caused.

Going forward, we are committed to:

*	Communicating earlier and more transparently
*	Providing timely responses when concerns are raised
*	Sharing updates proactively rather than reactively
*	Making user registration as simple and respectful as possible
*	Working hand-in-hand with the community as we improve the software

We will continue to listen and adapt based on your feedback.

Thank you again for your patience, honesty, and partnership.

Rhonda


Vispero Account - FAQ


Q: Why do I need a Vispero account?

A: A Vispero account allows us to provide new features-starting with syncing
your settings across devices. Over time, accounts will unlock more
personalization, reliability, and cloud-connected enhancements.

Q: Why didn't you explain this earlier?

A: We should have communicated these changes sooner and more clearly. We
apologize for the confusion and are committed to improving communication
going forward.

Q: Why do you need my age?

A: Some AI features legally require users to be over a certain age. A simple
confirmation ("Are you over 18?") will replace collecting birth dates.

Q: What information is actually required to create an account?

A: Starting soon, only two things will be required:

1.	Basic contact information (name and email)
2.	A simple age confirmation

All other fields will become optional.

Q: Why do you ask for things like job, school, or how I use the product?

A: This information helps us understand which workflows matter most so we
can improve JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion. We understand if you are not willing
to provide this information, and these fields will soon become optional.

Q: Will my data be protected?

A: Yes. All data is:

Stored securely in AWS data centers

*	Encrypted in transit and at rest
*	Protected by strict access controls
*	 We do not sell your information

Q: Why do you ask for my phone number?

A: It's optional. It helps us contact users quickly in case of outages or
critical issues-but it is not required.

Q: What changes are coming to registration?

A: Based on your feedback:

*	Most fields will become optional
*	Age confirmation will be simplified
*	Registration will be shorter and faster
*	Additional workflow questions will only be asked if you choose to
provide them

Q: Will I still be able to use the software if I'm under 18?

A: Yes. However, some AI features may be disabled due to legal requirements.

Q: What if I don't want to provide optional information?

A: That's completely fine. You can skip optional fields and continue using
the software without limitations.

Q: Will you communicate changes earlier going forward?

A: Yes. We recognize that we need to do better, and we are implementing new
processes to communicate updates clearly and proactively.

Q: Who can I contact with questions?

A: You can reach our support team at 727-803-8600, weekdays between 8:30 AM
and 7:00 PM ET.

We welcome your feedback and will continue improving based on what we hear
from you.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

Curtis Chong

 

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