[Electronics-talk] New Smart Phone and Service for the Blind andVisually Impaired

[Baracco, Andrew W]

If this came along 10 years ago, I might have been impressed, but
they're way late and a few dollars short.

Andy


-----Original Message-----
From: Electronics-talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Gerald Levy
Sent: Thursday, June 06, 2013 5:21 AM
To: Electronics Talk
Subject: [Electronics-talk] New Smart Phone and Service for the Blind
andVisually Impaired


I came across the following article on another list. Sounds like this
could give the IPhone a run for the money:

America's First Mobile Smartphone & Service for The Blind and Visually
Impaired.

PRNewswire.
June 5, 2013.


Project RAY Ltd., developer of the first smartphone specially designed
for eye-free operation, and Odin Mobile, the nationwide provider of
cellular service dedicated to providing mobile communication services to
the blind and visually impaired, today announced America's first full
mobile service for the blind and visually impaired. 

"This collaboration will provide the blind the ability to access
smartphone technology through a unique user interface that emphasizes
simplicity and ease of use," said Robert Felgar , general manager of
Odin Mobile.  "Odin Mobile is excited to partner with Project RAY to
make advanced mobile technology more accessible to the blind." 

Features of America's first full mobile service include:

. Odin Mobile's full telephone service including voice, text and data,
with customized eye-free setup and services. 

. Affordable smartphone developed by Project RAY specially for the
blind, from its unique operating system & eye-free operation to
specialized built-in apps and content. 

. Multiple built-in services for the blind and visually impaired within
a single affordable device and one unified user experience - including
voice calls, email, messaging contact list services, calendar, GPS,
advanced WEB remote assistance, voice recorder, panic and emergency
services, color identification, pictures transcription, banknote
recognition, and more. 

. Advanced communication and lifestyle services such as book and
magazine subscriptions built into the off-the-shelf device. 

. Unique operating system and user interface specially developed for
eye-free operation including single gesture access to frequently used
numbers and functions, one-hand operation, homogeneous interface across
multiple system functions and services.

"Together with Odin Mobile, and with the initial and invaluable support
of Qualcomm's Wireless Reach program, we are excited to bring the
affordable, lifestyle changing benefits of smartphone technology and
services to millions of blind and visually impaired people throughout
the United States," said Boaz Zilberman , Founder & CEO of Project RAY.
"Our RAY smartphone combined with Odin Mobile's full-cellular services
for the blind and visually impaired, will finally bring to this
important community the same services available to the mainstream
full-sighted community."

Project RAY and Qualcomm Wireless Reach collaborated on the first trial
and commercial launch of the RAY device in Israel in early 2013.  As one
of the project's primary funders, Qualcomm provided technical advice,
support, funding and in-kind contributions in support of the development
of a device that successfully promotes independence and social inclusion
for people with disabilities.

"We are proud to work with Project RAY and support their objective of
bringing a mobile device to market that supports blind and visually
impaired people so they can access resources and information
independently," said Kristin Atkins , Senior Director of Government
Affairs for Qualcomm. "Our team at Qualcomm Israel worked closely with
Project RAY on the operational and product efforts of the first RAY
device enabling independence and a richer social life for users by
providing an all-in-one, independent-living companion capable of
eye-free input, text-to-speech, access to content, navigation, label
recognition, augmented reality and integration with social networks.
This is a great example of how working with partners, we can help
improve people's lives with the latest technology." 

America's first full mobile service provided by Odin Mobile, including
RAY, the world's first mobile device specially developed for the blind
and visually impaired, will be officially launched at the 2013
M-Enabling Global Summit  organized in cooperation with FCC and ITU on
June 6-7 in Washington. 


About Odin Mobile: 
Based in Rockville, Maryland, Odin Mobile is a T-Mobile MVNO focused on
providing unparalleled mobile service to the visually impaired. Every
aspect of its innovative service is designed to make it easier for the
visually impaired to take full advantage of mobile technology.  Its
mission is to narrow the gap between the extent to which the visually
impaired and general populations use mobile services. For more
information, please visit  www.odinmobile.com.

      
About Project RAY:
Project RAY Ltd. develop and market breakthrough accessibility solutions
for blind and visually impaired people. The flagship product, the RAY
smartphone, is an integrated mobile device developed especially for
eye-free usage. It features a common user interface across all system
functions, apps and services including voice calls, email, messaging,
calendar, GPS, advanced WEB remote assistance, voice recorder, panic and
emergency services, and more. RAY leverages cutting edge mobile
technologies to afford all blind and visually impaired people the
lifestyle improvements we all take for granted in today's smartphone
world: greater independence, spontaneity and mobile accessibility to
services we use daily. For more information, please visit
www.project-ray.com



Gerald 

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