<font color='black' size='4' face='Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, Serif'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br>
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Media Contact: Brad Davis<br>
800-444-4443 or 727-803-8000<br>
<A href="http://www.freedomscientific.com/" target=_blank>www.FreedomScientific.com</A><br>
Sales: <A href="mailto:info@FreedomScientific.com">info@FreedomScientific.com</A><br>
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Freedom Scientific Reduces Price of Focus 40 Blue Braille Display by 38% to <br>
Support Drive for Braille Literacy<br>
(St. Petersburg, Florida - March 3, 2010) - Freedom Scientific® today announced <br>
that it has reduced the US list price of its Focus 40 Blue Braille Display from <br>
$4,495 to $2,795, a $1,700 reduction, in a move to support Braille literacy.<br>
<br>
The National Federation of the Blind, in their report from the Jernigan <br>
Institute, has declared that there is a "Braille Literacy Crisis in America," <br>
citing such statistics as: <br>
<br>
a.. Fewer than 10 percent of the 1.3 million people who are legally blind in <br>
the United States are Braille readers <br>
b.. Only 10 percent of blind children in the US are learning Braille <br>
c.. Over 70 percent of blind adults are unemployed, and as many as 50 percent <br>
of blind high school students drop out of high school <br>
The factors that contribute to a low Braille literacy rate in the US are many, <br>
among them a shortage of qualified Braille teachers and an increasing reliance <br>
on recorded audio and text-to-speech technologies. <br>
<br>
"We believe that technology should be supporting Braille literacy, not replacing <br>
it," states Dr. Lee Hamilton, President and CEO of Freedom Scientific. "The <br>
combination of JAWS® and a Braille display makes learning and using Braille <br>
easy. JAWS can translate almost any electronic document or Web page into Braille <br>
and then display them on the Focus 40 Blue. JAWS also has a built-in Braille <br>
tutor that works with the Focus 40 Blue to provide immediate spoken help when <br>
the reader encounters an unfamiliar Braille symbol. This makes independent <br>
Braille study easier as it can be used with any document of interest to the <br>
student. With a computer and a Braille display, a person who is Braille literate <br>
can carry hundreds of books on a single memory card or USB thumb drive.<br>
<br>
"Unfortunately, Braille displays have always been expensive, which has meant <br>
that not everyone who wanted a Braille display could get one. Freedom Scientific <br>
wants to open the world of Braille to as many blind people as possible. We first <br>
drastically reduced the cost of Braille displays in 2004, when we introduced <br>
models 40% below the average price of currently available Braille displays. We <br>
are pleased that the manufacturing efficiencies inherent in our latest product <br>
design make it possible for us to reduce prices once again and hope this will <br>
make Braille accessible to many more people."<br>
<br>
The Focus 40 Blue is a compact portable Braille display that is the perfect <br>
companion to a desktop, laptop, or netbook PC. It connects via USB or Bluetooth® <br>
and has a Braille keyboard. The 40 Braille cells are constructed without seams <br>
between characters, so the user experience is like reading Braille on paper. The <br>
Focus 40 Blue works with Apple® computers and cell phones as well as with JAWS <br>
for Windows®. <br>
<br>
Freedom Scientific's Braille displays are the most reliable in the industry and <br>
are backed by technical support and service teams based in St. Petersburg, <br>
Florida.<br>
<br>
The new US/Canada list price for the Focus 40 Blue is USD 2,795 and includes a <br>
two-year manufacturer's warranty.<br>
<br>
For more information, please visit the Freedom Scientific Web site or call <br>
800-444-4443.<br>
<br>
About Freedom Scientific<br>
Freedom Scientific is the leading worldwide provider of assistive technology <br>
products for those with vision impairments. The Company sells its products <br>
worldwide and has offices in Florida and Switzerland. The Company's products <br>
have been translated into 24 languages and are available in 55 countries. <br>
Freedom also has a line of software products for those with learning <br>
disabilities.<br>
<br>
Freedom Scientific® and JAWS for Windows® are either trademarks or registered <br>
trademarks in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual <br>
companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their <br>
respective owners. <br>
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