[gui-talk] Fwd: GW Micro Introduces the First Stand-Alone Video Magnifier that can Read to the Legally Blind!

[Steve Pattison]

GW Micro Introduces the First Stand-Alone Video Magnifier that can Read to the Legally Blind!
From:	jeremy at gwmicro.com	
To:	gw-info at gwmicro.com	
		
		


GW Micro is proud to announce a major innovation in low vision technology.  The Orabis and the Vocatex are the first HD video magnifiers (also known as CCTVs) that recognize text and read it back to you - all without a computer.
Low vision consumers have long been plagued with eye fatigue derived from having to read everything on their CCTV screen. In fact, many consumers of video magnifiers are only able to read for a very short period of time.  The Orabis and Vocatex distributed by GW Micro now solve the problems CCTV users have had for decades by reading the magnified text out loud and eliminating the need to stare at the screen for long periods of time.
"Before the Orabis and the Vocatex, it was very difficult to read printed material on a CCTV for more than 15 or 20 minutes at a time," said Jeremy Curry, Director of Training for GW Micro. Curry suffers from Cone Dystrophy, a retinal degenerative eye condition. "For someone with an eye condition similar to mine, such as Macular Degeneration or other eye diseases that cause low vision, the Orabis and the Vocatex are miracle machines. I can now put printed text under the CCTV, press a button, sit back and let the machine read to me." In addition to speaking the text, a focus rectangle follows each word as it is spoken making it simple for a low vision consumer to see exactly where they are in the document. There are no special modes to go in and out of. The image a low vision consumer sees is exactly how the text appears to a sighted person.
The Orabis and the Vocatex do not require a computer. They consist of the CCTV with a monitor mounted on top. The Vocatex was first released in Belgium on October 2, 2009, making it the world's first talking CCTV that shows the magnified image and reads at the same time. Both units were created by KOBA Vision, a Belgium firm who has been providing high-end low vision solutions for over 25 years. "We are extremely happy to have GW Micro as our North American distributor," said Bart Peremans, Director of Sales and Marketing for KOBA Vision. "We believe the Orabis and the Vocatex provide the best possible solution for our low vision customers. The Vocatex has been extremely successful throughout Europe, and we are very excited to bring it to North America."
"This is a technology revolution in the world of low vision," said Dan Weirich, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for GW Micro. "It's amazing that a person who is legally blind can use this simple machine to read printed material just by pressing a button and having the machine instantly read to them."
The Vocatex was the first talking video magnifier created by KOBA Vision.  The patented technology was then used to create the Orabis. The Orabis boasts many of the same features of the Vocatex, and is the entry-level unit in the new series. The Orabis provides HD video, and comes with a large 22-inch widescreen monitor with a minimum magnification of 2x and includes 22 different languages and has 32 high-quality human-sounding voices from Nuance.
For low vision consumers who need a larger monitor, they can step up to the Vocatex, which comes with a 26, 32, or 37-inch monitor.  The Vocatex comes in two models: the Vocatex and Vocatex Plus. Both Vocatex models are HD, and the Vocatex Plus comes with multiple languages (just like the Orabis), the ability to move by sentence with speech, a lower magnification starting point, and many more options.
If you would like to check our YouTube video that showcases these innovative new products, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYcfVG4SxOk.
For pricing, specifications, and other information, call GW Micro at (260) 489-3671, email GW Micro at sales at gwmicro.com, or check out GW Micro on the web at <../../>www.gwmicro.com.
GW Micro has been a trusted pioneer in the adaptive technology industry since 1990, and continues to lead with innovative, customer driven solutions.
KOBA Vision is a Belgium-based company that provides high-end solutions to customers with low vision, and continues to lead the industry in low vision innovation.
Contact:
Dan Weirich, Vice President of Sales and Marketing
dan at gwmicro.com
(260) 489-3671