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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The Minnesota Star Tribune posted this article yesterday afternoon that includes a quote from the NFB of Minnesota!</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="mailto:https://www.startribune.com/target-launches-new-self-checkouts-for-visually-impaired-shoppers/601481543">Target leads industry in launching self-checkouts for visually impaired shoppers</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The Minneapolis-based retailer designed the technology with input from the blind community.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>By Carson Hartzog</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Photo caption: Anita Brands shopped the Target Midway store for a Shipt client.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Target is rolling out what it calls the \u201cfirst-of-its-kind\u201d accessible self-checkout kiosks, designed in collaboration with the blind community. (Glen Stubbe/The Minnesota Star Tribune)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Target is rolling out new self-checkout kiosks designed for blind and low-vision shoppers \u2014 and the retailer isn\u2019t keeping the technology to itself.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The Minneapolis-based company says the \u201cfirst-of-its-kind\u201d stations are now in 200 stores and will expand to all locations by early 2026. Target has chosen not to patent the tactile controller it co-developed with Elo, which manufactures touchscreens for retailers and other companies.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The retailer had the fifth most patents of Minnesota-based companies in 2024.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Target worked with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) during the machines\u2019 development, design and testing. Their feedback, along with other blind community members, \u201cdirectly shaped the technology,\u201d according to a news release.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The features, such as high-contrast button icons, a headphone jack with adjustable volume control and physical navigation buttons, are common among devices designed for people who are blind or have low vision. But the touchscreen has streamlined use of the functions to better meet the needs of the blind and low-vision community.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The technology will be added to existing kiosks, and all self-checkout stations will be accessible, a Target spokeswoman confirmed.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Advocates said the move could be a turning point for shoppers who have been excluded from the self-checkout experience \u2014 especially now that it\u2019s available as non-patented technology.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>\u201cAs a blind person myself, I\u2019ve seen for years that we\u2019ve been reducing the number of human cashiers in favor of self-checkout experiences, and not a single one of those until now has been usable by me,\u201d said Corbb O\u2019Connor, president of the NFB of Minnesota.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>O\u2019Connor said he often had to wait 10 to 15 minutes in full-service lanes, even with just a few items, while shoppers with access to self-checkout could move more quickly.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Self-checkout has lagged behind other accessibility initiatives, O\u2019Connor said, partly because there aren\u2019t many legal guidelines around applying digital accessibility to physical experiences in the store.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>\u201cI look at this as a real opportunity for the other retailers\u201d since the device is not patented, O\u2019Connor said. Retailers \u201cno longer can say, \u2018Well, we don\u2019t know how to do it. Or our vendor doesn\u2019t know how to do it. ... The technology is now there.\u201d</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>