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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Wright, Jennifer (OFB-FK) [mailto:JenniferN.Wright@ky.gov] <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, December 18, 2013 2:19 PM<br><b>To:</b> Flanagan, Allison A (OFB-FK); 'Ann Smits'; 'Bill Deatherage'; Carla Ruschival; 'Cathy Jackson'; McNabb, Cora L (OFB-FK); 'David Lawson'; Dennis Franklin ; 'Don Gerard'; George Stokes ; Gordon-Brown, Gerry (CAP-FK); Gerry Rader Slusher; Gina Fugate ; Kennedy, Jack B (OFB-FK); Jennifer Hall; Kathy Eversole; 'Kelly Foust'; Kevin Shurn ; 'Kim Zeigler'; Laura Yates; Michael Freeholm; Shirley, Patrick B (Education Cabinet); Paula Wiese ; 'Rebecca Murrell'; 'Rhonda Logsdon'; Sharon Fields (Home) ; Shirley Stivers ; 'Shirley Stivers (Work)'; Deeley, Stephen P (OFB-LV); 'Susan Ament'; Theresa Thomas ; Hammons, Twyla S (OFB-SS)<br><b>Subject:</b> FW: Android Currency Identification Ap Available<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>FYI<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Department of Education Seal</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Department of the Treasury Seal</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Timothy Muzzio (202) 245-7458 </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Darlene Anderson (202) 874-2229 </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>U.S. Department of Education Announces New App to Identify U.S. Currency </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>U.S. Treasurer Applauds Department of Education’s Accessibility Effort </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>(Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Education announced </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>the launch of the “IDEAL Currency Identifier,” a free downloadable application (app) to </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>assist individuals who are blind or visually impaired to denominate U.S. currency on some mobile devices. </span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The IDEAL Currency Identifier was developed by IDEAL Group, IQ Engines, and the Wireless Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) at the Georgia Institute of Technology through a grant from the Department of Education’s National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), a component of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. </span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>NIDRR is the primary U.S. government agency focused on disability and rehabilitation research. Its mission is to generate research knowledge and assistive technologies while promoting their effective use in improving the abilities and opportunities of individuals with disabilities in performing activities of their choice in the community. The initiative supports the Department of Treasury’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) in its mandate to provide increased access to U.S. currency </span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>for persons who are blind and visually impaired. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Dr. Charlie Lakin, the Director of NIDRR, issued the following statement: “Through our dialogue with the BEP, a special opportunity emerged to fulfill our mission in support of persons who are blind and visually impaired. The IDEAL Currency Identifier uses advanced image recognition technology to read a note and, in a matter of seconds, provides users with an audible response indicating the note’s denomination.” </span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Treasurer of the United States Rosie Rios applauded the Department of Education’s role in the app’s development. “Treasury is committed to providing meaningful access to U.S. currency and, by using technology, we can help hundreds of thousands of individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Our collaboration with the Department of Education allowed us to be resourceful and, in turn, more individuals will have the means to independently denominate the U.S. currency they use in daily commerce.” </span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The app, which interacts with Google’s “Eyes-Free” applications, can be downloaded for free on more than 1,250 different wireless devices. The IDEAL Currency Identifier was developed by Apps4Android, Inc., a subsidiary of IDEAL Group that develops mobile applications. Android-based devices are produced by 48 manufacturers and distributed by 60 wireless service providers in 136 countries. </span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>This new app is one of several measures the government is developing to assist people with vision impairments to denominate currency. The BEP has introduced EyeNote®, a similar currency reading mobile app. There have been more than 8,000 free downloads of the EyeNote® app since its introduction. </span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>In May 2011, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner approved three measures to provide accessibility to U.S. currency for those who are blind or visually impaired. These measures include implementing a Currency Reader Program to distribute a currency reader device to blind and visually impaired U.S. citizens; continuing to add large high-contrast numerals and different background colors to redesigned currency the BEP may lawfully change; and adding a raised tactile feature to U.S. currency unique to each U.S. Federal Reserve note that BEP may lawfully change, which would provide users with a means of identifying each denomination via touch. </span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>For more information about the IDEAL Currency Identifier and other accessibility apps, please visit </span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://www.moneyfactory.gov">www.moneyfactory.gov</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>_______________________________________________<br>acb-l mailing list<br><a href="mailto:acb-l@acb.org">acb-l@acb.org</a><br><a href="http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/acb-l">http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/acb-l</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></blockquote></div></body></html>