[Nfbktad] FW: [Nfbk] Fwd: FW: Ai Squared and GW Micro Join Forces - Assistive Technology Leaders Merge to Expand Opportunities for Computer Users Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired

Todd scorpio62 at windstream.net
Sun May 4 15:01:42 UTC 2014


Indeed! On the surface, it sounds like a no-brainer that they would combine
forces to maximize their core competencies; however, you do bring out a
valid point, Rick. We've seen the result of mergers and acquisitions that do
not benefit us in the least, as consumers of certain goods and services. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfbktad [mailto:nfbktad-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Rick Roderick
Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2014 11:43 PM
To: 'NFB of Kentucky, Technology Assistance Division'
Subject: Re: [Nfbktad] FW: [Nfbk] Fwd: FW: Ai Squared and GW Micro Join
Forces - Assistive Technology Leaders Merge to Expand Opportunities for
Computer Users Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired

I wonder if this is good or bad. Sometimes, companies need synergy to
compete, but if they get too big, they become more impersonal. 
Todd wrote:
FYI
 

                   Ai Squared and GW Micro Join Forces - Assistive
Technology Leaders Merge to Expand Opportunities for Computer Users Who Are
Blind or Visually Impaired
 
Manchester, Vermont and Fort Wayne, Indiana (May 1, 2014) - Ai Squared, the
maker of ZoomText and sitecues; and GW Micro, the creator of Window-Eyes,
have merged into one company. With this merger, the companies will combine
their talents to better assist computer users who are blind or visually
impaired.
 
ZoomText is the world's number one screen magnifier and text-to-speech
software package that allows people who are visually impaired to use a
computer with ease. Window-Eyes is a popular screen reader that enables
people who are blind to be fully independent on the computer by translating
visual information into speech and/or Braille.
 
"Our mission is to provide a full family of computer accessibility solutions
for users who are low vision or blind, whether they access digital
information via their desktop, the web or their mobile device," said David
Wu, CEO of Ai Squared. "Earlier this year, we commercially launched
sitecues, a product which enables website owners to build accessibility
tools right into their websites. Today's merger with GW Micro rounds out our
mantra of 'We've got accessibility covered' - with our combined forces, we
can now deliver an even wider range of computer access solutions."
 
The need for assistive technology continues to grow. According to the World
Health Organization, over 285 million people in the world are considered
visually impaired; 39 million of those are blind, and 246 million have
moderate to severe visual impairments. "The merger of Ai Squared and GW
Micro brings together two companies that offer great solutions for the
millions of Microsoft customers around the world who are blind or visually
impaired," said Rob Sinclair, Chief Accessibility Officer at Microsoft.
 
"We are also delighted that Ai Squared will continue to develop and support
the Window-Eyes for Office Offer as many of our customers rely on this
screen reading solution to enable access to Windows, Office and other
Microsoft products," Sinclair said.

Dan Weirich, Co-founder of GW Micro and now Vice President at Ai Squared,
said he is thrilled to incorporate Window-Eyes into the Ai Squared product
family.
 
"It's a natural fit," Weirich said. "Combining our companies will strengthen
Ai Squared's global presence in the assistive technology industry, allowing
us to serve even more customers."
 
Weirich noted that many customers using web and computer accessibility tools
inevitably progress further along the visual impairment spectrum during
their lifetime.  As a result, they will require more advanced assistive
technology as their needs change. With the merger, Ai Squared will be in a
better position to assist those customers, developing products that provide
a seamless transition and user experience as customers adapt to their
changing vision.
 
Ai Squared will continue to offer Window-Eyes and its related products as
they were previously offered by GW Micro. In addition, a free and fully
featured version of Window-Eyes will continue to be available via the
Window-Eyes Offer for Users of Microsoft Office as part of the recently
announced partnership with Microsoft and GW Micro. The GW Micro team will
remain in Indiana as part of the Ai Squared team, which is headquartered in
Vermont.
 
Ai Squared: Ai Squared (www.aisquared.com) has been the worldwide leader in
assistive technology solutions for people who are visually impaired for over
20 years. The product line is available in over 20 languages and sold in 45
countries through a network of over 350 global distributors. Ai Squared's
screen magnification and screen-reading products dramatically improve a
computer's usability and friendliness for users who are blind or low vision,
raising their level of productivity, satisfaction, and independence. The
family of Ai Squared products includes ZoomText, ZoomText Large-Print
Keyboard, ZoomText ImageReader, ZoomText Mac, Window-Eyes, sitecues, the
ZoomReader iOS app, and the ZoomContacts iPad app.
 
GW Micro: GW Micro, Inc. (www.gwmicro.com) has been a trusted pioneer in the
assistive technology industry since 1990; it has led with innovative,
customer-driven solutions, and the GW Micro team has always been proud of
its description as the Voice of Vision.



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