[Nfbsatx] Fwd: [nfb-texas members] Fw: National Federation of the Blind Commends Apple for Including VoiceOver on iPad

[Jose Martinez]

Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 2:59 PM
Subject: National Federation of the Blind Commends Apple for Including
VoiceOver on iPad


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

cdanielsen at nfb.org



National Federation of the Blind Commends Apple
for Including VoiceOver on iPad


Baltimore, Maryland (January 28, 2010): The National Federation of the
Blind, the nation's leading consumer organization of blind persons,
today commended Apple Inc., for including its VoiceOver application on
its latest device, the iPad, which was unveiled yesterday.  VoiceOver
is a screen access application that uses text-to-speech technology in
conjunction with the device's touch-screen interface so that blind
people can independently operate the device.  VoiceOver is also
integrated into Apple's Mac operating system and is included on the
iPhone 3GS and recent models of the iPod Touch.



Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
said: "The National Federation of the Blind commends Apple for
including the VoiceOver screen access application on its
highly-anticipated new device, the iPad.  Blind consumers, like our
sighted friends and colleagues, will be able to share in the
experience of using this new device from the moment we take it out of
the box.  By integrating accessibility into its products, Apple is
setting an example that we believe the rest of the electronics
industry should follow.  Furthermore, the fact that Apple has
successfully integrated a screen access solution with its touch-screen
technology demonstrates that touch screens need not be a barrier to
the use of electronic devices by the blind."



On September 22, 2009, the National Federation of the Blind presented
Apple with a special award to honor the company for making the iPhone
accessible.







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About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is
the largest and most influential membership organization of blind
people in the United States.   The NFB improves blind people's lives
through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs
encouraging independence and self-confidence.  It is the leading force
in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind.  In
January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind
Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the
United States for the blind led by the blind.