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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hey NFB Family and Friends,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please read below for information on meetings and happenings going on virtually and/or in person especially for low vision and blind consumers, new products and devices and other interesting tidbits.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Information you can use…<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Good morning, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Senior Center of Leesburg will be hosting a health and wellness fair on April 25<sup>th</sup>, feel free to reach out to the senior center directly if you have any questions.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Erin Nesbitt<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Elder Resources Community Outreach <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Area Agency on Aging <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>From: Annette Carr, Fairfax<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Be My Eyes Announces New Tool Powered by OpenAI's GPT-4 to Improve Accessibility for People Who are Blind or Have Low-Vision<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Virtual Volunteer™ is the first-ever AI-powered digital visual assistant powered by OpenAI's new GPT-4 language model <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Be My Eyes <<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bemyeyes.com%2F&esheet=53361649&newsitemid=20230314005425&lan=en-US&anchor=Be+My+Eyes&index=1&md5=32828be05a74547ca417e3fc297a1ab2">https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bemyeyes.com%2F&esheet=53361649&newsitemid=20230314005425&lan=en-US&anchor=Be+My+Eyes&index=1&md5=32828be05a74547ca417e3fc297a1ab2</a>> , the mobile app that allows anyone to assist visually impaired people through live video calls, today announced Virtual Volunteer™, the first-ever digital visual assistant powered by OpenAI's new GPT-4 language model. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>The new tool from Be My Eyes integrates OpenAI's latest generative AI technology, with the goal of providing an unprecedented level of accessibility and power to the 253 million people who are blind or have low vision globally. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>"We are entering the next wave of innovation for accessibility technology powered by AI. This new Be My Eyes feature will be transformative in providing people who are blind or have low vision with powerful tools to better navigate physical environments, address everyday needs, and gain more independence," said Mike Buckley, CEO of Be My Eyes. "We are thrilled to work with OpenAI to further our mission of improving accessibility for the 253 million people who are blind or have low-vision, with safe and accessible applications of generative AI." <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>The Virtual Volunteer feature will be integrated into the existing app and contains a dynamic new image-to-text generator powered by GPT-4. Users can send images via the app to an AI-powered Virtual Volunteer, which will answer any question about that image and provide instantaneous, conversational visual assistance for a wide variety of tasks. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>What sets the Virtual Volunteer tool apart from other image-to-text technology available today is the context it provides, with highly nuanced explanations and conversational abilities not yet seen in the digital assistant field. For example, if a user sends a picture of the inside of their refrigerator, the Virtual Volunteer will not only be able to correctly identify the items within, but also extrapolate and analyze what can be prepared with those ingredients. The tool can also then offer a number of recipes for those ingredients and send a step-by-step guide to prepare them. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>This new feature promises to not only better support the blind and low-vision community through the Be My Eyes app, but it will also offer a way for businesses to better serve their customers by prioritizing accessibility. Be My Eyes plans to begin beta testing this with corporate customers in the coming weeks, and to make it broadly available later this year as part of the company's Accessible CX™ offering. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Since its founding in 2015, Be My Eyes has worked to connect its 6.3 million volunteers to users to assist them with everyday tasks, and the company's mission is to make the world more accessible for people who are blind or have low vision. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>In the near future, Be My Eyes plans to apply this technology to provide people with powerful tools and capabilities to enrich their virtual assistant experience in complex ways – for example, navigating a train system in an unfamiliar place, traveling in a foreign country where translation support is needed, browsing websites and social media platforms, online shopping, and a host of other scenarios to be discovered in testing. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>People who are blind or have low vision can register <<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bemyeyes.com%2Fdownload&esheet=53361649&newsitemid=20230314005425&lan=en-US&anchor=register&index=2&md5=affb216f79886e0199139dba3434491e">https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bemyeyes.com%2Fdownload&esheet=53361649&newsitemid=20230314005425&lan=en-US&anchor=register&index=2&md5=affb216f79886e0199139dba3434491e</a>> for the wait list in the iOS app. Just like the existing volunteer service, this tool is free for all blind and low-vision community members using the Be My Eyes app. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>About Be My Eyes <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Based in Denmark and launched in 2015, Be My Eyes is a global community that connects people who are blind or have low vision with sighted volunteers or company representatives. On the app, volunteers assist blind and low-vision users through a live video connection and work together to tackle challenges and handle a wide range of tasks. With the Specialized Help feature, blind and low-vision users can connect with company representatives for accessible customer support. The app harnesses the power of generosity, technology, and human connection so that people who are blind or have low vision can lead more independent lives. Be My Eyes is accessible in more than 150 countries worldwide and in over 180 languages. The app is free and available for both iOS and Android <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>View source version on businesswire.com: <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230314005425/en/">https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230314005425/en/</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:6.75pt 0in 6.75pt 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='max-width:6.25in;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:6.75pt 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 13.5pt 6.75pt 13.5pt'><h1 align=center style='margin:0in;text-align:center;line-height:24.4pt'><u><span style='font-size:19.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#202020'>The White Cane: A Key to Independence</span></u><span style='font-size:19.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#202020'><br></span><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#202020'>Tech Talk Tuesday</span></strong><span style='font-size:19.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#202020'><br></span><strong><span style='font-size:22.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Tuesday, March 21 at 1 p.m.</span></strong><span style='font-size:19.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#202020'><o:p></o:p></span></h1></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:6.75pt 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;max-width:100%;min-width: 100%'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 13.5pt 6.75pt 13.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:18.0pt'><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Join by video:</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><br><a href="https://youreyes.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=939b8acf4b5eb247b7120bcd9&id=868d9081bb&e=d672bca4d3" target="_blank"><span style='color:#0027C5'>https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89782365782</span></a><br><strong><span style='font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'>Join by phone:</span></strong><br>(301) 715-8592<br>Meeting ID: 897 8236 5782</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:6.75pt 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;max-width:100%;min-width: 100%'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 13.5pt 6.75pt 13.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:20.25pt'><span style='font-size:16.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Join <strong><span style='font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'>Sharon Payne, COMS, COVT</span></strong>, to learn how a white cane could help you. When used correctly, a white cane can open your abilities to navigate in public and give you more confidence!<br><br>Bring your questions! It is highly recommended to join via computer with your video enabled.</span><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td style='padding:7.5pt 13.5pt 7.5pt 13.5pt;min-width: 100%'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;border:none;min-width: 100%'><tr><td style='border:none;border-top:solid black 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;min-width: 100%'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:6.75pt 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;max-width:100%;min-width: 100%'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 13.5pt 6.75pt 13.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:20.25pt'><span style='font-size:16.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Listen and watch replays of recent webinars and events, including POB Tech Talk Tuesday events, at: <a href="https://youreyes.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=939b8acf4b5eb247b7120bcd9&id=760d422a14&e=d672bca4d3" target="_blank"><span style='color:#0027C5'>www.youreyes.org/replays</span></a></span><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td style='padding:7.5pt 13.5pt 7.5pt 13.5pt;min-width: 100%'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;border:none;min-width: 100%'><tr><td style='border:none;border-top:solid black 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;min-width: 100%'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></td></tr><tr><td valign=top style='padding:6.75pt 0in 6.75pt 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='max-width:6.25in;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:6.75pt 6.75pt 6.75pt 6.75pt'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td style='padding:0in 6.75pt 0in 6.75pt'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:6.75pt 6.75pt 0in 6.75pt'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left style='border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 7.5pt 6.75pt 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td style='padding:3.75pt 7.5pt 3.75pt 6.75pt'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width=0 style='width:0in;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td width=24 style='width:.25in;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><a href="https://youreyes.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=939b8acf4b5eb247b7120bcd9&id=bebc805aee&e=d672bca4d3" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 style='width:.25in;height:.25in' id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block-v2/color-facebook-48.png" alt=Facebook></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left style='border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 7.5pt 6.75pt 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td style='padding:3.75pt 7.5pt 3.75pt 6.75pt'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width=0 style='width:0in;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td width=24 style='width:.25in;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><a href="https://youreyes.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=939b8acf4b5eb247b7120bcd9&id=4c2679a104&e=d672bca4d3" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 style='width:.25in;height:.25in' id="_x0000_i1026" src="https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block-v2/color-instagram-48.png" alt=Instagram></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left style='border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 7.5pt 6.75pt 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td style='padding:3.75pt 7.5pt 3.75pt 6.75pt'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 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class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:6.75pt 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;max-width:100%;min-width: 100%'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 13.5pt 6.75pt 13.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:13.5pt'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#656565'>Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington serves the District of Columbia, Montgomery and Prince George's counties of Maryland, and Northern Virginia.<br><br>Thank you for supporting local sight-saving programs. Learn more at <a href="https://youreyes.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=939b8acf4b5eb247b7120bcd9&id=eeef5623c5&e=d672bca4d3" target="_blank"><span style='color:#656565'>youreyes.org</span></a>.<br>Copyright © 2023 Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington, All rights reserved.<br><br><strong><span style='font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'>Our mailing address is:</span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:13.5pt'><span class=yiv8438762805org><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#656565'>Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington</span></span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#656565'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:13.5pt'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#656565'>415 2nd Street NE, Suite 200<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:13.5pt'><span class=yiv8438762805locality><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#656565'>Washington</span></span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#656565'>, <span class=yiv8438762805region>DC</span> <span class=yiv8438762805postal-code>20002</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:13.5pt'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#656565'><br><a href="https://youreyes.us14.list-manage.com/vcard?u=939b8acf4b5eb247b7120bcd9&id=0574169d77" target="_blank">Add us to your address book</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center;line-height:13.5pt'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#656565'><br><br>Want to change how you receive these emails?<br>You can <a href="https://youreyes.us14.list-manage.com/profile?u=939b8acf4b5eb247b7120bcd9&id=0574169d77&e=d672bca4d3&c=3da27e4488" target="_blank"><span style='color:#656565'>update your preferences</span></a> or <a href="https://youreyes.us14.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=939b8acf4b5eb247b7120bcd9&id=0574169d77&e=d672bca4d3&c=3da27e4488" target="_blank"><span style='color:#656565'>unsubscribe from this list</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#244084'>From: Annette Carr, Fairfax<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#244084'>P> Chooses D-Series for Tactile Labeling on Shampoo and Conditioner<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#244084'>Overview<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>P&G's goal is to be a leader in the area of inclusive package design for its products. Touching and improving lives is not just a slogan for P&G and its people; it's a core belief that they all share. With this in mind, P&G is continually working to enable inclusive packaging design into its portfolios to further improve its consumers' lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#244084'>Fast facts<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>* P&G serves nearly 5 billion people around the world, with a strong<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>portfolio of trusted, quality, leadership brands. The P&G community is made up of 99,000 employees in approximately 70 countries worldwide.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>* It is estimated that 10% of all adults in the US have a visual<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>impairment, for whom simple tasks, such as differentiating between personal care products during use, can be incredibly difficult.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>* The National Federation of the Blind reports that there is a<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>'Braille literacy crisis' in the United States. Fewer than 10% of those who are registered legally blind in the US are Braille readers, and just 10% of blind children are learning to read the tactile writing system. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#244084'>Introduction<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>As one of the world's largest and most trusted suppliers of consumer and personal care products Procter and Gamble (P>) recognizes the importance of making sure that products and services can be used and enjoyed by everyone. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>Simple tasks can be a real challenge for those living with a visual impairment, like telling the difference between personal care products, such as bottles of shampoo and conditioner. Even for consumers with poor or reduced sight, it can be difficult to identify products while in the shower or bath - where sight aids, such as glasses, contact lenses, or magnifiers, are not typically used. P&G recognized this issue and set out to find a solution. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>"Most shampoo and conditioner bottles are designed to look and feel the same," says P&G's Special Consultant for Inclusive Design, Sumaira Latif, who is registered blind herself. "We realized that we have a huge opportunity to improve the lives of those with a visual impairment by changing our products and packaging, and encouraging other businesses to do the same.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>"It may seem like a small thing, but there are hundreds of these little things that visually impaired people like myself have to spend time checking and rechecking each day," continues Latif. "If you want to be independent, if you want to be confident, you don't want to be asking your brother, your mother, your sister, your husband, your children 'What bottle is this?'<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>especially in such a private location as a shower." <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>Using Braille may seem like a solution here, but Latif recognized that a very limited number of people who are blind or visually impaired are Braille users. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>"Most people with visual impairments cannot read Braille - it takes months, if not years to learn, and really you have to start young to develop the sensitivity. Most people develop visual impairments in later life, and Braille is no longer an option," says Latif. "It was important that we invent a feature which could be universally recognized and would work for people who haven't had the opportunity to learn Braille." <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>By choosing a simple, more universal approach to differentiate the bottles, P&G hopes to make the bottle more accessible, not just to those with a visual impairment, but for anyone who may struggle to tell the products apart during use. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#244084'>Herbal EssencesT bio:renewT<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>With her colleagues at P&G, Latif came up with the innovative idea of including tactile notches on the bottles to enable them to be easily differentiated by touch. P&G set out to experiment with a new tactile-coded design for the Herbal Essences bio:renew line of shampoos and conditioners.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>"We want to help the world see with their hands," explains Latif. "A simple differentiator doesn't just help people with low or no vision, it also helps people who don't have English as a first language, or those who normally wear corrective glasses or contact lenses - you would be surprised by the number the number of able-bodied, sighted people who tell me that they mix up shampoo and conditioner in the shower." <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#244084'>First steps<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>To keep design costs and production impacts to a minimum, Latif and her P&G colleagues sought a<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>solution capable of putting tactile markers onto its existing bottles, rather than creating the bottles with the markers already in place. Using a laser coder to etch the markers during production seemed like an optimal solution, however the team knew there would be complexities involved in marking the bottles without compromising the packaging or significantly impacting production time. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>"While the objective is clearly worthy, we recognized that to be successful, the new approach must not impact productivity. We process hundreds of bottles a minute on each bottling line; changing a manufacturing process is complicated when you're dealing with those kinds of quantities," says Latif.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>"We needed a solution which could fit into our existing production lines without making a significant impact to production line speeds." <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#244084'>Partnership with Domino<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>"We approached several different coding and marking suppliers with the brief, and Domino stood out as the only supplier dedicated to working truly collaboratively with us to find the most appropriate design and solution for creating the markers," says Kevin Higgins, Engineer at P&G. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>The decisive factor was Domino's scientific expertise and highly collaborative and iterative design testing to uncover the best solution for the inclusive bottle design. The P&G team were invited to visit Domino's specialist laser testing labs in Hamburg, initially to discuss the requirements for the project, and then again for a two-day working session to identify the best possible solution. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>"The initial brief from P&G was for coding the bottles with triangle, circle and square symbols," says Dr. Stefan Stadler, Team Lead at the Laser Academy. "From initial testing it was ascertained that these symbols would be difficult to distinguish by touch so we presented some different options which could be more easily differentiated." <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>The chosen design features a row of raised lines on the bottom of the back of the shampoo bottles with two rows of raised dots in the same place on conditioner bottles. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>The key to the project's success was in ensuring that the laser did not puncture the bottles or weaken the barrier strength of the substrate. The Laser team identified the bottom of the bottle, where the plastic is at its thickest, as the best location for the tactile labeling, where it would be easily identifiable without compromising the integrity of the packaging. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal;min-height: 17px'><span style='color:#453CCC'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#244084'>Sample testing<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>In initial sample tests,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>CO2 laser coders confirmed the initial scientific analysis and were successful in etching the required vertical line and circle markers, leaving a tactile mark without compromising the substrate. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>Domino's Laser team used a 3D microscope to analyze the etching depth across nine different colored PET bottles (the Herbal Essences bottle substrate) with two different coding modes: moving and stationary. The absorption rate of the colored bottles was measured using an FT-IR spectrometer to ascertain whether there was a correlation between coding depth and plastic color. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>"We discovered that laser absorption at the tested wavelengths is independent of the color of the bottle," says Stadler. "The same solution could be replicated using different colored PET, which means that a wide range of product brands could adopt this, regardless of the color of their bottles. This means that it could be an easy step for other manufacturers to follow P&G's lead and adopt the same marking method." <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>To ensure that the laser solution would not compromise the product packaging Domino's Laser team spent more than a week testing the parameters of the laser to establish the most appropriate specifications. A 3D-profiling report detailing the testing process reassured the P&G team that introducing this additional labeling requirement would not affect the integrity of the product at any point during the supply chain. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>"At P&G, our goal is to delight the consumer throughout the entire purchasing process. From first seeing the bottles on the shelf through squeezing out the last drop of product from the bottle, it is important that the consumer is delighted with his or her purchase throughout the process,"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>says Higgins. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>"Bottle integrity is of the utmost importance to us because this is the first thing the consumer sees and the last thing they touch. The bottle not only has to look good, it also has to perform throughout its entire life and compromising its integrity was a concern for us. Through measurements and modelling, we were able to find parameters that not only delivered the tactile feel we wanted but also did not compromise our bottle integrity."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#244084'>Validating the solution<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>To ensure the new stripes and circles approach would work for consumers, P&G presented the newly-coded Herbal Essences bio:renew bottles to the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) in the UK for consumer testing. A follow-up focus group with visually impaired consumers overwhelmingly approved of the new inclusive bottle design. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>Following successful consumer feedback, P&G began using Domino's laser solution to mark Herbal Essences bio:renew shampoo and conditioner bottles at various manufacturing plants in the US and at selected contract packers from January 2019. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>The inclusive bottle design was a hit, receiving many positive reviews from the those living with partial or complete sight loss, with active bloggers and spokespersons for the blind community sharing their experiences online.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>"I always have difficulty figuring out what I'm grabbing in the shower,"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>says Holly Bonner, Owner of <a href="http://blindmotherhood.com/"><span style='color:#0B4CB4'>BlindMotherhood.com</span></a>. "These bottles are identical, but I don't have to use a bump dot or a rubber band to differentiate what I'm going to be using. So, I think that this is an amazing idea." <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>"While [P&G] are doing this with the visually impaired community in mind, this could also be great for little kids.[and].people who are losing their vision later on in life.this is going to be very useful for them," she continues. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>"The best part about this whole thing is that a blind woman designed it. A blind woman who has worked for the company for 18 years designed it. So, it is not some sighted person that came up with this idea. This is somebody who is blind, who understands, who gets it. It's amazing. I think that Herbal Essences has done a great job."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>Based on the success of the initial trial, P&G rolled out the new inclusive design across all its US range of Herbal Essences bio:renew shampoos and conditioners.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#244084'>Driving industry change - P&G's goal for the beauty industry<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>On 4th May 2020, Latif took part in a webinar hosted by the people behind BE MY EYES, an innovative web-based application for blind or visually impaired people, which enables users to be connected to volunteers via videocall who can assist with visual tasks. As part of the webinar Latif spoke about the challenges faced by blind and visually impaired people at home, and in the workplace, and how more companies are working to make their products accessible to those with disabilities - including P&G with their new coded bottles. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>"I was happy to hear about the new-and-improved, tactile shampoo and conditioner bottles," writes Blogger and BE MY EYES user Tia Wojciechowski, who sat in on the webinar. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>"Almost all shampoos and conditioners are in matchy-matchy twin bottles. I guess people like it better that way, because it looks cuter in their bathrooms. Now there are bottles that are cute and tactile!" she continues.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>"Herbal Essences.have added tactile lines on the backs of the bottles.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>Nothing that should inconvenience hair care product companies into spending a lot of extra money, and make them have to jack up the price."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>The long-term aim of P&G's project is to encourage more manufacturers to create<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>inclusive packaging designs for beauty and personal care products, which are often used by visually impaired consumers at times when they are unable to rely on glasses or contact lenses. The simple icon approach applied to Herbal Essences bio:renew could provide a global way of allowing differentiation, bringing freedom and confidence to millions of blind and visually impaired consumers in the US and elsewhere. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>Domino is here to support your needs and is capable of testing your specific products to provide recommendations for these markings. Domino welcomes visits to the Laser Academy and other advance testing facilities, to allow for better understanding of Domino technologies and their capabilities. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'>If you are interested in discussing how Domino's <<a href="https://www.domino-printing.com/en-us/products/d-series"><span style='color:#0B4CB4'>https://www.domino-printing.com/en-us/products/d-series</span></a>> laser coding solutions could be used to design inclusivity into your product packaging, or for any coding and marking requirements, please get in touch. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='font-stretch: normal'><span style='font-family:"Times",serif;color:#453CCC'><<a href="https://www.domino-printing.com/image-library/case-studies/P-and-G/P&G_Incl"><span style='color:#0B4CB4'>https://www.domino-printing.com/image-library/case-studies/P-and-G/P&G</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Peace,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jacki Bruce<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Corresponding Secretary, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>RISE/Silver Bells Outreach Coordinator<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#222222'><a href="mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com"><span style='color:blue'>mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com</span></a></span><span style='color:black'><br></span><span style='color:#222222'><a href="tel:(757)291-1789" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>tel:(757)291-1789</span></a></span><span style='color:black'><br></span><span style='color:#222222'><a href="http://www.nfb.org/" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>www.nfb.org</span></a></span><span style='color:black'><br></span><span style='color:#222222'><a href="http://www.nfbv.org/" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>www.nfbv.org</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='color:#222222'>Follow us on Twitter @NFBVirginia<br>Find us on Facebook @NationalFederationoftheBlindofVirginia</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='color:#222222'>Live the life you want.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#222222'>The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>