[nfbwatlk] U.S. Department of Education Announces New App to Identify U.S. Currency, ED.Gov, October 9, 2012

[Mike Freeman]

It's good there's an Android app out there now. However, if the new app is
anything like EyeNote for the iPhone, LookTel MoneyReader for the iPhone
works far better.

Mike


-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Nightingale, Noel
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 1:38 PM
To: nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org; rehab at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nfbwatlk] U.S. Department of Education Announces New App to
Identify U.S. Currency, ED.Gov, October 9, 2012


Link:
http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-announces-new-
app-identify-us-currency

Text:
U.S. Department of Education Announces New App to Identify U.S. Currency
U.S. Treasurer Applauds Department of Education's Accessibility Effort
October 9, 2012

Contact:
Timothy Muzzio, Education Department, (202) 245-7458 Darlene Anderson,
Treasury, (202) 874-2229


The U.S. Department of Education announced today the launch of the "IDEAL
Currency Identifier," a free downloadable application (app) to assist
individuals who are blind or visually impaired to denominate U.S. currency
on some mobile devices.
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. 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 for persons who
are blind and visually impaired.
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."
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."
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.
This new app is one of several measures the government is developing to
assist people with vision impairments to denominate currency. In April 2011,
the BEP introduced EyeNote(r), a similar currency reading mobile app. There
have been more than 8,000 free downloads of the EyeNote(r) app since its
introduction.
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. For more information about
the IDEAL Currency Identifier and other accessibility apps, please visit
www.moneyfactory.gov<http://www.moneyfactory.gov/>.


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