[Pibe-division] New Deaf-Blind Communicator from Humanware!

Sat Dec 6 01:33:47 UTC 2008

FYI,
Allison

----- Original Message ----- 

Deaf-blind people have been dreaming about a truly portable and integrated
>> replacement for the TeleBraille since it stopped production in 1993. 
>> This
>> week, HumanWare made that dream come true as it began shipping its new
>> DeafBlind Communicator (DBC).
>>
>> The DBC enables deaf-blind users to effectively communicate with other
>> deaf people and the general public in many different ways.  The basic DBC
>> provides a TTY (with answering machine) for communicating with other deaf
>> or deaf-blind individuals.  It also includes a totally portable
>> face-to-face communication system for dealing with sighted/hearing people
>> on buses, in restaurants and shops, at school, or with colleagues and
>> customers in the workplace.
>>
>> "Imagine the freedom that comes from being able to communicate with 
>> nearly
>> anyone anywhere," said Jim Halliday, President Emeritus of HumanWare.
>> "The DBC finally gives this capability to people who are both deaf and
>> blind."
>>
>> The DBC consists of two components, 1) a BrailleNote with Braille display
>> and either a standard or Braille keyboard and special DB software, and 2)
>> the DBC Companion phone.  These two separate units communicate wirelessly
>> with each other using Bluetooth technology.  The BrailleNote also has
>> special software built into it that enables it to operate as a TTY when
>> connected to a telephone landline.  The BrailleNote and the DBC Companion
>> are used together to allow Face-to-Face communication with a sighted
>> person.
>>
>>
>> Photo - Face-to-face unit communicating through Bluetooth with DBC
>>
>>
>> "I was working at TSI back in the 1980s when we first introduced
>> TeleBraille," adds Halliday.  "Although it was an effective TTY, it 
>> wasn't
>> portable enough to carry around as a general communicator.  The DBC
>> changes all that."
>>
>> HumanWare developed the DBC in partnership with the Washington State
>> Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH).  The DBC is the result of
>> extensive collaboration between deafblind individuals and focus groups,
>> professionals from both the deaf and blind communities, and HumanWare's
>> engineering and marketing teams.  "Before I retired completely from this
>> industry, I wanted to make sure that an appropriate, easy-to-use product
>> was available to this special population.  The partnership with ODHH has
>> made this possible," stated Halliday gratefully.
>>
>>
>> Photo - DBC BT 32 Communicating via Bluetooth with Face-to-face unit
>>
>>
>> More than TTY and Face-to-face Communication
>>
>> In this modern world of smart phones and PDAs, texting and instant
>> messaging (IM) have become key modes of communication.  Ironically, these
>> relatively new forms of mainstream communication are quite similar in
>> concept to traditional modes of deaf communication.  More importantly,
>> because the DBC is based on modern technology, an adventurous user can
>> actually activate texting and instant messaging capabilities on the DBC.
>> With the addition of a SIM card and a texting plan from a wireless
>> provider, a DBC user is able to send and receive text messages to and 
>> from
>> anyone with a cell phone.  In other words, a deaf-blind person is now 
>> able
>> to communicate exactly the same way everyone else does, not just with
>> other deaf-blind people, but with anyone who has a cell phone.  The DBC
>> instantly translates the text to Braille and visa versa.  "This is really
>> an important point," says Dominic Gagliano, VP of Blindness Products at
>> HumanWare.  "A person's disability completely disappears in this
>> situation.  Whether a message is read by one person on a visual screen 
>> and
>> the other person on a Braille display is irrelevant.  The communication
>> happens exactly the same way as if two sighted cell phone users were
>> texting each other."
>>
>>
>> Activate BrailleNote's Full Suite of Applications
>>
>> BrailleNote is the world's most widely used portable Braille device for
>> blind people.  It contains a full suite of mainstream-type applications
>> such as a word processor, a scientific calculator, an email program, an
>> Internet browser, a planner, an address book, and more.  Because many
>> deaf-blind people are not initially interested in these advanced 
>> features,
>> the basic DBC hides them, leaving only the TTY and Face-to-face features.
>> However, any user can choose to activate the advanced features when he or
>> she is ready because they are already built into every DBC at no extra
>> cost.
>>
>>
>> Pricing* and Models
>> There are two price points for the DBC which correspond directly to the
>> number of Braille cells on the units, 18 or 32.  Both of these choices 
>> are
>> available with either Braille (BT) keyboards or QWERTY (QT- typewriter)
>> keyboards.  All models include Face-to-face units.
>>
>> DBC BT32 - $7,995.00
>> DBC QT32 - $7,995.00
>> DBC BT18 - $6,195.00
>> DBC QT18 - $6,195.00
>> *All prices in US dollars
>>
>> Existing BrailleNote mPower users who are running v 7.5 of the software
>> will be able to upgrade their units to DBCs at a price of $2,495.00.
>> Current users that are familiar with the KeySoft upgrade process or able
>> to seek assistance will not need to send in their BrailleNotes to install
>> the DBC software. HumanWare will provide an SD memory card with the
>> authorization key and DBC software on the card and the installation is
>> identical to upgrading KeySoft. Both Braille and print instructions will
>> be included. If you prefer to have HumanWare install DBC and send in your
>> unit, HumanWare will provide this without charge.
>>
>>
>> HumanWare US is Now Taking Orders and Shipping
>> HumanWare will deliver DBCs on a first come first serve basis as orders
>> arrive.  To be among the first to receive a DBC, you may now place your
>> orders with:
>>
>> HumanWare
>> 175 Mason Circle
>> Concord
>> CA 94520
>> USA
>>
>> Toll-free phone (US only) 1 800 722-3393
>> Phone +1 925 680-7100
>> Fax +1 925 681-4630
>> E-mail: us.info at humanware.com
>>
>> More Information on the DBC
>> For more detailed information on the features and options of the DBC,
>> check out the HumanWare website:
>> http://www.humanware.com/deafblind_communicator
>>
>>