Talking mobile phones, desktop and laptop computers, watches, canes, etc. These are but a few technological advances that provide visually-impaired persons access to information, communications, entertainment, and independence. But imagine yourself being blind and not being able to buy these things that are necessary to alleviate your present living conditions! Now wouldn't that contradict the purpose of such tools?
Luckily, IBM has released the Home Page Reader 3.0 for Windows, an application that makes internet browsing accessible to blind and visually-impaired persons. Yes, IBM has done it again and released a program that specializes on one function, which is internet browsing. Not only basic internet browsing, but internet browsing for the blind and visually-impaired! Now doesn't this tell you of IBM's commitment of providing technology for everyone in general? This
IBM program converts text-based displays on the pages of most, if not all, websites, apart from its built-in feature of text magnification. Because of its integrated Javascript support, it provides access to the interactive features of business websites as well. It only costs around $150, which is about a tenth of what most screen readers cost!
Yes, it is less expensive than the most powerful screen readers that had been developed for many purposes - a whole lot cheaper! If all you need is access to
internet connectivity, then this program is a catch! It provides access not only to text-based displays on web pages, but it also provides access to the interactive features of most websites! So if you are blind and are searching for a suitable internet browser with speech output, then IBM's Home Page Reader 3.0 for Windows is just the right tool for you!
