[jaws-uk] Re: Gates Signs Deal On Software For The Blind
- From: "Nigel" <stoppard@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <jaws-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2004 11:50:50 -0000
About bloody time!
Does this mean they will be helping out with longhorn?
Thanks,
Nigel
----- Original Message -----
From: Will Pearson
To: will-pearson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 11:38 PM
Subject: [jaws-uk] Gates Signs Deal On Software For The Blind
Hi;
Taken from the AP press release, as seen from Yahoo's news service. Looks
like MS might be moving towards entering the AT sector *smile*
Gates Signs Deal on Software for the Blind
Friday November 19, 8:56 pm ET
Bill Gates Signs Deal in Spain to Make Better Software for People With Visual
Impairments
MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates signed an agreement
Friday with a Spanish association for the blind to develop better software for
people
with visual impairments.
Under the deal, Microsoft Corp. will work with the National Association of
Blind Spaniards to enhance technology giving blind and visually impaired people
access to the Internet.
The idea is to improve software for equipment such as voice synthesizers and
braille keyboards that allow computers to tell blind people what is on the
screen in front of them, Gates told a news conference in Madrid.
"Because software is so magic, we want broad access," said Gates, who met
earlier in the day with Spanish government officials.
The Spanish association, known as ONCE, has been working with Microsoft since
1997, when ONCE officials traveled to the company headquarters in Redmond,
Washington, to help make Windows 98 accessible to blind people.
The accord also calls for ONCE to join a group of companies that manufacture
computer equipment for the blind and act as consultants to Microsoft.
The Spanish association was founded in 1938 and provides job training and
other education programs for the visually impaired. It finances itself almost
exclusively by selling lottery tickets.
An estimated 1 million of Spain's 40 million people are blind or visually
impaired.
Will Pearson
Microsoft MVP (Visual Developer/VC++)
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