[tabi] Currency App
- From: "Sila Miller" <silam@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 21 Oct 2012 09:26:39 -0400
> 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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- » [tabi] Currency App - Sila Miller
