[tabi] survey on technology use by the blind being conducted with Google

From: "Allison and Chip Orange" <acorange@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 27 Aug 2011 16:41:13 -0400
For Immediate Release
Contact: Eric Bridges
Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
American Council of the Blind
Phone: (202) 467-5081
e-mail:
ebridges@xxxxxxx
American Council of the Blind and Google Conduct Survey to Better Understand
Computer
Usage and Assistive Technology Patterns in the Blind Community
ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 16, 2011 -- Today, the American Council of the Blind
(ACB) announced
it will be working with Google Inc. to survey blind, visually
impaired, and deaf-blind individuals to better understand how they use
computers
and assistive technology to access information.
"Having access to information through the use of accessible technology is
paramount
in this day and age for education, employment and social networking.
Many studies have evaluated how users generally access the Internet, but
none have
focused specifically on the experience of blind users," said Mitch
Pomerantz,
President of the American Council of the Blind. "We're pleased to
collaborate with
Google to develop and implement this survey, which will look at how
blind users choose and adopt assistive technologies and how they discover
new tools
and information. Understanding the needs of the blind community is
the first step to developing effective new ways of accessing information in
the cloud."
The survey, developed jointly by Google and the American Council of the
Blind, will
gather data about technology use and needs in the blind community.
Respondents
will be able to complete the survey by either telephone or web. Survey data
will
be used to better understand how blind users interact with the web, which
assistive technologies they find most useful, and how they make decisions
about whether
to switch or upgrade tools.
"At Google we're committed to making our products accessible and we're
currently
hard at work making improvements," said Alan Eustace, Senior Vice President
of Knowledge at Google. "By connecting with American Council of the Blind
members,
we hope to gain valuable insight into how the blind use the Internet
and how their needs are evolving with technology."
The survey, which will run through mid-September, is available immediately
at
www.acb.org/googlesurvey
. Individuals who want to take the survey by telephone, please call
347-772-8355.
About the American Council of the Blind
The American Council of the Blind is the largest consumer-based organization
of blind
and visually impaired Americans advocating for the rights of blind
Americans. Comprised of more than 70 affiliates across the United States,
the organization
is dedicated to making it possible for blind and visually impaired
Americans to participate fully in all aspects of American society.  For more
information,
visit
www.acb.org
; write to American Council of the Blind, 2200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 650,
Arlington,
VA 22201; phone (202) 467-5081; or fax (703) 465-5085.
###
=========================
Barbara Jackson LeMoine
Public Policy Assistant
American Council of the Blind
2200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 650
Arlington, VA 22201
202-467-5081
blemoine@xxxxxxx
www.acb.org
Follow us on Twitter @acbnational
=========================
The American Council of the Blind is the nation's leading membership
organization
of blind and visually impaired people.

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[tabi] survey on technology use by the blind being conducted with Google

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