Hi guys. Many apologies for introducing confusion on this matter. Just to be straightforward, I haven't had personal experience of FreedomBox; all I have to go on is the less than clear descriptions of it on Serotek's website. What should and shouldn't be classed as a screen reader is a bit debatable. e.g. Sometimes Home Page Reader was called a "screen reader" even though, since it only facilitated internet access, it might have been more accurately called a talking browser. As opposed to the FreedomBox Network (which is the internet service) or FreedomBox System Access (which is a general Windows screen reader faciliating access to Microsoft Word, Adobe Reader, Outlook Express and so on), it seems the FreedomBox, is a talking browser used in combination with specialized hardware. Or, as Serotek describe it:
"The FreedomBox is a voice-controlled Internet access device. It combines the power of a top-of-the-line audio output interface with high quality voice recognition to give users the power to control a properly equipped personal computer using nothing but voice commands."
http://freedombox.info/about.htmlEven more confusingly, given this emphasis on voice control, the manual recommends using the keyboard instead:
http://help.myfreedombox.com/TalkingTips.htmlRegardless of this somewhat arcane legal question of whether they are trading off Freedom Scientific's name, Serotek could certainly do better at explaining their own product line.
-- Benjamin Hawkes-Lewis Jim Grimsby Jr. wrote:
I know they make a screen reader it is not called freedom box though. it is called system access. Freedom box I already explained. -----Original Message----- From: jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Sean McMahon Sent: Monday, May 21, 2007 11:28 AM To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: Freedom Scientific, Inc. Asked to Cease Lawsuit Against Serotek CorporationNo, it's certainly a screen reader, you plug it in to the usb port, give it permission through your firewall and away it goes. btw reguarding your lastpost,I think the fraze give a man a fish and hell be asking for fish fromyou everyday, teach a man to fish, and he'll fish every day applies here. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Grimsby Jr." <jimgrims@xxxxxxxxxxx>To: <jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2007 5:59 PM Subject: RE: Freedom Scientific, Inc. Asked to Cease Lawsuit Against Serotek Corporation They have never maid a rival screen reader called freedom box. Freedom box is the name of there internet serves provider, and the name of the internet software and appliance by the same name. -----Original Message----- From: jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Benjamin Hawkes-Lewis Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2007 4:07 PM To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: Freedom Scientific, Inc. Asked to Cease Lawsuit Against Serotek Corporation The other company, Serotek, have long made a rival screen reader, Freedom Box: http://www.freedombox.info/ The text of Freedom Scientific's complaint has been made available at: http://www.shandrow.com/fs_vs_serotek_complaint.txt Basically, they're claiming that the word "Freedom" in "Freedom Box" could lead people to believe the product is created by Freedom Scientific. -- Benjamin Hawkes-Lewis John Ramsey wrote:What is the lawsuit about? I have no idea who this other company is or what they provide, so I am totally lost. Take care, John-----Original Message-----From: jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Darrell ShandrowSent: Sunday, May 20, 2007 5:20 PMTo: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; jfw-employment@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; blindtech@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Freedom Scientific, Inc. Asked to Cease Lawsuit Against Serotek CorporationFreedom Scientific, Inc. Asked to Cease Lawsuit Against Serotek CorporationAn online petition is being circulated to everyone in the assistive technology industry and the blind community for the purpose of collecting signatures showing support for the concept that Freedom Scientific, Inc. should cease their lawsuit against Serotek Corporation.May 20, 2007 -- We at the Blind Access Journal call upon everyone in the assistive technology industry and the blind community to sign the Save Serotek Petition found at http://www.saveserotek.org asking Freedom Scientific, Inc. to cease their trademark infringement lawsuit against Serotek Corporation. After allowing sufficient time to collect a significant number of signatures, the signed petition will be sent, via certified mail, to the Board of Directors of Freedom Scientific, Inc. We invite redistribution of this press release to all interested parties, post it on blogs, discuss it on podcasts and insure its wide distribution to all independent and mainstream media outlets. E-mail, MSN Windows Live Messenger, Skype and telephone queries are welcome from all interested in this vital effort. We thank you in advance for your support.Darrell Shandrow - Accessibility EvangelistVisit http://www.SaveSerotek.org and ask Freedom Scientific to stop suing! Information should be accessible to us without need of translation by another person. Blind Access Journal blog and podcast: http://www.blindaccessjournal.com Check out high quality telecommunications services at http://ld.net/?nu7i-- JFW related links: JFW homepage: http://www.freedomscientific.com/ Scripting mailing list: http://lists.the-jdh.com/listinfo.cgi/scriptography-the-jdh.com JFW List instructions: To post a message to the list, send it to jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send a message to jfw-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word unsubscribe in the subject line. Archives located at: //www.freelists.org/archives/jfw If you have any concerns about the list, post received from the list, or the way the list is being run, do not post them to the list. Rather contact the list owner at jfw-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
-- JFW related links: JFW homepage: http://www.freedomscientific.com/ Scripting mailing list: http://lists.the-jdh.com/listinfo.cgi/scriptography-the-jdh.com JFW List instructions: To post a message to the list, send it to jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send a message to jfw-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word unsubscribe in the subject line. Archives located at: //www.freelists.org/archives/jfw If you have any concerns about the list, post received from the list, or the way the list is being run, do not post them to the list. Rather contact the list owner at jfw-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx