Update on Technology for the Visually Impaired - Human Ware AccessAbility 21 September 2010

2. Alan Davis General Sales Manager – UK & Ireland Humanware Europe Ltd. Update on Technology for the Visually Impaired

7. Since 1000AD, when the Venetians discovered that text could be magnified if it was placed under a convex blob of glass, it has been possible for low vision sufferers to read printed text. Progress in the last thousand years, however, has been slow. Reading, for people with low vision, has remained a laboriously slow process of scanning a lens or electronic magnifier along the lines of a document while peering into the lens or screen to view the magnified words flowing by. While this primitive technology has enabled people with extremely poor vision to read, this process has been both visually and physically fatiguing and frustratingly slow. It has also required skilled Since 1000AD, when the Venetians discov ered that text could be magnified if it was placed under a convex blob of glass, it has been possible for low vision sufferers to read printed text. Progress in the last thousand years, how ever, has been slow. Reading, for people with low vision, has remained a laboriou sly slow process of scanning a lens or electronic magnifier 20 seconds to scan Average speed: 1.2m/sec 7 seconds to scan Average speed: 24cm/sec

10. The simplest and fastest way to convert printed text in to an accessible format

13. Three Distinct Products

28. Alan Davis General Sales Manager – UK & Ireland Humanware Europe Ltd. Update on Technology for the Visually Impaired