SBIR-STTR Award

The built-in speech synthesis capabilities of the coming generation of personal computer hardware raise new hopes for providing the visually handicapped universal access to personal, work, and educational opportunities. Paradoxically, software trends toward more powerful "visual" user interfaces for fully sighted users threaten to further restrict access for the visually impaired and push the linking of voice output to standard software further out of reach. Current options for visually impaired people are(1) to invest in previous generation microcomputers for voice support in limited applications, or(2) to wait for custom-written software for new machines.As older computers will be phased out and custom software for the visually handicapped will never provide the power, range, and versatility of software for the fully sighted, neither choice is acceptable. This project offers a third option in the form of an inexpensive operating system extension called outspoken , which is designed to add audible cues to the visual interface of any off-the-shelf software. This product has the potential to open modern software technology to the visually impaired.National Eye Institute (NEI)

Phase I of this project produced the prototype of a software accessory tha gives blind and very low vision people access to mainstream computer applications on next-generation, graphics- based microcomputers through th use of voice output. This product, called outSPOKEN TM, represents the first attempt to solve the technical and user interface problems involved in presenting a pixel-based graphical user interface to blind users. Its appeal and market potential lies in its applicability to off-the- shelf software, ease of use, and low price. The product was developed for the Apple Macintosh in Phase I. The objective of Phase II is to widen its availibility by porting it to IBM PC/AT and PS Series compatibles.National Eye Institute (NEI)