One Blind Man, a Passport and a Talking PDA in his Pocket!
Pocket Hal goes on Tour.
1st Sep, 2006
Registered blind, slightly eccentric but definitely mobile, Dave Williams is embarking on a 4 week grand tour of the US with only his talking PDA for company. Single handed, Dave will negotiate 25 venues, 10 states and meet over 1000 visually and print impaired people with the aim of demonstrating and furthering their independence.
Blind since birth, Dave was recently appointed Mobile Products Manager at Dolphin Computer Access and is charged with showcasing the features and benefits of the exciting new product: Pocket Hal version 7.
Pocket Hal is a powerful screen reader available for a wide range of handheld devices such as PDAs (Pocket PCs) with the Windows Mobile operating system. The software enables blind, low vision and print impaired individuals to work, learn and communicate using the same portable technology used by fully sighted colleagues, relatives and friends.
As a Pocket Hal user, plain speaking northerner (Preston, Lancashire) and former community radio director and internet broadcaster, Dave will be well equipped to send through regular updates on the progress and events on the tour via a Weblog and regular Podcasts. To be a part of Dave’s extraordinary adventure, simply log on to the mini site: http://phtour.yourdolphin.com
Dave hopes to welcome visitors in person to these exciting days and says: "As a blind person who benefits from the independence afforded by a range of accessible technologies, the development of Pocket Hal means I can now independently and confidently use a range of off-the-shelf PDA hardware and software. The Pocket Hal Tour is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate the key strengths of this revolutionary product in person to audiences in the United States, while people around the globe can follow my journey online".
Dolphin is pleased to be working closely with leading companies such as Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard in order to deliver the best possible access solutions for today's mobile community.
"HP is committed to providing cutting-edge assistive features to help ensure the benefits of technology are available to all people" said Michael Takemura, Director of the Accessibility Program Office at HP. "Dolphin's Pocket Hal running on HP iPAQ Pocket PCs provides visually impaired users enhanced mobile communication freedom."
Bonnie Kearney, Director of Marketing, Accessible Technology Group at Microsoft, comments; "Thanks to accessible technology like Dolphin's Pocket Hal, low vision and blind computer users are able to take full advantage of the latest range of Microsoft mobile solutions. Dolphin's latest range of access solutions will ensure that visually impaired computer users are able to access the latest technology in a way that suits them best."
Throughout September 2006 Pocket Hal will be demonstrated at various access centres, blindness consumer organisations and affiliate groups across the United States through a series of public events.
The Pocket Hal Tour - Be Part of The Journey, Follow The Adventure!
Don't forget to enter our exciting competition to win your very own Hewlett Packard PDA, complete with Pocket Hal and a collapsible Bluetooth keyboard, offering the latest in accessible mobile computing. To enter the Pocket Hal competition visit http://win.yourdolphin.com
