Version 6.0 Released
Dolphin is pleased to announce the launch of their latest software
13th Apr, 2004
Dolphin leads the way with the launch of the worlds most advanced access software for visually impaired computer users.
Today Dolphin announced the availability of their latest version 6.0 award winning access software suite.
Recently previewed at the CSUN Conference in Los Angeles, version 6.0 of Supernova, Hal, Lunar and LunarPlus now comes with many new features and improvements. The latest software release from Dolphin allows blind and visually impaired computer users unprecedented access to more applications than ever and includes support for terminal server sessions.
Following extensive research, involving consultations with industry leaders, blindness organisations and our own dedicated team of external beta testers and coupled with over 6 months of development work, Dolphin's latest software now offers new and existing users greater levels of computer access whether at work, at school or at home. Never before has a blind or visually impaired computer user had so much flexibility and control through their access technology.
A new user interface not only improves the appearance of the software, but also makes user options easy to select. All of the controls are divided into three areas: Visual, Speech and Braille, making navigation simple and straightforward. Dolphin have also reduced the number of dialog options, so advanced magnification, speech and Braille controls are no more than two key presses or clicks away. As usual, all of the new features and functions can be selected from the keyboard as well as the mouse control. A self-playing DAISY book is now included with all version 6 software, so you can listen to your manual on your computer or DAISY player and find just what you're looking for. In case you don't have a DAISY player, all version 6 software now comes with a free copy of Dolphin's latest "EaseReader" DAISY software player, so users are able to playback their manual using the latest technology.
New Users will also appreciate the new Getting Started Tutorial, with many exercises to help them get the most from their new software.
Magnification users have requested more mouse pointer options - Dolphin have gone one better and introduced a whole range of focus highlights. This makes it easy to see where the mouse, the cursor, the live focus or the virtual focus is, at any time. Users are able to select colour, size and shape, the choices are endless.
Speech and Braille users will find it easier than ever to read and format documents, with support for tables in Word, as well as improved support for headings, formatting, indentation, spelling and grammar errors, all text styles and much more. In Excel, comments, formulas and errors are all announced.
Version 6 also includes improved access to Internet web pages. Web pages scroll into view automatically as they are read, so users can share online discoveries with friends and family, and find exactly what they are looking for with the minimum of key presses. A new integral feature of version 6 is the Document Object Model (DOM), which gives users new levels of internet access never available before, across more web pages than ever before.
All version 6 software comes complete with Dolphin's latest Orpheus 2.0 speech synthesiser, which supports over 18 different languages in a single package. Orpheus also includes many speech configuration options including an exceptions editor, skim reading and simple language switching facilities.
Steve Palmer, Dolphin's CEO said "The improvements incorporated within the latest version 6 software will make a real difference to blind and visually impaired computer users. Many of the new features have been introduced as a result of customer research and feedback, so users will appreciate the improvements. The software is now even easier to use and offers unparalleled levels of computer access to many programs." Steve continues, "Dolphin's goal is to create software products that allow visually impaired computer users to access mainstream information technology in its original form. Using the same products as sighted people means individuals can retain their independence. Our latest software will enable businesses, schools and colleges to benefit from a policy of total inclusion."
Dolphin was the first company to create a full range of access products for today's Microsoft® operating platforms and has stayed ahead of the field ever since. All Dolphin software works on all Microsoft supported platforms and can be easily installed on servers and networks, as well as PCs and laptops.
