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IBM to launch browser for the visually impaired

02/04/07 – IBM has announced that it has developed a browser that will allow people with visual impairments better access to visual and audio content. It was developed by a blind Japanese employee and is known as the 'Accessibility Browser' or 'A-Browser'.
IBM is planning to make the browser free of charge and it will be released later in the year.

Dr Chieko Asakawa, who works in the firm's Tokyo research laboratory, created the A-browser because current technology for those with visual impairments is unable to deal with certain audio and video content.

A lot of animation and video begins playing as soon as the page loads and screen-readers and self-talking browsers can not synchronise with the content.

The A-browser will initially be designed for media that is compatible with Windows Media Player and Real Player.

It uses shortcut keys to control the content making it is easier for visually impaired users as they do not have to control it using a mouse.

Volume controls on the browser allow additional audio description to be played with the content and separates the audio tracks allowing the sound to be adjusted independently.

Frances West, director of IBM's Human Ability and Accessibility Centre said: "We're beginning to look at accessibility as a very important business area."

"This is not just from a social responsibility standpoint, but with ageing baby-boomers we think that such technology could really benefit the population in general because all of us will be on this ageing journey."

It has not been decided if the A-Browser launch will be worldwide or if it will be launched in selected countries in a staggered release.

Estimates advise that over 160 million blind and partially-sighted people worldwide could benefit from the services the A-browser provides.

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<a href="http://www.pulsewebhosting.com/news/ibm-to-launch-browser-for-the-visually-impaired/67/" title="IBM to launch browser for the visually impaired">IBM to launch browser for the visually impaired</a> Published Date: 2007-04-02 12:24:02

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