Information Access for Everyone Arkenstone _ Your Partner in Independent Reading Our Mission Information Access for Everyone Together, we live in the communication age, when information and knowledge can be transmitted in mere seconds. Yet for people who have difficulty reading, the information contained in books, magazines, maps, or on computer screens may often seem "out of reach." At Arkenstone, we believe that blindness, low vision, and reading difficulties shouldn't interfere with one's ability to read, learn, work, or travel independently. Our mission is to provide easy-to-use and carefully- crafted access products, products that give people with visual or reading challenges the opportunity to obtain information easily and independently. Access technology can be as simple and convenient as an appliance that reads your favorite book or recipe aloud, simply by pressing one key. It can be as familiar as your personal computer, loaded with software that makes the letters on the screen larger and easier to read. Or, it can be as innovative as a talking map that uses satellites to guide you from your house to your office. Access technology is a growing, dynamic field, with unlimited potential. The following pages describe Arkenstone's innovative products to help people read effectively - personal computer tools, reading machines, low-vision reading systems, talking maps and orientation tools, speech-driven personal digital assistants, and more. James R. Fruchterman President and CEO About the cover: This watercolor painting is an interpretation of our logo created by graphic designer, Mary Ford. Table of Contents Our Mission 1 Contents 2 Helping you read 3-10 Build a reading tool 3 An Open Book Unbound 4 If you are blind 5 DectalkTM Speech Synthesizers 6 Scanners 6 If you have low vision 7 Sound Blaster 7 Magnification Software 7 If reading is a challenge 8 If you don't want a computer 9 What is a reading machine 9 An Open Book 10 Helping you use a computer 11-14 WebSpeak 11 ArkenClone 12 Screen Access Products 13 Speech 13 Braille 13 VisAbility 14 ZoomText 14 Magnum 14 Helping you travel 15-16 What is an orientation tool? 15 Atlas Speaks 16 Strider 16 Who we are 17-22 The First Reader 17 Supporting You 18 Our Staff 19 Easier reading, for everyone 20 Our corporate supporters 21 Books! 22 Call us at 800/444-4443 No army can withstand the strength of an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo Helping you read Build a reading tool to satisfy your needs... For people who are experienced with personal computers, creating a reading system to suit your specific requirements is a simple matter of assembling the correct components. Whether you are blind, low vision, or simply find reading more challenging than you would like it to be, Arkenstone offers a full range of reading components which can turn a personal computer into a full-featured reading tool. To build a flexible reading tool, start with these basic components: * An Open Book Unbound: reading software, the foundation of our reading products. This innovative software uses a scanner to take a picture of the page, then sends it to the PC to translate the picture into understandable text. Software that reads! * A Personal Computer: To ensure compatibility with other access tools, use a standard 386 (or better) IBM- compatible PC. * The Scanner: This takes a picture of the page and uses software and an interface to enable the computer and scanner to communicate with each other. Next, add any of the appropriate enhancements to tailor the basic tool to meet your specific reading needs: * A Speech synthesizer or Braille display to hear or "feel" the scanned text. * Screen Access programs that let your other software, such as Word Perfect, talk. * A standard PC monitor coupled with magnification software. Voila! The perfect reading tool for you! A personal computer, equipped with the right software, can provide a versatile tool to help you master a myriad of reading challenges. Helping you read An Open Book Unbound Version 3.0 Recognition Software Using a scanner and a 486 or PentiumTM PC (with at least 16 Megabytes of memory), you can scan and read a page in less than a minute - in English or in more than a dozen other languages. An Open Book Unbound's flexible interface and detailed online Help make it easy to start reading, using just one key. And you can modify the voices, save settings, and build a library of your favorite materials. New features in Verison 3.0 include background scanning, and the ability to read nearly any word processing or document file. Successful reading starts with successful scanning, so An Open Book Unbound uses automatic contrast control to adjust for the best possible scan. Don't worry if your page is on the scanner straight - the software determines if the page is sideways or upside down, and corrects up to 10o of page skew. Used with a flatbed scanner, An Open Book Unbound is ideal for scanning books, magazines, and business mail. Or, partner your scanner with an Automatic Document Feeder to read multiple pages quickly and easily. An Open Book Unbound supports a variety of synthesizers, Braille displays, access devices, and scanners. For more information on products that work well with An Open Book Unbound, see pages 6, 7, 13, and 14. All our knowledge has its origins in our perceptions. Leonardo da Vinci Helping you read ..if you are blind To access An Open Book Unbound's scanned text, you'll need it spoken aloud, or shown on a Braille display. You'll enjoy the software's scanning flexibility and voice options, and appreciate An Open Book Unbound's ability to directly run other software applications. The basic reading tool - An Open Book Unbound, a PC, and a scanner - can help you read independently, give you instant access to most types of information and provide a high degree of accuracy. And, if you want to use your PC with other software, such as Word Perfect, you'll want a screen access program to make that software talk. Screen Access products are described on page 12. Access to information is no longer difficult and restricting for people who are blind. Our reading products make books, letters, maps and many other publications easy to read and enjoy. Helping you read DECtalkTM Speech Synthesizer Sit back and let your PC do the talking! With the DECtalk Speech Synthesizer, printed text that has been converted to an electronic PC format can now be heard loud and clear. Using a wide range of distinctive voices, DECtalk provides life-like sound and inflection. DECtalk gives you complete control over volume, speed, pitch, and pronunciation. The DECtalk speech synthesizer works with all DOS and Windows-based software applications. For more information on other supported speech synthesizers, see page 13. Scanners Seeing the page A key component in reading technology is the scanner. The scanner takes a picture of the page and sends it to the reading machine or PC, which then translates that picture into understandable text. The better the picture, the more successful the translation. Arkenstone reading tools work with a variety of scanners, including Hewlett-Packard, Canon, Ricoh, Panasonic, Fujitsu, and Epson. Due to their quality, durability, and capabilities, Arkenstone recommends scanners from Hewlett-Packard. Helping you read ..if you have low vision Is print getting too small to read? Do you find using a magnifier fatiguing? You're not alone. Vision changes are something many people encounter - especially as they get older. But diminishing vision doesn't have to mean an end to reading! If you have low vision, you'll appreciate An Open Book Unbound's flexible screen display, which lets you enlarge the text up to one inch. Is black text on a white page difficult to see? Our software offers you a variety of text, background and cursor colors. And, if you choose, you can augment the visual display with speech. This allows you to continue reading when your eyes get tired. To make our basic reading tool - An Open Book Unbound, a PC, and a scanner - work for you, simply add a standard color monitor. If you want speech as well, include a speech synthesizer. For your convenience, An Open Book Unbound supports a variety of speech options, including the Sound Blaster. In other words, An Open Book Unbound lets you keep reading. Sound Blaster with TextAssist Speech synthesizer Creative Labs Sound Blaster with TextAssist gives you the highest quality of synthetic speech with the affordability of the industry's most popular sound card. TextAssist uses DECtalk's distinctive voice, to provide the Sound Blaster with natural-sounding speech for Arkenstone products. Magnification software If you are an experienced computer user and wish to magnify software applications, such as Microsoft Windows, or scanned forms and graphics, such as your tax return, consider either ZoomText, which enlarges text up to 16 times the original size, or VisAbility (described fully on page 14). More than 25% of people over 65 experience significant changes in their vision. Helping you read ..if reading is a challenge In the United States alone, an estimated 15% of the population finds reading more challenging than they'd like. Despite this difficulty, many of these people overcome their reading challenges, go on to achieve their dreams, and enjoy great personal and professional success. With the assistance provided by remarkable reading technology, difficulties in reading can be dramatically reduced. If you find reading a chore, you'll enjoy An Open Book Unbound's screen display options. Text too small? An Open Book Unbound can enlarge it! Having trouble keeping your eyes focused on a specific line of text? Change the cursor shape or color! Would you like to see and hear it at the same time? Use a speech synthesizer! Seeing and hearing words at the same time is very helpful to people for whom reading is a challenge. If you want to turn reading from a difficulty into a delight, start with the basic reading tool - An Open Book Unbound, a PC, and a scanner - then add a color monitor and, if desired, a speech synthesizer. You'll find that you can read more naturally and comfortably with these Arkenstone reading tools. Uncertain about your particular reading challenge and whether we can help? Just call us at 800-444-4443. Helping you read ..if you don't want a computer What is A Reading Machine? It's a reading tool for people who are blind or have low vision, and don't feel comfortable using a computer. A reading machine is an easy-to-use appliance that scans a printed page, and uses an internal voice to read the printed material back to you. A good reading machine is compact and versatile, with a pleasant, tactile surface, and a clear voice with life-like intonations. You don't need to be an electronic whiz to use it. A good reading machine lets you read now, or save the scanned material and read it later. Arkenstone has created just such a tool. We call it An Open Book, because it is as easy to use as sitting down and opening a book. The beauty of a reading machine like An Open Book is the ease with which you can start reading. The keypad is pleasingly tactile, and the three commands are easy to learn. I conceive that a knowledge of books is the basis on which all other knowledge rests. George Washington Helping you read An Open Book Our standalone reading tool, An Open Book, is easy-to- use, and can scan most pages with an accuracy of 99% or better. Perfect for home, office or school, it needs no extra apparatus. All you need is an electrical outlet and something to read. An Open Book includes... * A scanner-which "sees" the page * The reader - which records, translates and saves the scanned words into text, so you can read now or later * A simple, tactile keypad - with easy-to-remember controls * A synthesized voice - that reads your page back to you in your choice of nine different voices There are several models of An Open Book to suit your reading needs and your pocketbook. Call us for current information and prices. Helping you use your computer Reading Tools for the Experienced PC User If you already know your way around your PC, and are looking for more options, look no more! Arkenstone offers a large variety of components to make your computer a multi-faceted reading tool, and gives you access to the world of written information. Coming Soon! WebSpeak Makes the Web Accessible The Internet is an exciting information cornucopia, an online library and a forum for idea exchange, all in one. At Arkenstone, we believe that the Net is a fabulous resource that should be accessible to everyone. That's why we're distributing WebSpeak. Currently in development, this talking browser allows people with visual or reading limitations full access to the Internet - including the World Wide Web and electronic mail! Imagine - online magazines, newspapers, financial information, all accessible! Helping you use your computer ArkenClone Our own fast, affordable PC Thanks to a generous donation from Intel Corporation, Arkenstone can offer this fast, affordable, full-featured PC at a very attractive price. Equipped with the latest technology and fully expandable, the ArkenClone is an IBM- compatible PC that is specifically designed to support most access products. If you acquire other Arkenstone reading components along with your ArkenClone, we will gladly install them for you at no additional charge, and make certain that they all work smoothly together. Screen Access Programs To make DOS and Windows software talk... Arkenstone offers screen access programs, such as JAWS and Vocal-Eyes, that work smoothly with DOS and DECtalk. For Windows users, there is JAWS for Windows, and WindowEyes. We also provide and recommend other access solutions for other needs, such as Braille hardcopy or multilingual reading. There are perhaps no days of our childhood we lived so fully as those we spent with a favorite book. Marcel Proust Helping you use your computer Speech Speech output is a very personal option Arkenstone supports a variety of artificial speech solutions, including: * DECtalk (page 6), Sound Blaster (page 7), Accent, Audapter, Braille 'n Speak, Doubletalk LT, Speak 'n Win and Keynote Gold * Speech cards * Dolphin, and Infovox multilingual synthesizers that speak more than one language * Portable synthesizers such as the DEC Express. We have synthesizers for every need and every pocketbook. For a complete list, contact your dealer. Braille Touch your text Arkenstone products support a wide variety of Braille products, including: * Alva, Baum, Papenmeier, TeleSensory, and Teiman Braille displays * Most Braille printers For a complete list, contact your dealer. A mind that is stretched to a new idea never returns to its original dimension. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (Photo caption) Mickey Quenzer, our technical support specialist, uses his computer and access technology to read everything from correspondence to technical manuals. Helping you use your computer Magnification VisAbility from AI Squared Low-vision reading software Make reading easy and enjoyable again! VisAbility harnesses the power of your PC to do what a CCTV does - only better (and at a better price). Used with your PC and a compatible scanner, VisAbility software gives you magnification of up to 32 times the original image. Zoom in and out at the touch of a button; scroll instantly to any part of the page; enlarge and fill in forms; print enlarged materials - it's all possible with VisAbility. And, VisAbility's advanced display modes let you design the screen to suit your needs. Try VisAbility, and see for yourself! ZoomText To help you read text on the computer screen This reliable and easy-to-use magnification program makes DOS and Windows applications easier to read. ZoomText enlarges both the text and screen icons up to 16 times their original size. And it works seamlessly with An Open Book Unbound for increased magnification! Organization Magnum Our speech-driven personal digital assistant If you can use a tape recorder, you can use Magnum! Take notes, keep track of phone numbers and addresses, update your calendar, leave yourself a reminder, all just by talking to your Magnum. No navigating through hours of audio tape - with Magnum's digital technology, you can retrieve any voice message quickly and easily, using just two keys. Each 1.44 MB floppy disk stores about 45 minutes of digitized speech. Magnum is produced by Arkenstone's Canadian development partner, VisuAide. Helping you travel What is an Orientation Tool? Directional Information for Everyone An orientation tool is an appliance with maps that tells you your location in a pleasant, synthesized voice. Some orientation tools may use satellites to track your current location. If you have difficulty reading, deciphering directional information- such as maps, legends, and street signs- can be next to impossible. Not only does an orientation tool eliminate these frustrations, it makes getting there half the fun. An orientation tool doesn't just help you get around, it helps you get from a specific here (where you are now) to a particular there (where you want to be). Used in conjunction with your own mobility skills or aids, an orientation tool helps you determine the path that's best for you and guides you as you go. Travel quickly, easily, and independently. At Arkenstone, we know how important it is to take the road less traveled. In joint development with Canada's VisuAide, Arkenstone has developed two remarkable orientation tools: Atlas Speaks and Strider. On the next page we describe these products. (Photo) Mike May, our Vice President of Sales, uses his versatile Atlas Speaks both for travel planning and navigation assistance. Helping you travel Never get lost again! Atlas Speaks A personal talking map Arkenstone's innovative new software, Atlas Speaks, gives you complete access to a world of geographical information. Used with a standard PC or laptop, you may explore your neighborhood or city, or plan a business trip or vacation. Once you've decided on your route, save the directions by entering them into your personal tape recorder, printing them out on a Braille or graphic printer, or saving them onto a Braille 'n Speak. Then, while you are exploring, you have a handy reference guide for reorienting yourself should you need it. Atlas Speaks lets you add points of interest such as bus stops, friends' homes, shopping areas, and public buildings. Increase your personal map enhancements by sharing with friends who also have Atlas Speaks. "I'll trade you my restaurant listings for your museums..." Coming Soon! Strider A portable talking map Once you start using Atlas Speaks, you'll want to take your orientation tool along as you roam and explore. With Strider, Arkenstone's revolutionary new positioning information technology, you can! Strider is Atlas Speaks software, with a difference: Strider uses a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite receiver to continually monitor your current location, guiding you to your destination. Strider knows where you are and tells you in easy-to-understand terms such as, "You are at the corner of First Avenue and Main Street... " Combined with a talking laptop computer, Strider is a portable orientation tool that is versatile and easy to use. It comes with its own lightweight case and earphones to keep your hands free. Let Strider give your life a new direction! Atlas Speaks and Strider put the world at your fingertips! Who we are What does it mean to be "nonprofit"? Arkenstone is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing adaptive technology to people who need it. As a 501(c)(3) charity, we often receive donations and grants. We use these resources to fund development of better and more affordable tools for people with disabilities. We frequently sponsor programs for nonprofit organizations to make it easier for them to acquire our systems. If you are with a library, an educational or other nonprofit organization, contact us to find out about these programs. For individuals we provide the First Reader program. The First Reader An affordable solution For people who want the simplicity of a basic PC reading system, but can't afford one, Arkenstone offers the First Reader. This product provides a reading system at a significant discount for people who might not otherwise be able to afford this technology. The First Reader includes: * A new 486-based reading system * A reconditioned scanner * An Open Book Unbound reading software, version 1 * A 17-key keypad For some qualifying users, we operate the First Reader subsidy program, which further reduces the cost of this technology. Who we are Your call for help will be heard, and answered! Arkenstone knows that even well designed and documented products may occasionally need support or service. Our dealers are nearby to provide local support, and Arkenstone is just a toll-free call away. Our thirty- day, money-back guarantee, and overnight replacement parts policies ensure that you will have your equipment available when you need it. Arkenstone is a company comprised of people who feel that their work should make a difference, that everyone has something unique to offer, and that the best work is helping other people. If we can answer any questions regarding our products - or other types of adaptive equipment - please call one of our dealers in your area, or call Arkenstone directly. We are always happy to hear from you. 555 Oakmead Parkway Sunnyvale, California 94086-4023 800/444-4443 408/245-5900 FAX 408/328-8484 TDD 800/833-2753 email: info@arkenstone.org http://www.arkenstone.org Who we are A great group of great people. Arkenstone has over 100 dedicated dealers and representatives worldwide. We acknowledge their special contribution, and congratulate them for their excellence. Listed below is our committed corporate staff. James R. Fruchterman President and CEO Roberta G. Brosnahan Vice President, Marketing Michael May Vice President, Sales Ray Valadez Vice President, Manufacturing Julie A. Andrews Administrative Assistant Wendy Aparton Sales Coordinator Kasey Arnold-Ince Communications Program Manager Dorothy Brinkley PC Technician Michael Busboom European Marketing Manager Debra Calabrese Accounts Payable Specialist Lisa Chan Product Manager Denise Child Technical Support Specialist Martin Courcelles Technical Support Specialist Joseph DeLellis Controller Linnea Dunn Senior Software Engineer Chris Del Frate Assistant Project Manager John Glass Technical Support Specialist Clare Hamm Product Manager Karen Houston Buyer Craig Kanazawa Shipping and Receiving Clerk Cathy Mack Field Sales Manager Tammy Malone Staff Accountant, A/R Dave Offen Engineer Manager Theresa Sacco Technical Support Supervisor Paul Sonkowsky Senior Software Engineer Kenny Srisavaththay Senior Production Technician Rachelle Talag Project Specialist Lisa Taylor Software Engineer Quyen Tu PC Technician Donna Valentino Sales Specialist Joy Winther Office Administrator Who we are We think reading, learning and working should be easier for everyone. Arkenstone is dedicated to creating innovative and affordable reading solutions for people who need them. Founded as a nonprofit organization in 1989, Arkenstone has provided more than 15,000 reading systems to its users. Our products can read 12 languages and are used in more than forty countries. As engineers in the early 1980's, we realized that emerging optical character recognition technology could be used to help people who were blind read text. This led to the development of our first reading tools. The success of these tools has inspired Arkenstone to move forward in the field of reading technology. While our products currently aid people who have a variety of reading needs, we intend to develop products that address the specific needs of individuals with low vision and reading disabilities, and enhance the skills of people who simply want to read better, faster and easier. Arkenstone is your partner in effective, independent reading. You want easy access to the information in books, magazines, maps, computers and the Internet - and we are committed to creating excellent products that give you that access. Information Access for Everyone- Call us at 800/444-4443 Who We Are Thanks to those who have helped us... Among our many generous benefactors, we would especially like to acknowledge Caere Corporation, Digital Equipment Corporation, Etak, Hewlett-Packard, Intel Corporation, Trimble Navigation, and VisuAide as firms whose financial support and technical cooperation have been vital to Arkenstone and our mission. Caere Corporation is the maker of WordScan, the premium Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. Digital Equipment Corporation is a pioneer and industry leader in computer hardware. Etak, Incorporated, is the premiere producer of innovative digital map technology. Hewlett Packard produces a variety of successful hardware products, including printers, scanners and PCs. Intel Corporation manufactures high-quality microchips that are the industry standard. Trimble Navigation is the leading manufacturer of Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) technology. VisuAide, Arkenstone's Canadian development partner, produces tools for people with visual impairments. Our corporate partners have demonstrated a strong dedication to help us provide excellent products at affordable prices. Who We Are Books, books, books! I had found the secret of a garret-room Piled high with cases in my father's name; Piled high, packed large, where, creeping in and out Among the giant fossils of my past, Like some small nimble mouse between the ribs Of a mastodon, I nibbled here and there At this or that box, pulling through the gap, In heats of terror, haste, victorious joy, The first book first. And how I felt it beat Under my pillow, in the morning's dark, An hour before the sun would let me read! My books! Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-61) 555 Oakmead Parkway Sunnyvale, California 94086-4023 800/444-4443 408/245-5900 FAX 408/328-8484 TDD 800/833-2753 email: info@arkenstone.org http://www.arkenstone.org For more information call Arkenstone or your local dealer. Fairest of all was the great white gem... the heart of the mountain, the Arkenstone... J.R.R.Tolkien