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PDA for the visually-impaired

Indiana-based company GW Micro has developed a new type of PDA designed specifically for the blind and sight-impaired called the VoiceSense.

Niche products always imply fancy gadgets with added frills aimed at commanding a higher price. Once in a while comes a product showing consideration for the differently-abled, qualifying to be truly called niche. And it's good to know that firms are putting time and effort into this kind of R&D.

An Indiana-based company GW Micro has developed VoiceSense a new type of PDA designed for the sight-impaired. The device runs a modified version of Windows CE and features a vocal guidance system, a full function PIM, web browser, MP3 player, Daisy talking book player, FM radio tuner and MSN Messenger -- all accessible through a Braille keyboard.

VoiceSense provides output using synthesized speech but can also be paired up with GW Micro's SyncBraille, a separate portable Braille display, to provide a rich computing environment on the go. The price is on the higher side at $1,795 though.

[ Via Engadget ] [ Via ITToolbox ]