Default Contrast | High Contrast

What's New

TVSpeak, the world's first accessible digital TV Tuner for Window computers!

Let's wach TV!

TVSpeak Version

Code Factory releases TV Speak in the USA

New Windows-based software to make digital television accessible!

Hear a demonstration!

TV Speak is an application to be installed on a computer equipped to receive a digital television signal. Through speech output and magnification, TV Speak allows people who are blind or have low vision to use the most common functionality of digital terrestrial television in a fully accessible way.

“The way people watch television is changing. In the near future we will all use television to access the web and consume multimedia content and digital information. Blind people cannot be left out of this new world of possibilities. Therefore television has to be accessible and TV Speak is our first contribution in this field” explains Eduard Sánchez, Code Factory’s CEO.

With TV Speak people who are blind or have low vision can:

To use TV Speak you need a computer running Windows (Windows 7, Vista or XP), a TV tuner card, and a TV antenna cable adapted for digital terrestrial television (either portable or that plugs into a TV socket). The tuner will make the connection between your computer and the TV antenna. One side of the tuner has a USB port to plug into your computer and the other side has a plug to connect to the antenna. In other words, the TV antenna cable is connected to the TV tuner, which in turn is connected to the PC via a USB port. In this way you can watch TV through your computer and you don’t actually need to use your television screen. However if you wish you can direct the audio and video output of TV Speak to your TV monitor and use a wireless keyboard to control the TV. TV Speak is a product that Code Factory has been developing in partnership with ONCE, the Spanish national association for the blind. When you install TV Speak for the first time, it will automatically work for 30 days for free. Once the demo expires, you will be asked for a license number.

To purchase TV Speak in the US, please contact HandyTech North America by email at info@handytech.us or by phone at 651-636-5184. You can also visit the HandyTech North America webpage at www.handytech.us For any questions about TV Speak, feel free to send an email to info@handytech.us

For more information about TV Speak visit http://www.codefactory.es/en/products.asp?id=416

BraillePen 12 and BraillePen Slim Now Available

Your portable Braille companion!

Image of BraillePen 12 and BraillePen Slim

Connect to your phone, netbook, PC or PDA; Write SMS, do 6-key entry into your favourite Braille translator, or simply type. If you want to text and email in complete privacy, or proof read effectively, the BraillePens are the most economic and portable Braille display and keyboard on the market. The BraillePens connect via Bluetooth wireless to virtually any device you have. They support Windows computers running System Access, Supernova, and Dolphin Pen. They also support MAC computer systems running Voiceover as well as Apple’s iPad, iPod and the iPhone 3GS and 4 as well as mobile phones running Talks or MobileSpeak.

Imagine the possibilities. Read and write email on your mobile phone while the phone is sitting in your pocket. Surf the Internet on your computer while sitting comfortably across the room from it. The BraillePens give you a quick and easy interface to all your accessible Bluetooth devices.

Purchase BraillePen 12 for $995.00 plus $20 shipping now

Purchase BraillePen Slim Braille keyboard for $299.00 plus $20.00 shippin

Have questions about the BraillePen 12 or BraillePen slim? Please call:

651-636-5184

info@handytech.us

ActiveBraille, the world's first portable Braille display with Active Tactile Control (ATC) technology!

Image of Active Braille display with reading hand

Active Braille is the world’s first 40 character Braille display with patented ATC technology. In addition to being an ergonomically optimized Braille display, Active Braille is also a powerful note taker on which you can store hundreds of books. Reading is a real pleasure with the automatic scrolling of the Bookworm mode. Read books at your own speed from beginning to end without hardly ever having to press a button.

Handy Tech sets new standards for Braille displays with the use of HID technology (Human Interface Device) drivers that makes it easier than ever to simply plug and Braille. Connected via USB to a computer, Active Braille is immediately ready to use.

Active Braille also offers wireless Bluetooth connectivity for use with computers and mobile devices. The ergonomically designed Braille keyboard allows for the entry of text directly from Active Braille.

Active Braille is ideal for reading books. With its unique ability to detect the tactile reading position, the Bookworm mode allows for the automatic scrolling of text and Active Braille is also an awesome note taking, reading and Braille instructional companion.

The ATC Log Analyzer provides trainers and Braille teachers with the ability to monitor specific reading behaviors and provide measurable, quantitative data on their student's progress on the lesson-by-lesson basis.

Accomplish Ltd of New Zealand has partnered with the Minnesota based adaptive technology company, Handy Tech North America (HTNA) to distribute the very powerful ‘CashManager’ software.

CashManager has been widely used throughout the mainstream sector in New Zealand and Australia for over 20 years, and now United States customers can purchase this accessible, feature rich, yet easy to use financial management software either from Handy Tech North America or from one of several Handy Tech dealers.

For more information please visit Accomplish Global

or for specific content relating to the blind & vision impaired Cash Manager for the Visually impaired

Cash Manager is available in three versions - Home, Not-For-Profit, and Business. You can read more about the software and download a fully functioning trial from:

Trial version for U.S. customers

Purchase Cash Manager Now

Cash Manager Version

As the owner of a company who happens to be blind, HTNA president and founder Earle Harrison has this to say about Cash Manager:

“When I started my company in 2005, I had no idea what challenges I would face with regards to managing my own business finances. Service Manager and long time friend Russell Richardson took care of the invoicing, accounts receivables and accounts payables, but we would soon find out the hard way with several avoidable tax penalties and expensive accounting fees that this was only a small fraction of what's involved with running a company. Eventually we retained the services of a local accountant and plodded along with a mostly non-accessible popular accounting program, but I was frustrated because only a small fraction of features were accessible and I certainly couldn't use the software as could my sighted counterparts. Later on, I subscribed to an online version of the same popular software, and that was a more accessible experience, but there were still gaping holes in its accessibility. For example I could access reports, but generating quotes and invoices simply wasn't possible. Since I started using Cash Manager myself, I have experienced first-hand the high level of service and support that Accomplish has to offer and now I can independently access virtually every aspect of my company finances."

Owner and General Manager of Accomplish Ltd, Grant Hewson comments:

“We are very excited to be partnering with HTNA as we make our software available to the US blind & vision impaired market. After realising the need some two years ago, we have invested significant resources into making CashManager accessible. Over the past 12 months we have received huge interest from all over the world, but particularly from the US. We are looking forward to providing a product & service for which there would appear to be a real need.”

As always, please don't hesitate to call Handy Tech North America should you have any questions whatsoever at:

651-636-5184

or by sending e-mail to:

info@handytech.us

Top of page

Handy Tech North America Adds Audio Tutorials to Its Mac Academy Offerings

Handy Tech North America (HTNA) has taken its popular Mac Academy Workbook and Study Guide to the next level with a series of easy-to-follow MP3 tutorials. 

Effective immediately, HTNA will begin combining the newly-produced MP3 files with the original HTML version of the Mac Academy Workbook and Study Guide, to create one powerful training solution. This multi-modal tutorial focuses on the keyboard-only operation of VoiceOver – a fully-functional screen reader that comes bundled, free of charge, with every Macintosh computer running OSX10.6 or higher. 

Optimally, the Mac Academy Workbook and Study Guide should be used as a supplement to one of HTNA’s Mac Academy Basic Training Workshops. Whether you are an adaptive technology trainer, a teacher of visually impaired students, a technical support professional, a rehabilitation counselor, or a blind consumer of Apple products, you will benefit immeasurably from the individualized instruction offered to all attendees of HTNA’s Mac Academy Basic Training Workshops. However, if you are unable to attend one of HTNA’s in-person classes, our comprehensive and multi-sensory course materials can be the next-best thing to being there. 

If you wish to purchase or upgrade your Mac Academy Workbook and Study Guide, register for an upcoming Mac Academy Basic Training Workshop, or take advantage of one of HTNA’s Mac-related special offers, please visit www.handytech.us. You may also contact Handy Tech North America’s Sales Department at sales@handytech.us or 651-636-5184.

Top of page

Olympus DM-4 Now Available from Handy Tech North America

Olympus has released the "DM-4" Digital Audio Device. The DM-4 is a specialty recorder, designed for a specific market and is only available to specialty dealers in the Assistive Technology Markets (Low Vision and Blindness, Speech, Hearing, Learning Disabilities, Physical Impairments).

Olympus DM-4

The Olympus DM-4 incorporates a large color LCD display, easy-to-use menus for audio recording, editing and playback of podcasts, music, audio books, text books and DAISY books.

The DM-4 offers an internal memory of 8GB for over 2,000 hours of recording. It also features an external microSD slot that allows for up to 16GB of additional memory. Users can enjoy a wide variety of media for work and leisure, including audio recordings, music, audio books, podcasts and images.

It offers sophisticated features like Voice Guidance, Voice Commands, Text-to-Speech, DAISY (Digital Accessible System) and supports Audible.com books, MP3, WMA and PCM formats. Olympus also includes OLYMPUS SONORITY sound editing software.

The DM-4 is a DAISY player certified by Daisy Consortium, meaning it can play digitally recorded material in the DAISY talking book format popular with the visually impaired and those with Dyslexia and other learning disabilities.

The DM-4 features robust Speech Recognition capabilities that are powered by Nuance VoCon 3200, Nuance's trusted Speech Recognition engine. Users are able to speak commands that allow them to access folders and set-up options, and easily add items to their lists and calendars. Pre-defined keywords such as "work", "travel", "memo" and more can be added to audio files making it easier to access files by using your voice.

DM-4 also features Nuance Vocalizer for Text-to-Speech to provide voice guidance, enabling visually challenged users to achieve equal accessibility while capturing recordings or moving through the device's menu, folders and set-up options. Users are also able to hear file details like date, time, artist, title and preset keywords to easily identify files without having to listen to them.

The unit is compatible with "PCs" and "MACs". Package includes DM-4, Lithium-Ion Battery, AC Adapter, Olympus Sonority Software, Stereo Earphones, USB Cable, USB Adapter, Carrying Case, Strap, Instruction Manual.

Cost: $299.00 plus shipping.

For more information on this and other extraordinary offerings from Handy Tech North America, please call: 651-636-5184 or send an e-mail to: sales@handytech.us.



Top of page

Mac Academy Workbook and Study Guide

Handy Tech North America is pleased to now offer the Mac Academy Workbook and Study Guide for purchase. This 80 page document was developed by Handy Tech North America for use with the Mac Academy Basic Training Workshop, a three day class that teaches people how to use the Voiceover screen reader included with every Macintosh computer running the 10.6 Snow Leopard operating system. The workbook may also be used as a stand-alone training tool and reference resource.

Adaptive technology trainers, vision teachers, rehabilitation professionals and anybody who would like to learn to use Voiceover will greatly benefit from this insightful and thorough publication which is available on CD, in regular print, large print, and in Braille formats.

A proud value add reseller of Apple products, Handy Tech North America is now also including a free electronic version of the workbook with every purchase of an Apple computer from Handy Tech North America.

Also, effective immediately, purchase any of the Voiceover supported Handy Tech Braille Displays from Handy Tech North America and gain free admission to any of the Mac Academy basic training workshops that are open to the public for a period of 1 year from the date of purchase, a $900 value.

Registration is required, this offer is not retroactive and travel and expenses are not included.

If you are interested in learning more about any of the above options, please don't hesitate to contact Handy Tech North America at: 651-636-5184 or send e-mail to: info@handytech.us.

The Mac Academy Workbook and Study Guide may be purchased online, by credit card over the phone, by check or money order, and purchase authorizations from companies, organizations and government agencies are also welcome.

Please make purchase authorizations out to:

Handy Tech North America
3900 Jackson St. NE.
Building 1
Columbia Heights, MN 55421

Fax purchase authorizations to: 1-866-347-8249 or e-mail them to: sales@handytech.us.

Purchase Online









Now reintroducing: Mobile Access Payment (MAP) Program

Handy Tech North America in partnership with Code Factory, are pleased to reintroduce a new financing option by which consumers may pay for any of the Code Factory products over a twelve month period, interest-free.

Are you tired of limited accessibility to mobile devices such as cell phones and PDA’s? Have you ever been in a situation where you could have greatly benefited from the use of an accessible GPS solution or Mobile screen reader, but couldn’t justify the purchase due to the up-front cost? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, you may be in a position to take advantage of HTNA’s Mobile Access Payment Program, MAP. Originally unveiled in April of 2009 as the first affordable means of obtaining access to mobile accessibility by allowing individuals to purchase mobile screen readers and GPS solutions through financing options. The MAP program was suspended for a short time due to a few individuals who elected to default on their financial commitment and limited recourse in HTNA’s efforts to collect on a debt. These few individuals really ruined the program for all of the honest people; however, now thanks to a new licensing system put into place by Code Factory, the opportunity is once again available. 

The Mobile Access Payment (MAP) Program takes the sting out of your pocket book and in spite of a struggling global economy, makes this life changing technology attainable by people for whom the lump sum expenditure may be prohibitive.

United States residents may now purchase the award-winning Mobile Speak 4.0 mobile screen reader, Mobile Geo 2.5 GPS solution, as well as Mobile Speak Adventure and Mobile Speak Gold software bundle packages on the 12 month MAP payment program.  

This program is currently only available for the United States residents purchasing their accessible solutions from Handy Tech North America, a company well known for their work in modifying mainstream off-the-shelf technology for use by people who are blind or have low vision and their high quality of service and support. Thanks to Code Factory’s talented software engineers, HTNA’s slogan “It’s all about adapting,” now refers to purchasing options as well as products.

We're sorry; we are not able to offer hardware products such as mobile phones or GPS receivers on the MAP Program at this time. As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated.

For more information about the MAP program, visit: Mobile Access Payment (MAP) Program.

For more information about Code Factory products, visit the Code Factory web site.

Please note: The MAP program is being offered by Handy Tech North America and Code Factory. All sales are final and under no circumstances will adjustments to payments be made due to changes or fluctuations in retail pricing of products being offered in the MAP Program

Top of page

iRead: "simply reading"

Handy Tech North America is pleased to offer iRead, a new, robust, cost effective and easy to use reading solution developed by Handy Tech GmbH of Horb Germany.

iRead is software that converts a Windows-PC with a scanner and screen reader into an open reading system.

Gain access to print material with minimal effort. There is only one key press between the start of the program and the reading of the first page of printed text. iRead automatically detects the connected scanner and searches for the best settings for the individual model. Check the orientation of a document with a single keystroke.

iRead captures the structure of a document. Not only does iRead detect headings, but also creates a table of contents based on these headings. Simply select a heading from the created table of contents and then easily jump to the selected position in the document.

Use the search function of iRead to jump to a specific word within the scanned document. Set a bookmark and easily pick up where you left off.

iRead lets you import images from different formats such as PDF and several image types which are quickly and accurately rendered into accessible text. Perspective distortions and misalignments are automatically corrected by iRead.

iRead is designed and optimized to be used in combination with screen reader programs. If you are not using one of the leading screen readers like Window-Eyes, Zoomtext with speech or JAWS, you have the option of using iRead along with NVDA, a free and open source screen reader. Enjoy the ability to use any Handy Tech Braille display along with iRead and any of the popular screen readers including NVDA.

"As North America master distributors of Handy Tech products, we are very pleased to add a high quality OCR package to our offerings" says Handy Tech North America President and Founder Earle Harrison, "At first I questioned the introduction of a version 1 OCR software program in an industry where other products have had time to develop over 15-20 years; however, after experiencing the speed and accuracy of iRead firsthand, I knew we had a contender".

Handy Tech GmbH Managing Director Sigi Kipke states "Earle and his team have done an extraordinary job representing Handy Tech products over the past 4 years and I have every confidence in their ability to make iRead a success as they continue to serve our Canadian and U.S customers".

The cost of iRead is $750.00 USD.

You may download a 30 day trial version of iRead from:

http://www.handytech.us/iRead_1.0.2.0a_Setup.exe

Licensing iRead is simply a matter of obtaining an activation code.

For more information, please call Handy Tech North America at: 651-636-5184

or e-mail: sales@handytech.us

Top of page

BookSense

Handy Tech is pleased to now offer BookSense.

BookSense

The new portable digital audio book player, BookSense, allows people to access information for education, information, and entertainment. Students can access school textbooks, people in the workplace can stay current with journals or business magazines, and anyone can enjoy newspapers, favorite novels, a bestseller, and even their favorite music.

With a comfortable feel when held in your hand, the BookSense is very easy to use. Weighing only four ounces, it is portable and powerful and easily fits into a shirt pocket, backpack, or purse, so you can take it anywhere.

Two models are offered : BookSense and BookSense XT. Both models play audio files, DAISY content, and read documents. Secured-Digital (SD) memory card slot, and built-in digital recorder are all standard features on both the BookSense and BookSense XT. The media player supports a variety of formats, such as MP3, MP4, OGG, WAV, WAX, M4A, and WMA. Use the media player to listen to your music collection, including music downloaded from Apple iTunes.

View a picture of the BookSense.

BookSense XT

In addition to all of the standard features, the BookSense XT boasts 4 GB of built-in memory, an FM radio, and Bluetooth capability. Use the BookSense XT to listen to your favorite radio station, or use the Bluetooth to use your stereo Bluetooth headset. Imagine listening to your favorite book without the hassle of wires from headphones.

With the BookSense, you can access digital talking books from providers such as the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), BookShare, and Audible. Access to books from Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D) is coming soon!

BookSense makes it simple by utilizing the USB port to connect to your PC to transfer downloaded books and music directly to the built-in memory on the BookSense XT or to an SD memory card in either model.

The book reader on the BookSense supports several file formats, including txt, rtf, doc, docx, html, xml, brl, and brf. Use this feature to read your Microsoft Word documents, including Word 2003 and Word 2007.

The BookSense is the ideal tool for classroom teachers, students, business professionals, and anyone who enjoys reading and listening to music.

Top of page

Eye-Pal Solo

Handy Tech is pleased to now offer Eye-Pal Solo.

Eye-Pal Solo will read for you on it's own – no other equipment or additional lights are needed, no buttons to push, no manuals to read. Eye-Pal Solo comes ready to use right out of the box. It is a self-contained motion activated reading device that instantly reads from any book or printed material. Just plug it in, place down a book or newspaper and it reads to you! If it is not the page you wanted to read, remove it. Reading will stop immediately - in a fraction of a second. If the phone or doorbell rings, wave your hand near the reading material and it will pause, pass your hand again and it resumes. Can reading be easier than this?

Want to read text on a monitor along with the Eye-Pal Solo? Simply connect the monitor and magnified text will be automatically displayed for you, the spoken words are highlighted.

Need more than just reading? The custom keypad allows saving and restoring pages, reading by word or by sentence, changing voices, customizing how text looks on the monitor, and a lot more.

View a picture of the Eye-Pal Solo

Top of page

Plug and Braille with Handy Tech Easy Braille!

On December 11, 2008, Serotek announced via the Serotek blog their endorsement of the Accessibility Anywhere Based Braille Display petition to Braille display manufacturers created and written by George McDermith. This petition urges Braille display manufacturers to do-away with proprietary drivers and instead use standard, mainstream technologies that will drive these devices regardless of the screen reader being used.

As an avid Braille reader myself, I am proud to be a signer of this petition. We at Handy Tech North America support Mr. McDermith's efforts with respect to this matter and in order to demonstrate our commitment to the cause, we are pleased to announce the Handy Tech Plug and Braille initiative with the introduction of Easy Braille with HID support.

HID stands for Human Interface Device and is the open standard for plug and play devices such as keyboards and mice. The HID protocol requires no separate software installations in order for these devices to work. Now Braille readers can simply plug-in their Handy Tech Easy Braille with HID support and gain immediate Braille access regardless of their chosen screen reader. 

Although Easy Braille with HID support has been several months in the making prior to Mr. McDermith's petition, his timing is perfect as it affords Handy Tech the opportunity to demonstrate that we are once again on the leading edge when it comes to giving customers the tools they need when they need them.

For over a year now, Handy Tech customers have enjoyed the ability to walk up to one of millions of Apple computers and gain immediate grade two Braille access simply by plugging in their Handy Tech Braille display. Handy Tech is pleased to now offer the same freedom of access on the Microsoft Windows side or on any other platform that supports the HID protocol.

Combine this new Plug and Braille development with the high quality and ergonomic design for which Handy Tech products are known worldwide, and enjoy a flexible and reliable Braille solution for many years to come in the Handy Tech Easy Braille.

"I don't believe that people should be penalized because of the screen reader they use," says Sigi Kipke, Managing Director of Handy Tech GmbH in Horb, Germany, the manufacturers of Handy Tech Braille products. Kipke further stresses the importance of access to portable electronic Braille by stating that Braille products should not be viewed as some obscure technology used by just a few blind people, rather it should be viewed as a progressive and innovative technology that gives Braille readers the same advantages and opportunities as print readers.

Although Easy Braille with HID support is slated for release in May of 2009, Handy Tech representatives from both European and North American offices will be demonstrating this exciting new development at this year's California State University Northridge Center on Disabilities 24th Annual Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference, otherwise known as CSUN.

Please join us in the exhibit hall at booth 302 of the Marriott LAX hotel where we will be enthusiastically demonstrating the following products:

Top of page

Portable SenseView Light

Hims USA is proud to introduce the latest advancement in portable CCTV technology: the Portable SenseView Light. The PSV Light is one of the smallest portable CCTVs available on the market, allowing you to easily carry it with you wherever you go.

The PSV Light uses a new technology never before used in portable CCTVs.While the screen of the PSV Light is a 3.4 inch flat screen, it does not use an LCD screen. Instead, it uses the new Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) technology for the screen. This means that the screen is brighter with true black, and unsurpassed color. It also means that it has an unlimited viewing angle, so you can easily see what is on the screen from any direction. This is one of the biggest advancements in portable CCTV technology history.

The PSV Light is extremely easy to use. The camera is located in the center, and it incorporates near-distance technology, which means you can hold the unit over top of what you are looking at, instead of having to put it directly on the surface. This makes using the SenseView Light as easy as using a magnifying glass.

Magnify images from 1.5x up to 10.5x with just the press of a button. Choose from several different color modes, including full color, black and white, enhanced black and white, white on black, and enhanced white on black. These color options make the SenseView Light perfect for customers with retinal degenerative diseases, such as macular degeneration.

For customers with eyes that are very light sensitive, you can adjust the brightness of the screen, as well as the brightness of the LED lights located on the bottom of the unit.

Do you have trouble seeing price tags in the grocery store? Use the snapshot feature on the SenseView Light to take a snapshot of a hard-to-see price tag on the shelf, and then bring it close to your eyes to for simple and easy viewing.

Top of page