Subject: FYI: Article - Compaq Strengthens Commitment to Develop Accessible Technology With New Accessibility Program Office
From: Ginette Perkins (ginettep@seals.org)
Date: Fri Mar 23 2001 - 09:39:34 PST
FYI: Article found on TechInfo Base
Compaq Strengthens Commitment to Develop Accessible Technology With New
Accessibility Program Office
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0010322DATH039
03/22/01
PR Newswire
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Full Text
HOUSTON, March 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE:
CPQ) today announced the creation of an Accessibility Program Office to
address the computing needs of America's more than 54 million people with
disabilities. The announcement was made at the annual CSUN (California State
University, Northridge) 2001 International Conference on Technology and
People with Disabilities.
"Today, more than 17 million Americans use assistive technologies to
accommodate some form of disability, and more than one-half million people
with disabilities use a computer and the Internet to perform job-related
tasks," said Kyle Ranson, Vice President, Marketing Strategy, Compaq
Computer Corporation Access Business Group. "Compaq believes it is critical
to drive accessibility into all areas of our business and to develop
accessible computing platforms and information on the Internet."
Michael Takemura will head the Accessibility Program Office. The
Program Office will guide accessibility in product design, engineering,
product development, documentation, web, and services and support, and will
be advised by members of Compaq's Global Business Units.
In support of this initiative, Compaq is donating 45 Deskpro Desktops
with monitors to the CSUN Conference for its Instruction Lab and "Playroom,"
where conference presenters and attendees can demonstrate and trial the
adaptive software and hardware being debuted at the conference, as well as
have access to e-mail and the Internet. Compaq's Human Factors research
group is also conducting focus groups during the conference to learn more
about the needs of customers with visual, aural and motor disabilities in
the areas of technology products, capabilities, support, Internet
accessibility, documentation, professional services and distribution.
"It's one of my goals as director to involve mainstream IT companies
in the assistive technology industry, so I'm extremely pleased that Compaq
is partnering with us and taking a leadership position within the assistive
technology community," said Dr. Bud Rizer, Director of the Center on
Disabilities at CSUN and Director of the CSUN 2001 Conference.
Compaq has led the industry in the development of assistive
technologies since 1983, as the first major computer manufacturer to deliver
the DECtalk system, an output device that assisted people with visual
deficits by accepting ASCII text, and speaking rather than printing the
output. Since then, Compaq has continued to work with assistive technology
partners on such projects as The iCommunicator System, created by
Interactive Solutions, Inc. (www.teachthedeaf.com), a program developed on
the Armada notebook platform that translates voice to text, sign language or
computer generated voice. In addition, Compaq Chairman and CEO Michael
Capellas joined with many fellow CEOs this past fall in urging the President
to support technology for and employment of people with disabilities. Compaq
also provided computers to the Assistive Technology Industry Association
(ATIA) 2001 Annual Conference in February.
Last September Compaq also donated $100,000 in scholarships to
CompTIA, the Computer Trade Industry Association, to train both minorities
and individuals with disabilities to become certified computer technicians.
CompTIA, a vendor-neutral not-for-profit association serving the rapidly
converging computing and communications market, called for support from
members and non-members alike to match its investment. Association member
Compaq was the first company to answer the challenge and commit to a
$100,000 contribution.
About CSUN
California State University, Northridge is a vibrant, diverse
university community of nearly 28,000 students and more than 3,300 faculty
and staff, sited on a 353-acre campus in the heart of Los Angeles' San
Fernando Valley. Cal State Northridge is committed to the educational and
professional goals of students, and service to the community. More
information about the campus can be found at http://www.csun.edu.
Compaq Company Background
Compaq Computer Corporation, a Fortune Global 100 company, is a
leading global provider of technology and solutions. Compaq designs,
develops, manufactures, and markets hardware, software, solutions, and
services, including industry-leading enterprise computing solutions,
fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, and communications products,
commercial desktop and portable products, and consumer PCs that are sold in
more than 200 countries. Information on Compaq and its products and services
is available at http://www.compaq.com.
Compaq and the Compaq logo Registered U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office. Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered
trademarks of their respective companies. This press release may contain
forward-looking statements based on current expectations that involve a
number of risks and uncertainties. The potential risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially include: component
shortages, delays in the implementation of changes in delivery models,
increased competitive environment and pricing pressures, delays in product
rollout schedules, slow acceptance for new form factors, employee retention,
disruptions related to restructuring actions, the financial condition of
resellers, delays in new systems implementation, operational inefficiencies
related to sales cycles, equity investment volatility, and emerging market
political or economic instability. Further information on the factors that
could affect Compaq's financial results is included in Compaq's Securities
and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including the latest Annual Report on
Form 10-K and the latest quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
Source: Compaq Computer Corporation Contact: media, Nora Hahn,
281-514-8316, or nora.hahn@compaq.com, or Tiffany Smith, 281-514-7785, or
tiffany.smith@compaq.com, both of Compaq Computer Corporation
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