Alva MPO 5500 mobile phone/PDA for the visually impaired

[GraysonPeddie]

I know this is old news but when I typed in

"Windows Mobile" visually impaired

, I went into The Windows Mobile Pocket PCs Showcase and discovered this:

(Apr. 14, 2003)

Alva has introduced what is claimed to be the first mobile phone and personal organizer for the blind and visually impaired. According to Alva, the MPO 5500, which is powered by a Windows CE .NET embedded operating system, provides all the key features traditional mobile phone and PDA users have come to expect -- plus, a set of special features and functions specifically for blind and visually impaired users.

Like many combination mobile phone/PDA devices, the MPO 5500 combines a tri-band GSM radio, mobile Internet services, and note-taking functionality, it operates for a full day on rechargeable batteries (depending on functionality and output medium), and it can be linked to a PC to exchange and synchronize data.

But unlike other mobile phone/PDA combos, the device includes a Braille display with twenty 8-dot Braille cells, an 8-key Braille keyboard, and a "high quality" speech synthesizer, making all menus, contact information, SMS messages, services, and system information accessible via speech and braille input/output functions, the company said.

Here is a summary of the MPO 5500's key features and specifications...

• Embedded OS: Windows CE .NET (4.1)
• CPU: Intel XScale PXA255
• Memory: RAM 64 Mb / 64 Mb Strata Flash
• WAN: Tri-band GSM
• Weight: 1 lb 8 oz
• Dimensions: 8.9 x 3.8 x 1.6 inches
• Input/output interfaces:
  • USB-OTG
  • Phone headset in/out
  • Stereo audio output
  • SIM card holder
• Braille support:
  • 20 8-dots Braille output cells
  • 8-keys Braille input
• Speech output in US and UK English, French, German and Dutch
• Power: rechargeable battery supports more than 8 hours operation

The MPO 5500 will begin shipping around mid-year, 2003, and will be offered with optional email (GPRS), MP3 player, and "Daisy" player functions, the company said.

Device Profile: Alva MPO 5500 mobile phone/PDA for the visually impaired

Note however, that if you go to http://www.alvabraille.com/, this will take you to a website hosted not by Alva Braille, but it must be a cybersquatter who purchased a domain. Maybe this tells me Alva Braille went out of business? Well, I can't be sure but who knows?

 

[dreama]

Maybe this tells me Alva Braille went out of business? Well, I can't be sure but who knows?

It would be a real shame if it has so now I can't dream of getting my hands on one.

It's not the only devise for deafblind people to go out of busness either. I've just decided to get a tactiaid Site of Tactaid and Tactilator as I was hoping it would help me with road safety only it seems they've only just gone out of busness.

Also I used to use a devise called an opticon that turns print into tactile print but that's no longer being sold either. Not that I need it anymore as I can now see enough to use a CCTV. It came in useful one year though when I was reading "Harry Potter and the order of the Phenix" in print (the Braille hadn't come out yet) I was then overcome with hayfever which affects my sight badly. I'd got to a really exciting bit so I couldn't wait, so I carried on reading with my opticon instead.