HumanWare launches SmartView Xtend in New Zealand
August 23rd , 2006
Last night HumanWare officially launched their latest low vision product, the SmartView Xtend , an outstanding video magnification solution designed to benefit people suffering from eye conditions such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma.
The Prime Minister, The Rt. Hon Helen Clark and Christchurch Mayor Garry Moore joined HumanWare staff and key suppliers at the Sepia Restaurant, Rydges Hotel to acknowledge those who have contributed to the design, development, and production of this intuitive product. HumanWare CEO Dr Richard Mander said “This launch is really a party to celebrate the birth of our new product. In creating the SmartView Xtend we’ve benefited from the tremendous support of the electronics community in Christchurch, our design and manufacturing team, and the help we’ve had from NZTE and FRST, we’re celebrating and we’re saying thank you’.
The SmartView Xtend is truly unique – unlike other video magnifiers, the SmartView Xtend consists of a single base model that can be upgraded, at any time, using one of three Xtend modules. The flexibility of the SmartView Xtend means that it is the ideal solution for anyone with low vision – from users who require a video magnifier for simple tasks like spot reading, viewing photos, managing their accounts and reading labels, right through to those users who require advanced features, including connection to a personal computer.
Dr Russell Watson, Programme Manager for HumanWare’s low vision products said “The design of the SmartView Xtend has taken heed of feedback HumanWare received from a large number of customers involved in usability studies conducted globally. As a result of that feedback, we believe the SmartView Xtend is the most user-friendly video magnifier available in the market”.
The launch reinforces HumanWare’s position as one of the world’s leading designers of innovative products for people who are visually impaired. Other HumanWare milestones to date include the launch of myReader, the world’s first low vision auto-reader, and the launch of the highly successful BrailleNote portable notetaker.
HumanWare is also taking advantage of the event to honor a long time Christchurch technologist and philanthropist, Sir Robertson Stewart. In recent years Sir Robertson has experienced deteriorating vision and hactive work in the industry and community, of course we’re alsoas been a user of HumanWare’s SmartView product. ‘We’re delighted to take this opportunity to provide Sir Robertson with our auto-reader product, the myReader”, said Dr Mander, “We hope it’s auto-reading capabilities will allow Sir Robertson to continue his curious to get some feedback from him on how we can improve it! We think Sir Robertson is a low vision hero – an example for others”.
Today HumanWare has offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden, The Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand as well as distribution channels throughout North America, Europe, Asia, South Africa and the Middle East. For information on products see www.humanware.com
For further information contact:
Dr Richard Mander
CEO, HumanWare Ltd
Tel: +64 3 940 2210
Email: richard.mander@humanware.com