Tactile Computer Devices Open the Window to Fun, Enjoyment and Entertainment for Blind Adults and Children

Entertainment and education for blind computer users? Of course! The exciting and innovative VTPlayer Learn & Play" product family continues to grow, and put smiles on faces of people. Acessibility takes on new meaning with tactile computer games and programs developed especially for the needs of blind computer users.

Press Release from Virtouch Ltd    The VTPlayer Learn & Play" Product Family Continues to Grow: New Titles Announced New Products Announced at ACB

Pittsburgh, PA (PRWEB) July 9th, 2003 -- Attendees at this years American Council of the Blind Annual Convention in Pittsburgh will be the first to experience the newest additions to a growing family of entertainment and education products designed for blind persons, from VirTouch.

The VTPlayer product line is an innovative family of computer hardware and software which takes advantage of advanced, proprietary tactile technology pioneered by the company. First announced in January 2003, the VTPlayer is a mouse-like device with a full range of mouse functions which connects to a Windows computer.

But unlike a mouse, the VTPlayers key feature is an integrated pair of electronic tactile pads. Consisting of matrix of specially-designed moving rounded pins, the tactile pads sit directly under the users fingers, allowing him or her to experience whatever is happening on the screen.

Beyond its ability to let users view images, the VTPlayer is a powerful intelligent peripheral capable of delivering the experience of animation and sound effects to users. It is designed to be installed easily on any USB-equipped Windows computer. Novices can learn to use it just as quickly as skilled PC users can.

VirTouch has developed and is shipping a growing range of VTPlayer-branded software designed to work with the VTPlayer. Full descriptions can be found on the VirTouch website at www.virtouch.com/Products.htm

Our development team has been busy internalizing the market feedback on the first four software packages we shipped with the VTPlayer on release date," said VirTouch CEO, Arnold Roth. Today were delighted to announce the immediate availability of two new software titles: Space War and Hidden Bombs.

Were especially proud of Space War which we designed from the ground-up to create a new class of fun experience. Its intended to be a two-player game where one is a blind computer user and the other is sighted, and both want the experience of competing with each other. This lets our users enjoy a special kind of experience.

We plan to announce additional competitive titles of this kind in the near future. They offer a strong socialization benefit which is rare and which we have seen is very important for youngsters in particular."

In additional announcements today, VirTouch also released Braille Conveyor, the second title in the companys Braille Adventure series. This software family aims to assist in the teaching of a full range of Braille skills with the aid of the VTPlayer.

Designed by expert psychologists familiar with the special educational challenge facing blind students, the series will comprise eight more titles scheduled for release over the next twelve months. Additional titles can be found at www.virtouch.com/Downloadable.htm

Also being shown for the first time at the ACB Annual Convention are the first four non-English language versions of VTPlayer software titles.

Europe is the second largest of the markets were addressing," said VirTouch Executive Vice President Simon van Dam. To succeed there, its imperative that we think beyond the English language. Thats why we are announcing new releases of the first four VTPlayer titles in other languages today."

The newly translated titles are: Hide And Seek; Duck Shooting Gallery; BullsEye and TactileMaps: Europe. These are all now available in German, French, Norwegian and Italian.

Additional languages are underway and will become available during the summer. Pricing and distribution details can be found on the companys website.

The newest VTPlayer software titles being announced today in their English language editions will also be available in translation by late summer.

We are deeply committed to expanding the scope of our tactile solutions for computer users who are blind," said CEO Roth. Tactile computing opens up possibilities that people are only starting to appreciate, and by means of some new strategic partnerships that we plan to announce in the near future, as well as the fruits of our own ongoing investment in innovative solutions, we hope to make a positive contribution to accessibility technology in this important sector."

Background
VirTouch Ltd., based in Jerusalem, Israel, is a pioneering developer of computer software and hardware designed to meet the special needs of blind users. For more information, visit our web site, www.virtouch.com.

Based on patented tactile technology, the companys VTPlayer makes use of three sensory channels -- touch, motion and sound -- to enable an unprecedented level of quality education and entertainment.

The growing library of software for the VTPlayer includes inter­active games for teaching Braille, talking tactile maps that educate students in geography, and learning games that entertain while teaching such valuable mental skills as navigation, pre-mobility training and spatial orient­ation.

Several of the VTPlayer games are specially designed to allow blind and low-vision users to play with their sighted friends.

Contacts:

VirTouch personnel will be attending the ACB Annual Convention and will exhibit at the companys booth -- asile B, booth 38. During the show, contact Arnold Roth [roth@virtouch.com] and Simon van Dam [simon@virtouch.com] any time on (917) 723 3453 or (508) 462-8555.

Corporate inquiries, including press and dealer inquiries, should be directed to corporate@virtouch.com. VirTouch corporate offices in Jerusalem can be reached at +972 2 587 0340. Or call toll-free from the United States: 1-888-393-4040