**U.S. General Services Administration**

**Center for Information Technology Accommodation (CITA)**

**September 2004** **Assistive Technology Showcase**

# Wednesday, September 29, 2004

**TIME:** 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Presentation times: 9, 10, 11, 12, 1, and 2)

**LOCATION:** U.S. General Services Administration (Central Office)

1800 F. Street, NW

Room 1216

Washington, DC 20405

The September Assistive Technology Day event is a wonderful opportunity
to

see the new Maestro, the first mainstream handheld accessible PDA for
the

blind and visually impaired. This product was just introduced in June
and

CITA is delighted to have a representative from VisuAide to demonstrate

this product along with their Trekker, Victor Reader and Victor Reader

VIBE. Since Maestro is a very new assistive technology product you would

not want to miss this opportunity to see how it performs and try it for

yourself to see how it will ensure productivity and portability in the

workplace. There will also be an opportunity to try the Trekker and
Victor

Reader products. Further details about these products are at the end of

this announcement.

This event is free and no registration is required. The length of this

demonstration is every hour, starting at 9 a.m. the next at 10:00 a.m.
and

will be continuous throughout the day at the beginning of each hour and

ending at 3 p.m. This event is not an all day demonstration but was

designed for you to come in and spend one hour to learn about this

technology. If you come in during the demonstration you can stay till
the

next presentation begins then leave when the information is repeated.

**SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS, etc:** There will be sign language
interpreters during the demonstration from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Assistive
Listening

Devices will be available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

**Who can attend:** Government employees and non-government employees
and

individuals interested in technology for persons with disabilities.

**Security Information:** All government employees with government ID\'s
can

proceed through security checking station, non-government employees will

have to sign in and have a CITA employee escort you to room 1216, the
guard

will call CITA for assistance.

**Transportation:** Take the Metro, Orange or Blue line to Farragut
West, exit

the Metro on the 18th street side and walk south on 18th street about 4

blocks. GSA is on the corner of 18th and F Street. Main entrance is at

the middle of the building on F Street.

**Parking:** There are two parking garages on 18th street, one on the
right

and one on the left just as you pass F Street, between F and G streets.

Additional information on VisuAide\'s products:

**Maestro:** Introduced in June 2004 this is the first mainstream
handheld PDA

accessible to the blind and visually impaired. Maestro, an ultra-compact

size of a real PDA with essential information access functionality: text

and vocal notetaking, agenda, contact management, and more. Maestro is
an

HP iPAQ Pocket PC made accessible by VisuAide using text-to-speech

technology adapted application and a tactile keyboard membrane over the
PDA

touch screen. Maestro takes advantage of wireless communication networks

to yield a modular system that can be operated with or without an
external

keyboard (Braille or standard), depending on user preference and task at

hand.

Trekker: This product also uses a mainstream PDA, Trekker is a

revolutionary system that uses GPS and digital maps to help persons who
are

blind find their way in urban and rural areas. Trekker users can
pinpoint

exactly where they are, learn about area attractions, and find out how
to

get to specific destinations.

**Victor Reader:** This product reads digital talking books. The Victor

Reader family of DAISY books player allows you to jump straight to a

specific section or passage in a snap, skip from page to page, consult
the

table of contents, insert bookmarks, and more. Victor Reader\'s
innovative

technology is a genuine revolution in access to information for print

disabled persons.

**Victor Reader VIBE:** This product is the smallest and most affordable
Daisy

player in the industry. Victor Reader VIBE offers the full navigation
and

advanced features found in the most powerful Daisy players at a fraction
of

the price and are well suited for both the visually impaired and print

disabled. Features include; play MP3 and Audio CD in addition to Daisy

books, LCD display for the learning disabled, and rechargeable batteries

(inside the unit).

For further information please contact Marilyn Estep, 202-501-3322
(voice)

202-501-2010 (TDD), or email: marilyn.estep@gsa.gov.

**DISCLAIMER:** GSA, CITA does not endorse the products mentioned above
or any other products displayed or demonstrated in their Assistive
Technology

Showcase. All references to products are solely for the purpose of

educating the workforce on assistive technology products for persons
with

disabilities.