Braille Monitor                                                    February 2009

(back) (contents) (next)

The National Federation of the Blind and Sendero Group jointly sponsored a booth at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Showcase in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 6 to 11, 2009. Our booth, one of 2,700, was called the Vision Free or Products for Everyone display. It promoted the importance of producing mainstream electronic devices usable out of the box by everyone. Among the items at our booth were the Surfboard remote control, a Panasonic microwave with tactile buttons, and versions of a telephone and radio. Conference participants seemed enthusiastic about our message of universal accessibility. Consumer Electronics Association CEO Gary Shapiro and his spouse, Dr. Susan Malinowski, a retina surgeon, were two of the high-profile dignitaries who visited our booth to look at our endorsed products and to learn about our message. Singer Stevie Wonder joined the NFB and Sendero Group delegations, lending his name recognition to our message by presenting awards to several manufacturers of usable mainstream electronic devices at a special reception held at the conference. The NFB and Sendero Group received considerable national press attention for our educational efforts, logging over seventy-five radio and print stories across the country throughout the week.

The NFB and Sendero Group jointly sponsored this booth at the Consumer Electronics Showcase in Las Vegas during the first full week of January 2009. Our booth can be seen here with an array of brochures for usable mainstream electronic products. A display lectern is visible on the corner of the table. Several visitors are gathered around the perimeter of the booth to learn about products designed with everyone in mind and to hear our message of universal access.Left to right, Jernigan Institute Executive Director Mark Riccobono, Stevie Wonder, and Sendero CEO Mike May pose for a picture following the Wonder Vision Reception, where several mainstream electronic devices were recognized for their value to everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anne Taylor, NFB director of access technology, shows the Surfboard remote control to Richard Taylor, editor of the BBC program Click. It is an example of an electronic device that is accessible to sighted and blind people alike. Anne is wearing the official Consumer Electronics Showcase T-shirt that all conference exhibitors were asked to wear.While at the Consumer Electronics Showcase, Mark Riccobono, executive director of the Jernigan Institute, was interviewed on the Into Tomorrow radio show by host Dave Graveline. Mark, his back to the camera, and Dave, facing the camera, can be seen here with microphones and headsets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(back) (contents) (next)