AE HotSpot appliance will make local events accessible

Serotek today unveiled its newest product, the AE HotSpot, at the 2010 ATIA conference in Orlando, FL. This revolutionary appliance, based on the same technology as Serotek's Web-based Accessible Event service, gives people with disabilities access to classroom presentations, seminars, and other events. For the first time, people who have hearing or visual impairments can take full advantage of all aspects of any online or on-site event/presentation.

By leveraging our Accessible Event platform and secure wireless networking technology, Serotek's AE HotSpot appliance allows event participants with disabilities to access slides, Excel spreadsheets, Web pages, and Word documents using their own wireless-enabled computers and access technology in real time. With the AE HotSpot, an event can be accessed from the Internet if the event coordinator wishes, but an Internet connection is not necessary for on-site participants to have full access to the event. That's because the AE HotSpot appliance is a completely independent WiFi access point. This allows the event coordinator and/or presenter to decide what content will and will not be available to the attendees. The self-contained nature of this appliance enables a closed, secure Intranet environment, regardless of whether Internet connectivity is available. However, where Internet connectivity is available, the event coordinator can configure the AE HotSpot appliance to provide wireless Internet access as well as access to the event. The AE HotSpot can also record all event content and publish it on a web site or intranet with no need to install additional software on the target server. This enables anyone to deploy an accessible recording of an event, even if they don't subscribe to the Web-based Accessible Event service.

Serotek will release the AE HotSpot soon. Learn more about the AE HotSpot by watching this accessible presentation.

Serotek at ATIA 2010 in Orlando

Serotek Corporation cordially invites you to drop by booth 520 at the 2010 ATIA conference at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, January 28 – 30.  Come and see hands-on demonstrations of all the latest Serotek technology, including a new surprise or two.

 

If you’re wondering which sessions to attend at this year’s conference, Serotek’s CEO, Mike Calvo, is conducting a presentation that you won’t want to miss.  “The Art of Being a Change Agent” will be presented on January 28 in the Curacao room ¾, from 1:30 to 2:30. 

 

When you’re not attending sessions, drop by our booth and learn how you can have access to powerful and portable assistive technology without breaking the bank.  Serotek is the first company offering you the ability to purchase screen reading technology on an as-needed basis through our “Build A Bundle” service.   Starting at just $9.95 per month, you can now have access to one license of the System Access screen reader, with additional machine licenses for only $5 per month.  Try out the System Access Mobile Network, known as SAMNet, with over 2,100 described movies, thousands of radio stations, recipes, TV shows, the Socializer for instant messaging and social networking, voice chat to meet other interesting people, web-based email, and so much more for just $9.95 per month.  For an additional $5, you can provide remote support and training to other Serotek customers, and even access your own computers remotely from anywhere!

 

When you’d like to carry your SAMNet content with you, you can do so by transferring it to your favorite portable device.  SAMNet supports a wide variety of audio players, allowing members to sync a wealth of content from the network including movies, email, and now, books from the National Library Service BARD program. IN addition to the Victor Reader Stream from Humanware, the Icon from Levelstar, and Braile Plus from the American Printinghouse for the Blind, SAMNet content is supported on the Plextalk Pocket. Serotek is also proud to announce that we will very soon be supporting the BookSense player from GW Micro and we’ll be demoing this upcoming support in our booth.  If you don’t yet have one of these sleek and powerful players, drop by the GW Micro booth #413 and pick one up, or visit www.gwmicro.com for more information.

 

Ask about Serotek’s free Keys for K-12 program, offering free portable screen reading technology for all grade school, middle school and high school students, ensuring that truly, no student gets left behind.

 

Serotek’s Accessible Event offers true Section 508 compliance to corporate meetings, webinars, classroom lectures and government projects.  You won’t want to miss getting a look at the very latest exciting innovation from Serotek and Accessible Event, so be sure to drop by our booth and see the technology that organizations and corporations like The Federal Communications Commission and Humanware are using to make meetings accessible to their entire staff.

 

If you’re not able to make it to Orlando this year, you can still keep up with the latest happenings at ATIA by putting http://serotalk.com/feed in to your favorite RSS reader or podcatcher, or simply by visiting http://www.serotalk.com, where we’ll be bringing you news and interviews from the show floor

 

The Serotek Team

 

 

The Serotek Story Documentary A Must For your Audio Archive

I don’t usually post things from the Serotalk Podcast here, but, The Serotek Story Documentary is so compelling that I figured I would post it. Of course I’m biased!

If you haven’t put the Serotalk Podcast on your RSS, shame on you! LOL! Really though, it is a great resource for information on what’s happening in the World of technology according to a few blind and rather disturbed geeks! So, if you’d like a few laughs and some pretty good information head over to the Serotalk Podcast! And hey, you might not even be sorry you did!

Happy New Year!

The Passing of Richard Costa

It is with a great deal of sadness that we must share the news that Richard Costa passed away from a heart attack on December 12 2009. Richard was one of the first Serotek customers to sign up for Freedombox (now SAMNet) in 2002, and he was truly a blessing to the entire blind community. Richard always had a kind word for everyone, and he had such a passion for technology. Richard could be counted on to ask great questions during ACB Radio's Main Menu and BlindLine, Handi-Talk and Accessible World. His friends and family remember him as the computer wizard who could always be counted on to help with computer issues. The Serotek team remembers him as a knowledgeable and enthusiastic person who was always a pleasure to chat with.

When Richard wasn’t focused on technology, he enjoyed horseback riding, and won several ribbons at horse shows in Houston and Long Island. Richard did much of his riding at HorseAbility on Long Island, and if you’d like to donate in memory of him, you may do so here.

If you would like to send cards, flowers, or condolences to Richard’s family, their contact info is:
Anthony and Teresa Costa
52 Hayrick LaneCommack, NY 11725
afcosta@optonline.net

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Richard’s friends and family at this time. Richard, you were a light and a joy in our lives and we won’t forget you. You will be missed. Rest in peace.

The Entire Serotek Team

Season's Meetings from Serotek

Accessible Event makes meetings, lectures, and webinars fully accessible to all participants, and no meeting is too large or too small for
Accessible Event
to handle. We understand that important meetings don’t just happen in huge corporations. To that end, we’ve made a few changes that make it easier and more affordable than ever to bring accessibility to even the smallest group event.

First, any personal Accessible Event day pass or subscription now covers up to ten attendees. We’ve doubled the number of allowed attendees, but we haven’t doubled the price. For $9.95 for a personal day pass, $39.95 for a month subscription, or $29.95 per month for a year’s subscription, you can ensure that all your meeting content is accessible, including MS-Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations and web pages.

And while Serotek embraces the spirit of giving during every day of the year, we wanted to present you with something extra special during the holiday season. From now through December 31, you can sign up for a free, basic Accessible Event subscription entitling you to up to three attendees per meeting. Are you a blind student who needs access to classroom presentations? Do you hold a small group meeting every month and you’ve been looking for a way to make it accessible? Do you attend meetings which utilize an inaccessible meeting platform and you’re tired of not having the same level of access as the other meeting attendees? Whether running as a standalone product or alongside other meeting solutions, Accessible Event is perfect for your needs. Use your free, Basic Accessible Event subscription to become a full participant in every meeting you attend. And the best part is: while the ability to sign up for this free subscription ends on December 31, your access to it lasts a lifetime. If you sign up between now and December 31, your basic Accessible Event account will never expire.

So give yourself or someone you know the gift of Accessibility Anywhere and
Sign up for Accessible Event today.

To learn more about Accessible Event, including the basic subscription for up to 3 attendees, personal day passes and subscriptions for up to 10 attendees, and corporate day passes or subscriptions beginning at 25 attendees, visit
AccessibleEvent.com .
or call (612) 246-4818.

Happy Hollidays from the Serotek Team!

And the Winner is

Thanks to everyone who purchased Serotek products between Black Friday, November 27 and Cyber Monday, November 30. We were excited to see so many people joining the Serotek community for the first time, and we were happy to see so many long-time customers purchasing SAMNet subscriptions, new text-to-speech engines, and lots more. And for one lucky person, the excitement doesn’t end with the purchase of a Serotek product. Access to digital talking books, music, and content from the System Access Mobile Network will soon be in the palm of this person’s hands. The winner, who will receive a choice between the
Victor Reader Stream
and the PLEXTALK Pocket, is …

Audrey Farnum from Warr Acres, Oklahoma! Congratulations to Audrey, and we’ll contact you soon to determine which portable device will be delivering excellent content to you at home or on the go.

If you didn’t win but would still like access to all your content in one small and affordable package, you can still purchase either of these devices without breaking the bank. Purchase the Victor Reader Stream for $329, or the Plextalk Pocket for $349.

For more information about these devices or any other Serotek products, call us at (612) 246-4818 or
visit www.serotek.com .

Happy Holidays from the Serotek Team.

Save With Serotek and win!!

The day after Thanksgiving, now known as "Black Friday", has become an annual tradition, marking the beginning of the holiday season. Retailers slash prices on the year's must-haves, and bargain hunters stampede the doors in a mad dash to get that last great deal,.
At Serotek, every day is Black Friday, except without the crowds. With low prices on assistive technology, 365 days a year; and with no SMA (software Maintenance Agreement), you’ll save at least $100 per year, for the rest of your life!

From 12:01 AM Eastern Standard Time on Black Friday, November 27, through 11:59 PM on Cyber Monday November 30, 2009, you could win your choice of either a
Victor Reader Stream, valued at $329
or the PLEXTALK Pocket PTP1, valued at $349. To become eligible to win, simply purchase one or more Serotek products listed below.

System Access Mobile Network For $129 per year or $14.95 per month.
includes audio tracks of described movies, thousands of Internet radio stations,
personalized news, podcasts, books, music, voice chat, blogging, your own web site, forums, email, instant messenging and remote computer access.
Use with System Access or any other screen reader you prefer.

System Access Screen Reader: on up to 2 computers for just $399
Get full access to Microsoft Windows 7, Vista and XP operating systems, and use all your favorite Windows applications for productivity, entertainment, and much more.

System Access Mobile For just $499
Harness the power of System Access on up to two computers, plus carry accessibility in your pocket on a U3 thumb drive. Plug the thumb drive in to any computer running Windows XP or later, and get instant access, with your own preferences and settings. When you're done, simply unplug the key and be on your way. No traces of System Access are left behind on the host computer.

System Access Atom Edition ($149)
License one netbook or any computer using the Atom processor for only $149.

NeoSpeech VoiceText with Three Human-sounding voices for Just $74.95
Kate, Julie and Paul are three voices to make your computer sound as human as possible.

Get the Most Popular Eloquence speech from Nuance for Only $25
For the most accurate pronunciation, and for those who like to read fast, Eloquence is it!

System Access Software As a Service, full buy-out with 48-month commitment
Get two screen reader licenses, network access, all voices, and take it on the go for $24.95 per month.

System Access Software As a Service, no strings attached
For just $39.95 per month, get two System Access computer licenses,
a third portable U3 license to use on any computer,
access to the SA Mobile Network, Eloquence and DECtalk text-to-speech,
Remote access to your home computer, and other users for training and support.
There are no long-term contracts, so you can cancel your subscription at any time.

Document Scan For just $159
Scan, read, save, and email printed material on any computer with a scanner.
Take Document Scan with you on a U3 drive, to make any computer a reading machine.
For $80 plus shipping, add a light, portable CanoScan USB scanner.

Surfboard all-in-one computer with System Access and 1 year of SAMNet starts at $999
At about the size of a PC keyboard, the unit is 18.25 inches long, 9 inches wide, 0.5 inches high in the front, and 2.5 inches high in the back, and weighs 7.4 pounds.
6 USB ports, 2 1394 FireWire ports, up to 3.2 GHz processor, up to 2GB main memory, and up to 250GB hard drive. Comes with System Access installed.

Netbooks Start at $799 with Speech, or $599 Without
Netbooks currently offered include: the Lenovo IdeaPad S10 and the MSI Wind Netbook

The winner will be announced Tuesday, December 1st at 10 AM Eastern U.S.

If you have an account with either samobile.net or satogo.com, go to

https://secure.samobile.net/login.html?next_url=/signup/order_start

If you have never created an account with samobile.net or satogo.com, go to

https://secure.samobile.net/signup/account_info.html

To order by phone, call either Friday, November 27, or Monday, November 30 between the hours of 10 AM and 10 PM Eastern U.S. at 866-202-0520.

So give yourself, or someone you care about the holiday gift of accessibility anywhere!
And while doing so, you might just win your choice of either a Victor Reader Stream, or a PLEXTALK Pocket; from Serotek corporation, where low prices and great support make every day Black Friday.