Terms like game-changer, groundbreaking, and revolutionary aren't too readily thrown around in the access technology universe, so when they are, it's time to take notice. As one longtime tester and trainer put it, "GW Micro has turned the access technology industry on its ear."
On January 14, 2014, a collaborative effort between GW Micro and Microsoft Corporation was announced. A well-guarded secret until that date, the announcement was:
Rather than having to pay close to $1,000 for screen access, as most blind and visually impaired computer users have done for years, a completely functional version of the popular Window-Eyes screen-reading software will now be available for free download to any computer user who purchases or already owns Microsoft Office 2010 or higher.
The news spread like wildfire. E-mail lists for teachers, students, deaf-blind individuals, and other special interest groups posted the announcement and a variety of entertaining commentary. Along with a plethora of comments, the news was posted and reposted to websites and was the subject of countless Facebook posts and tweets. And it wasn't only people in blindness circles talking about this astonishing collaboration either. In addition to Microsoft's own blog, the news was spotted on other mainstream sources of technology information as well.
Free Window-Eyes: How it Works
Just in case the podcasts, blogs, tweets, e-mail, and general overall Internet buzz has escaped you, here's the basic deal: If you have Office 2010 or later installed on any computer, you can download a complete copy of the Window-Eyes screen reading program for free. It will work just as the retail version does, enabling you to navigate without sight all popular Microsoft applications and any other popular program you might use as well (such as Mozilla Firefox or iTunes). You don't have to be blind to take advantage of the offer and you may use it for individual or corporate application. If, for example, a college or corporation has used some other screen reading software for its blind constituents, this offer provides an opportunity to try Window-Eyes without financial obligation or site licenses.
Free vs. Paid Window-Eyes
There are a few distinctions between the free version of Window-Eyes and the full retail version, which still sells for $895.
The Voices
The free download installs with the synthesized eSpeak and Microsoft speech platform voices. These will satisfy many customers, particularly those new to the text-to-speech arena. If you want old familiar standbys such as Eloquence, DecTalk, or Vocalizer, however, they are all available for purchase from GW Micro, with prices ranging from $25 to $59.
Tech Support
One question that appeared frequently in the early buzz was, "What about the tech support?"
GW Micro has a long-standing and well-deserved reputation for excellent telephone technical support, a free courtesy extended to all owners of the software. With the free download, the tech support is available, but for a price. The model is one commonly used in the mainstream world of technology, and the pricing seems reasonable. You can pay $25 for one incident or $99 for 12 months or 12 incidents, whichever occurs first. An "incident" in this pricing plan does not refer to a single phone call, but rather, a single problem. So if your braille display doesn't install properly and it takes four consecutive phone calls over several days for the problem to be resolved, GW Micro will consider that a single incident.
Documentation and Guides
If you download the free version of Window-Eyes through the Window-Eyes for Office offer, you won't get an installation CD. If that is important to you, you can order one from GW Micro for a small fee. Similarly, the familiar large print and braille hot key guides won't automatically be included in the free version, but they are available for purchase.
GWConnect
GWConnect, the company's popular application that makes Skype a much friendlier, more accessible environment, is provided without advertising in the full retail version of Window-Eyes; if you want an ad-free GWConnect experience, you can pay for it.
It warrants pointing out that if an individual wanted to purchase all of the above available extras, a CD, a hot-key guide, an additional voice, tech support, and an ad-free Skype experience with GWConnect, the total cost would still be only a fraction of the cost for purchasing Window-Eyes or a comparable screen reader such as JAWS (and remember, Window-Eyes has built-in features to ease the transition from JAWS).
History of the Partnership
As Dan Hubbell, Microsoft's access technology evangelist (and senior manager of marketing), put it at the press conference, the two companies have actually been partners for more than 20 years.
Dan Weirich, GW Micro vice president (and the W of GW) elaborated on the history of partnership in a recent conversation. Microsoft has hosted special workshops throughout the years, inviting access technology companies to participate in sharing and developing access routes to the company's operating system and its upgrades. Historically, Weirich explained, "We would send two or three of our key developers, and would keep them there for the two or three or five days of the workshop. [By contrast] other companies would send one sales person for just one day."
The current collaboration, in other words, was a long time coming, but no one is saying exactly how long this particular launch was in development. Similarly, no one is saying to what degree GW Micro benefits from each download.
Upgrades for all users of the product, whether purchased or downloaded free, will now be free of charge, and, yes, the company is continuing its ongoing work of enhancing the product. A new version of Window-Eyes will probably be released in time for the summer conferences.
There seems to be consensus in the access technology industry that this is a truly positive step forward for everyone. More blind and visually impaired computer users than ever before will have access to software that makes the Windows platform accessible. Others who have difficulty processing print and even people who just want a better understanding of how screen reading software works can now benefit from a free version of this powerful program.
Dan Weirich says that he and others at the company are delighted that feedback has been so widespread and so absolutely positive. Do other companies wish they'd thought of it first? Well, no one is saying that per se, but this kind of innovation is typically the sort of move that makes everyone work a little harder, push a little farther. Thus, the forecast looks bright not only for Microsoft and GW Micro but for all the rest of us in the access technology field as well.
The free download site also includes installation instructions, links to additional voices available for purchase, and more. For information beyond what is found on the site, visit GW Micro, or call 260-489-3671.
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