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Freedom Scientific Releases JAWS 15 - Touch Screen Support for Windows 8 and 8.1; Also includes New Vocalizer Expressive Synthesizer from Nuance® Communications

Touch Screen Support for Windows 8 and 8.1; Also includes New Vocalizer Expressive Synthesizer from Nuance® Communications

(St. Petersburg, Florida - October 28, 2013)

Freedom Scientific today announced the release of version 15 of JAWS® for Windows, the world's premier screen reading software. This release includes support for Windows 8 Professional on both Tablets and Touch Screen computers. JAWS 15 has been designed to give blind users control when working with traditional desktop applications like Office 2013 along with the new Windows 8 Start Screen and the Modern apps such as News, Weather, Email, and Internet Explorer 10.

With the addition of the JAWS Touch Cursor, users can easily explore the screen by moving a finger around to learn the layout, hearing the items as they pass over them. By using gestures similar to those used on smartphones today, JAWS users can also navigate by object on touch screen devices such as the Microsoft Surface Pro.

“This release offers significant breakthroughs in accessibility for screen reader users,” said Eric Damery, Vice President of Software Product Management for Freedom Scientific. “Along with the Touch Screen support of Windows 8, we've included Vocalizer Expressive from Nuance® Communications in dozens of languages at no additional cost, offering a new level in human-sounding, responsive synthesized speech. These advances, in addition to all the other features and enhancements (opens in new tab) being introduced this year, have been enthusiastically received by JAWS users around the world.”

“Today's devices, like those running Windows 8, are increasingly being designed around more natural input methods like touch,” says Rob Sinclair, Chief Accessibility Officer at Microsoft. “We are pleased to see assistive technology products like JAWS 15 embracing these new innovations and extending these experiences to blind users.”

The JAWS 15 upgrade is an SMA release and can be downloaded as either a 32- or 64-bit version from the JAWS downloads page (opens in new tab). DVD shipments to SMA holders and new product customers will commence on November 1, 2013.

About Freedom Scientific

Freedom Scientific is a leading worldwide brand of assistive technology products for those with vision impairments. Freedom Scientific is part of Vispero™. Vispero has its headquarters in the USA and the Netherlands, and offices in Switzerland, Belgium, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom. Through Vispero's multi-tier distribution, Freedom Scientific products are available in more than 70 countries worldwide.

Freedom Scientific® and its products are registered trademarks in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.