The Daily Swarm

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January 14, 2009

Popular Science: Stevie Wonder Is On The Geek Squad...

Though blind, Wonder has mastered the visually-oriented personal computer—both PCs and Macs. He edits all his music using sophisticated programs such as Steinberg Cubase and Apple Logic Pro. When a program presents a roadblock (for example, not providing audio feedback to direct him), he uses third-party accessibility software or asks Mitchell to write macros that automate complex tasks.

At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, Wonder presented his Vision Free awards to 19 companies and organizations for making products that the blind can use. Some were deliberate efforts, such as a news reading service for the blind created by National Public Radio, iBiquity Digital and radio manufacturer DICE Electronics. Others made accessible products “without even realizing that they were doing it,” said Wonder. BlueAnt’s V1 Voice Control Headset was designed because even sighted people can’t see the buttons or LCD of a device on the side of their heads. But those features also make the Bluetooth headset useable for blind people.