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For many blind people, computers are inaccessible. It can cost $1,000 to purchase "screen
reader" software, but two blind computer programmers from Australia have solved this problem.
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) graduate James Teh and business partner
Michael Curran developed a free, open-source program, called NVDA, which provides a voice
to read the words on a computer screen as the cursor moves over them. NVDA won the blind
inventors an award in the grand final program of the ABC's New Inventors, which aired on
September 23. They took home the award for an invention that "might make a real difference
to people's lives or the environment."
"A sighted person takes for granted that they can sit down at any computer and use it," Mr
Teh said. "We really are in the information age - everything is online these days. So access to
computers for the blind is very important, which is why we wanted our software to be free."
Mr Teh, who majored in software engineering at QUT, said blind students typically didn't
have the money to purchase "screen reader" technology, at the time in their life when they most
needed it. Now NVDA could be downloaded on to anyone's personal computer free of charge.
"It can also be copied to a USB stick, which can be used on any PC at school or university,
with no installation required," he said.
Mr Teh and Mr Curran have drawn on their own experience as blind computer users to
develop a product which has some unique features. For example, as the mouse moves up and
down the screen, a sound becomes higher and lower to let you know where the cursor is located.
NVDA has been translated into 27 languages, thanks to volunteer translators. To date, there
have been over 50,000 downloads.
Mr Teh and Mr Curran have been working on the project since 2006. They worked on their
product without any pay for two years. When Mozilla offered some funding in 2008, Mr Teh
was able to quit his day job and work full-time developing NVDA.
1. NVDA won an award in the program of the ABC's New Inventors because it _____.
A. causes no harm to the environment
B. influences people' s lives
C. is aiming at blind people
D. is easy to use
2. Why did James Teh and Michael Curran want their software to be free?
A. They got funding from Mozilla.
B. They belonged to a volunteer group.
C. They wanted to help the blind.
D. They wanted people to give up "screen reader" software.
3. What do we know about Teh and Curran?
A. They are studying at QUT.
B. They are good at translating.
C. They know how the blind feel.
D. They began to develop NVDA in 2008.