Google Accessible Search over the Phone, etc

[Atomical]

This idea is much more than concept. I'm having trouble contacting Google. They may have read my proposal, or the followup snail mail letter, and chose not to respond. Of course I would prefer confirmation, even in the case that the answer is no.brbrI can show you a demo for one of the products below. If you're interested I can send you Skype, an 800 number, or a regular DID (Direct Inward Dial). Because the company that is hosting this is doing it for free they have put some restrictions on an open beta. Send me a private message and I shall send you the number list.brbrThe reason for posting this is not only to get criticisms and encourage debate, but also as a way to get Google's attention.brbrAnd so here is the proposal:brbr

brWe have developed two technologies that allow the visually impaired to access media, be it while they are stationary or mobile. Google has lead with Accessible Search and a partnership would benefit those who are visually impaired.brbrInternet over the Phone for the Visually ImpairedbrbrThis product allow those who are visually impaired to surf the internet using an accessible search engine, such as Google Accessible Search, as a starting point. It also allows the user to enter a URL using voice recognition or DTMF input. The goal here is to create a product which functions as a traditional web browser.brbrBook 2 SpeechbrbrThis product is similar to the following product. Features unique to this product include searching and browsing of books, viewing books, and moving back and fourth between chapters and paragraphs.brbrSo this software can be used for the blind to purchase books and listen to them in the comfort of their homes. This technology is relevant because companies such as Google and Amazon have libraries which consist of millions of books in digital format. It is also useful because it supports audio books too.brbrThe Base EnginebrbrEach of the products use a base engine and so many of the features that are unique to both products will be discussed in this section. These features include bookmarking, multi-directional navigation, and customizable TTS output. Bookmarking allow the user to save content be it book or web page. Multi-directional navigation allows the user to move forwards and backwards in relation to prompts, web pages, or other content. Customizable TTS output allows the user to customize the rate, volume, pitch, and speed of the dictation.brbrRick Bowes, consultant at AFB, describes both of these inventions as "intriguing." He is right. This opens the possibilities to deploy internet to the blind through any phone line within the continental United States. To the commercial aspect: Can money be made off of this? Can we develop something that would be amicable to the blind who already have computers?brbrThe first question is undoubtedly yes. There is a large subscriber base that does not have internet access. This would be a cheap alternative to buying an expensive computer, screen scraping software, and internet connection.brbrThe second question is a bit trickier. With Google's in-house development of technology, and the advancements that have been made in TTS, it's not unreasonable to think that Google could provide even better TTS quality to those who already use assisted devices. Furthermore, the updates, features, and enhancements provided on a mass scale would rival the screen scraping software on the market.br

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