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SBIR and STTR Success Story for ViewPlus Inc. (Information Posted/Updated on 05/13/2008) |
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ViewPlus Inc. 1853 SW Airport Avenue Corvallis, OR 97333 Contact: Josh Mellon Phone: (541) 754 4002 x204 Fax: (541) 738 6505 E-mail: josh.mellon@viewplus.com Web Site: http://www.viewplus.com |
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Project Title: The Accessible Graphics Reader for Blind People |
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| Related Award(s): 2 R44 EY014481-02 | |
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Technology Developed:
ViewPlus embossing technology was enhanced by adding color ink jet printing to create the Emprint color embosser and black ink jet printing to create the Pro Ink add-on for the existing Pro embosser. The IVEO SVG Viewer software was developed to permit audio/touch access to graphical information by people who are blind or have other severe print disabilities.
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| Key Words: tactile graphics, braille, blindness, dyslexia, accessibility, ink and braille, audio/touch, graphical information. | |
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Uses of Technology/Products/Service:
These new products promote better access to information by people who are blind or severely dyslexic. Ink and braille improves communication between blind people and sighted teachers, peers, parents, and others. Color images on embossed graphics improve access to graphical information by people with low vision or dyslexia. Audio/touch accessibility using color tactile graphics and the IVEO SVG Viewer provides tri-modal (seeing, feeling, hearing) access to information. Easy printing of tactile graphics and braille from standard Windows applications and easy creation of SVG graphics reduces cost of making information accessible.
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Benefit to Company:
ViewPlus sales revenues have increased steadily as these products have become popular. Its worldwide distribution network is continually becoming stronger because of the popularity of these products. Emprint has become a ViewPlus major revenue source, and the Pro Ink attachment continues to stimulate sales of the Pro embosser as well as contribute directly to ViewPlus revenue stream. ViewPlus estimates that its market share in the braille embosser field has increased from zero in 2000 to 50% in the US and more than 25% outside the US. These products have contributed considerably to that increase. Direct revenues from the Emprint and Pro Ink have exceeded $1M and are growing rapidly. ViewPlus estimates that Emprint sales will be in excess of $1M/year for the next few years.
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How Product Was Commercialized:
These products were introduced in trade shows and have been sold largely through ViewPlus' established channels. Many of the top dealers and distributors have joined that network since introduction of the Pro Ink and Emprint.
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Other Comments Related to Company's Success Story:
ViewPlus has received several more NIH and NSF SBIR grants for further developments based on the success of Emprint and IVEO. These products include authoring software and content for IVEO and a new line of double-sided high speed embossers. These grants are still in progress, but all Phase II projects have already yielded commercial products whose initial sales are excellent.
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| Past R&D and/or Sales from this Project: $1M | |
| Estimated Future Annual R&D and/or Sales from this Project: $1M/year or more | |
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