CES 2009: Stevie Wonder Asks For Tech Help For The Blind

By Jamie Sorcher -- TWICE, January 9, 2009

LAS VEGAS — Singer-songwriter and record producer Stevie Wonder made an impassioned plea at a press conference co-hosted by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and Sendero Group on Jan. 8, here, to ask manufacturers to bring more accessibility to their products.

“Things with digital readouts or products with no speech leave us no way to appreciate technology and what it does,” Wonder said. “Our desire is to be more independent and to have a chance to be part of this world of technology. I want to encourage manufacturers to make technology more accessible … and to give us the excitement, freedom and pleasure to be a part of this world.”

Mike May, president and CEO of the Davis, Calif.-based Sendero Group, joked in his opening remarks that he holds a speed skiing record of 65 mph, but can’t operate a flat-panel microwave. At Sands booth 72044, Sendero is introducing “vision-free products” including what is being called the first accessible GPS and talking map. Also being shown at the booth is the new Mobile Geo, an accessible GPS program for cellphones and PDAs powered by Sendero GPS.

“There are a lot of cool gadgets out there, and we want to make sure our blind friends and family can use them as well,” May said.