Taso
TASO ( Tactile-Acoustic-Side-Orientation ) is a computer mouse replacement for the visually impaired.
function
TASO serves as a mouse replacement for visually impaired and blind people when navigating on the computer screen. The core principle are two sliders with which rows and columns on the screen can be precisely controlled; the navigation is supported by acoustic signals. TASO is used together with a screen reader and integrated into portable braille displays . Visually impaired people can work on standard computers with standard software. A PC workstation can be used equally by blind, visually impaired and sighted employees.
history
1982 Joachim Frank presented the first German blind - computer or Hörschirm at a conference of the VIF with stakeholders and experts, in the house of the Bavarian Blindenbundes. The hearing screen was based on the tried and tested small computer system - the Osborne 1. Additional features were a synthetic voice output and slider for horizontal and vertical navigation in the screen content. This navigation principle or TASO (tactile-acoustic-page orientation) made the navigation in the screen content audible.
Joachim Frank, who came to develop aids for the blind through his own visual impairment, sold his company AudioData GmbH in 2004 to BAUM Retec AG.