Someone has well said: “Do what you enjoy and you will never work a day in your life.” A talk radio host said it this way: “I am having more fun than a human being should be allowed to have.” “So what am I doing that is so much fun?” Well, to start with, I am associated with Serotek. Even if I were not being paid, I still would be hanging around here. Having been a part of the community for more than five years and the organization for a few months, I have observed as this company has redefined and reinvented itself countless times, never losing its vision in an unwavering commitment to make not only computers, but also portable devices more useful and fun for blind and low-vision users.
If you haven’t figured it out yet, I am usually a pretty positive person. From a computer geek standpoint however, I found it frustrating that more gadgets and computer applications that I wanted to use didn’t just work. Let me give you an illustration. Computers running 64 bit versions of Windows have been quickly becoming the industry standard. For at least the last couple of years or more, the line from the adaptive technology companies has been: “We have no plans to support 64 bit Windows in the foreseeable future.” Okay, so I made one phone call to my friend Mike Calvo. I jokingly asked him if he would like to make a million dollars tomorrow. He laughed and asked me how. I simply said: “Fast-track 64 bit Windows support.” A week later, he called to ask me if I would help Serotek test it. I went and bought an OEM Vista 64 bit Windows machine. The rest, as they say, is history.
In an announcement to the Serotek users forum somewhere around October 31, 2008, I had the pleasure and privilege of being assigned the task to put together a new features list for the soon to be released System Access 3.0 revision. Like many other users, I had been previewing the public beta for more than a month. One of the most exciting innovations to me personally was the inclusion of 64 bit support for all versions of Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. In the announcement I wrote the following from the perspective of a user:
“Beginning as early as June 2008, many of the computer stores and office supply vendors have begun to stock their shelves with only computers running OEM versions of 64 Bit Windows. Many an unsuspecting customer has gotten home with a brand new computer only to discover that they cannot install and use their access technology on it. With the release of System Access 3.0, this is no longer an issue. Go out and buy a new computer, bring it home, install System Access 3.0 and you will be ready to go with your talking computer.”
I experienced a moment of déjà vu as I listened to the December podcast from a leader in the adaptive technology industry. It was almost as though the Vice President of Business and Software Development of this company had read my words and paraphrased them to his audience. It made me realize again, not only how far Serotek has come, but also how far we have brought the adaptive technology audience in understanding what is possible and what they can and should expect from those with whom they do business. I don’t know about you, but I don’t believe in coincidences. Does it seem interesting to you that less than two months after Serotek introduces 64 bit support that another industry leader follows? Well, may I say to all in the adaptive technology pool: “Come on in: the water’s fine!” Let the users of the products decide who does it best. Users always benefit by more choices.
In conclusion, would you think with me for just a moment about the leadership Serotek has provided?
1. Serotek lead the way in USB thumb drive support and we still do it best with U3 technology installing nothing on the local machine.
2. Serotek lead the way in remote access and we still do it best supporting not only our own products, but also everyone else’s technologies.
3. Serotek lead the way in 64 bit support for all Windows XP and Vista versions including server 2003 and 2008. Our magnification and scanning is also supported right now.
4. Serotek is leading the way in providing a free web application that makes any Internet connected PC in the world talk. Will anyone follow?
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