Have you ever imagined operating a PC without using a mouse or any other pointing device? The debut of the GUI (Graphical User Interface) was a big breakthrough for most computer users but for blind people, it presented yet another big challenge.  Tonight’s presenters who have both been totally blind since soon after birth, have met that challenge and in the course of their work, are helping other visually handicapped people to use and be able to benefit from computers.

Takashi Kobayashi, Customer Support Manager at Techno Tool K.K. (http://www.ttools.co.jp/index.html), a provider of equipment and devices for use by the handicapped, and Kazuya Hosoda, a Program Manager at Microsoft Japan (http://www.microsoft.com/enable/), will explain their jobs, and the importance of accessibility, while demonstrating how, with the use of special reading software, blind people can use a PC.

Come along to this meeting to see, hear and learn about this fascinating, but largely unknown, aspect of computing.

TIME: Doors open at 6:30 with the meeting getting underway at 7pm.

VENUE: The meetings are held in the basement of The Tokyo Union Church.  (map) on Omotesando Dori, a short walk from the A-1 exit of the Omotesando subway station on the Ginza, Hanzomon, and Chiyoda Lines.

COST: Members free, non-members 1000 yen at the door.

We hope you can make it to the meeting. For those who can’t you can catch us at Shakey’s nearby after 9pm.