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Welcome to the August 2008 issue of ZoomNews In this Issue
Did You Know Globally, there are:
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New Product Announced
You should have received an email announcement last month introducing our latest product – ZoomWare. We are all extremely excited about this product and hope that you share in our enthusiasm. ZoomWare is meant to replace BigShot, and includes so much more than BigShot ever did. Not to mention that it has a fresh new design to bring it into the 21st century. Take a look:
It's more than a pretty user interface, it’s an extremely easy product to learn to use. In a matter of minutes, you'll have it down. Many of you are ZoomText users, but probably know someone who needs just a gentle boost of magnification (up to 2x) at an affordable price ($149, US download). Help us spread the word! If you want more information, check out our website: www.getzoomware.com. You can even watch a video while you’re there which explains all the great features or download a free trial. ZoomWare – Bringing your world into view June Contest Winners In the last issue of ZoomNews, we asked you to send us your stories. It was wonderful to read all the entries and I had trouble picking just 3 to win! Thanks to everyone who submitted an entry and here are the winners: 1st prize – Mo Shahrokni Click here to read the rest of Mo’s story
2nd prize – Cindy LeDonne Click here to read the rest of Cindy's story
3rd prize – Rodney Roe Click here to read the rest of Rodney’s story New Contest 
You just read all the inspiring stories that came out of our last issue of ZoomNews– here’s the next! This month, we’re interested to learn what other products you use to assist you in your daily life – whether it’s for leisure, cooking, reading, etc. – where you use them, and in what capacity. Maybe there’s an innovative way to use a tool that no one has thought about before that would be useful to other ZoomText users. Feel free to talk about 1 product or as many as you would like. Anyone who enters this contest will be entered into a raffle for a $100 Amazon.com gift certificate. Send your interesting tips to Becca at by August 18 to be in the raffle! ZoomText Joins Forces with New York’s Finest 
Born in Harlem and raised in Brooklyn, Darryl Humphrey has a long history with New York City and always wanted to work for the boys in blue: the New York City Police Department (NYPD). But Darryl was born with congenital cataracts and myopia (myopic pressure) in both eyes, although his left eye is the weaker of the two. “It’s always been bad,” states Darryl speaking of his condition, “to the point where I was almost totally blind back in 1998.” In the past Darryl wore thick prescription glasses to see, and had to hold anything he needed to read very close to his face. He began using Visualtek television magnifying devices throughout school and at his first job, which was arranged by Lighthouse International. At that point in Darryl’s life, all he could see on a printed piece of paper were the white areas—none of the actual print. Darryl also took medication to help dilate his pupils so he could see around the cataracts. In 1998, Dr. Mandel and Dr. Laske at the New York Presbyterian Hospital performed LASIK eye surgery, which removed the cataracts and his natural lenses, eliminating the myopic pressure in his eyes. In 2003, a friend invited Darryl to a venue where his friend was performing in Brooklyn. “I am so glad I took that walk,” says Darryl. “When I met Shirley, I met someone who is resourceful and is tireless in her efforts to help those in need.” With Shirley’s help, Darryl secured his first apartment in the Bronx in 2004. He suffered another setback in 2005, when after fourteen years of work, Darryl was let go. After working a couple of foot messenger jobs, he obtained his next full time job with the NYPD in 2006. Shirley was a godsend, filling out application after application and surfing the web like a pro. Darryl was proud to announce that he has now been with Shirley for almost 5 years and the pair married earlier this year on May 19th! In the spring of 2006, Martha Jackson of Goodwill Industries serving Northern New Jersey and Greater New York, and Louis Mercado of Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH) arranged for Darryl to meet with a gentleman from the CBVH. It was here that Darryl was introduced to ZoomText. Darryl was provided with a ZoomText trial, and soon after, began using the software full time. “When I first used ZoomText, it was on the job,” explains Darryl. “ZoomText has been a wonderful tool to use. With it, I am able to read any kind of small text on the computer screen, helping me complete my work.” Darryl uses ZoomText Magnifier daily, both at his job and at home. “I enjoy all the features of ZoomText Magnifier,” states Darryl, “especially the screen inversion feature. When my eyes begin to tire from the brightness of the screen when reading text or looking at photos, I use the reverse video feature.” If a piece of mail is too small to read, Darryl uses his photography software to scan and save the mail on his computer so he can use ZoomText to help read it. “You could say that I have accomplished quite a bit throughout my nearly 41 years living as a visually impaired person. I am especially savoring this last year and a half, during which I have obtained a position working with the NYPD,” Darryl exclaims. “The Lord, my wife, and my new ‘extended family’ (Goodwill Industries International, the city of New York and the NYPD) have provided me with a new beginning, a positive outlook on life, and nothing but wonderful blessings. These blessings encourage me to move forward and live a life where I’m always moving one step forward instead of two steps back.” In his free time, Darryl considers himself an avid cyclist, and he enjoys riding his trike around New York. He also enjoys digital photography, and more often than not, Darryl walks or rides around the city with his digital camera snapping pictures. Not one to stop dreaming, Darryl has aspirations of someday becoming a freelance photographer for family functions and get-togethers of all kinds. All of us at Ai Squared would like to congratulate Darryl on all his accomplishments and wish him and Shirley a very happy life together! Future Training 
In keeping with our commitment to provide more training, we are excited to provide an all day Train the Trainer Workshop this October. Stay tuned for more information on this upcoming opportunity, and you can always email if you have any questions. In The News 
Legally blind choreographer – Juliette Cusick uses her unique vision to share Middle Eastern dance Tradeshow schedule 
Even though the summer is almost half over, we don’t slow down. If you are planning to attend any of these shows, be sure to stop by our booth and see what’s new! |
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I was born in Iran in 1988 in a mid-income family. Until 1994 our family didn't have any computers. I mostly spent my childhood playing outside with relatives, friends, and my sister. When we bought our first computer, I started to have a great interest in learning and playing video games. Back then, I could see like any other kids. Using computers though, only involved simple commands on DOS. I remember enjoy playing Tom & Jerry, Keen, or WOF on our first computer…
I spent 16 years as a licensed paramedic in Illinois. I loved my job so it was with a heavy heart that I gave it up when my vision deteriorated to a point that it could be dangerous for me, my partner, or a patient. After leaving the ambulance, I worked for a medical supply company as a technical support specialist for 2 1/2 years before being downsized out of that job… 
Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the beginning of WWII, I was raised and attended public school, college, and medical school in Arkansas. I was married in 1966 to Lynn Byars and we moved at the end of medical school to Phoenix, Arizona in 1968 where I had my internship and residency in the field of pathology. My residency training was interrupted by two years of active duty in the U.S. Army, with one of those spent in Viet Nam. I worked as a hospital pathologist in various locations for the next 30 years, spending the last 17 in Shelby, North Carolina… |
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