Why Serotek?

 

The Top Five Reasons Why System Access (SA), System Access Mobile Network (SAM Net) and Serotek are leading the industry in innovation:

  1. Community

    : Serotek unlike many of the AT manufacturers are working to build more than just a basic screen reader (something in my opinion the market is already flooded with); it is actually attempting to create a community in it’s most modern of senses. From the online chat sessions to the active user forums, the moment a user logs into the system they really feel a part of “something”. This feeling of “being part of something” is exactly what defines a community and Serotek takes every opportunity to engender this in every aspect of the way it does business and take advantage of the latest technologies and services in the mainstream. For example, a user with a desire to socialize can go into their online system they dub “the socializer” and get connected through a variety of mediums (such as voicechat, twitter, facebook, forums, pdocsts, news etc) to discuss with others just about anything imaginable. and get informed about just about anything that interests them. A user who has a problem or technical question can pose it on the user forum or connect to the voice chat and get a prompt response from staff or other users in that same community. Staff & members of this community can even remotely help each other using the remote control features of the system access system; which allows them to remotely share a users’ pc and deliver tech support, training or demonstrations. Members help members, members share with members and members learn from the community.

  2. Independence

    : With three alternatives or options at their disposal, a user of system access with the full package can use any windows based pc without any assistance from any sighted colleague. Gone are the days of a “special pc, for special people”. An SA user can even make use of communal PCs such as those you would find in a business center, library or kiosk. SA users have even performed fully independent installations of windows without sighted assistance, using just a copy of SA on a U3 USB drive &an unattended edition of Windows XP, something that is completely unimaginable and impossible with any other commercially available screen reader.

  3. Cost

    : It’s easy to make a screen reader, but it’s hard to make a good screen reader; and unfortunately many people have to choose the more expensive products in order to meet their needs. Buying a good screen reader on the windows platform isn’t cheap. Some products can cost almost two thousand dollars Canadian. System Access costs from about $200 for the netbook version of the license and to about $800 Canadian for the fully loaded version with all the perks, It works with all the most common applications used on a windows PC, such as: Microsoft Office (word, excel, outlook, etc.),skype, media player, internet explorer and so many other applications. System Access performs as well and in many cases better than the other windows screen readers out there when using it to browse the web, They were the first commercial screen reader to work on the x64 platform and they already support windows 7

  4. Software Maintenance

    : As a System Access user, You always have the latest version of the screen reader running on your pc as it self-updates before it finishes loading. There is no cost of maintaining the tool and no cost for upgrades. All other commercial screen readers charge a several hundred dollar service maintenance cost for upgrades. If windows updates software such as internet explorer a user often has to upgrade their screen reader in order to continue to use or make use of the features that are new in the product. For example, a friend of mine just recently for security reasons was forced by his IT area to upgrade his copy of firefox. By doing so he found out the current version of his screen reader was no longer working properly with it. He called the company and was told he needed to pay for an upgrade to the latest version of their screen reader in order to gain back that functionality. This might be an acceptable practice for mainstream software where you don’t depend on the tool in order to be able to use your pc, but is unacceptable because this type of practice essentially holds the user’s pc for ransom

  5. Inclusion & empowerment

    : In the corporate, education & IT world, Serotek products have bridged the gaps in a number of areas to allow many types of jobs to be attainable that otherwise would not be achievable for persons with disabilities. . Their “accessible event” tool has allowed persons with disabilities to actively participate in collaborative document creation activities, staff meetings, videoconferences, presentations, webinars and , training courses by giving them access to material in real time that otherwise would leave them left out. Their remote incident management solution has given blind and low vision individuals the opportunity to deliver and receive remote tech support and remote training when they otherwise might be left stranded or unable to perform some of the tasks of their job. Their remote access manager solution and system access on a U3 key has allowed IT service areas to hire persons who are blind or low vision as helpdesk and support staff.

 

It has been a long time since we have really seen innovation in the AT industry, I for one as a blind consumer am looking forward to the continued innovation that Serotek has been introducing into the mix and look forward to the next set of tricks they have up their sleeves.

By Jeffrey

Developer, teacher, techie, Twit Jeffrey Is A Firm believer in the 3 Ts to happiness: 1) Tools 2) Toys 3) Tech. Interests: IT, mobile devices, assistive/adaptive technology, accessibility and inclusive technology.

2 comments

  1. I agree with you. There are several things that continue to be a first.
    Sa2Go. No other AT company has screen reading ability, or magnification via the web!
    No other AT company has updates for free.. For life!
    No other company rolls out update fixes as rapidly as Serotek.
    Remote features are no where as complete as in Serotek’s products, voice conversations, screen access, and keyboard access at the same time, works with multiple AT tech etc.
    while some AT companies offer thumbdrive support, no AT company offer is without admin support on the machine with the exception of NVDA.
    Thanks for the post.

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