With Windows Vista and the 2007 Office System just five days away, as Microsoft's main cash cows are scheduled for consumer availability next Tuesday, January 30, 2007, the Redmond Company has announced that a wide array of assistive technologies will be also be available. The Assistive Technology Industry Association's eighth annual conference was the stage where Microsoft, together with AT vendors, unveiled the products and services designed for users with disabilities.

"Today marks the culmination of a process that began almost two years ago, when we brought over 30 AT companies into our labs to give them a first look at Windows Vista," said Rob Sinclair, director of Microsoft's Accessible Technology Group. "We've made these companies an integral part of our development process, and as a result an unprecedented number will have updated versions of their products available simultaneously with the launch of Windows Vista and the 2007 Office release."

According to Microsoft, extensive collaboration with the AT industry has enabled users to have access to assistive software and devices concomitantly with the availability of Windows Vista and Office 2007. Until now, assistive technologies were delivered no sooner than 6, 12 of even 18 months after the release of the operating system.

"In the past it's been challenging for the AT community to ship updated versions of our products in a timely fashion following the release of a new version of Windows or Office," said Doug Geoffray of GW Micro Inc., which develops the screen reader Window-Eyes to assist people who are blind. "But because Microsoft has done such a good job collaborating with us during the development process of Windows Vista and the 2007 Office release, there is a lot of confidence and excitement in the AT industry about the launch of these new products."