Orders are being taken for the PAC Mate Portable Braille Display. This versatile display also can be used independently with desktop and laptop PC’s

(St. Petersburg, Florida, June 2, 2003) – Freedom Scientific today announced it is taking orders for two versions of a standalone Portable Braille display for the PAC Mate BNS and TNS. Available in 20-cell or 40-cell versions, the refreshable Braille display connects to your PAC Mate via the USB port and adds another large measure of convenience and function to the world's first handheld accessible Pocket PC device for those who are blind.

And, its value goes beyond a companion to the PAC Mate. This first-of-its-kind, truly portable display also can be independently connected via a USB port directly to desktops and laptops using the JAWS® for Windows screen reader for Braille output. Compact and feature packed, they measure only 11 inches wide for the 20-cell version and 12.5 inches wide for the 40-cell. The economical PAC Mate Portable Braille Display provides an impressive range of flexibility and functionality at the lowest price per Braille cell of any other on the market.

Ideal for professionals and students, the display incorporates technology familiar to Freedom Scientific customers. For rapid navigation through documents, Freedom Scientific included Whiz Wheels identical to those found in the Braille Lite M20 and M40 notetakers as well as the Focus Braille Displays.

The PAC Mate Portable Braille Display has two rows of buttons above each cell. The first row provides traditional cursor routing functions. The second row is configured so users can pan forward and backward through a document and perform specific Hotkey functions.

Both come with a carrying case and a USB cable that plugs into your PAC Mate, desktop or laptop PC. The display supports the entire Windows family, including the Pocket PC software that makes PAC Mate unique.

These displays are the first step in the options that will be available for refreshable Braille for the PAC Mate. Later this year, Freedom Scientific will offer integrated 20-and 40-cell models.

Freedom Scientific is the world's leading manufacturer of technology products for those who are blind and vision impaired, and products for the special education and learning disability markets.