Technology Showcase
Alfred Renaud
Grammy Award-winning artist Stevie Wonder is one of the latest users of Bloorview’s Word Q and Speak Q writing software.
Mr. Wonder, blind since infancy, regularly visits the International Conference on Technology and Persons with Disabilities, hosted annually by California State University, Northridge, in Los Angeles. The conference is considered one of the biggest and best of its kind.
Bloorview’s Word Q and Speak Q development team joined more than 4,500 researchers, educators, practitioners, end users, speakers, and exhibitors in attendance.
Word Q and Speak Q are intended for users of all ages with problems writing and editing, including those who have a learning disability or are learning a second language. With advanced speech recognition support, the software is also suitable for users with vision loss.
Dr. Fraser Shein, a leading scientist in the Bloorview Research Institute, and the rest of his team were thrilled to welcome Mr. Wonder as he tested the software and decided to give it a try at home.
Mr. Wonder’s quick and successful introduction to Speak Q speech recognition is exciting because it reinforces how the simplicity of the software can truly make writing easier.
Donor support enables Bloorview to develop innovative assistive technology that improves the quality of life and enhances the social participation of children with disabilities.
Pictured alongside Stevie Wonder is Neil MacGregor (left) who regularly instructs Toronto District School Board students on using Word Q and Speak Q, and who personally has been using Word Q and Speak Q for some time.