Premier Assistive Technology announces the release of PDF Equalizer ML (Multi-Lingual)

PDF Equalizer is a product originally developed to support students receiving books in alternative formats from the Alternative Media Access Center (AMAC) at the University of Georgia – Athens. AMAC was creating or receiving books from publishers in PDF file formats. PDF Equalizer was designed to make these alternative formats accessible without going through a conversion process. PDF Equalizer can open and read all versions of Adobe PDF files, allow users to take notes, convert the documents to MP3 and control what and when it reads aloud to the user.

Premier Assistive Technology is raising the bar for Universal Design and Deployment by supporting multiple languages in a single product. Canada has two official languages: English and French. In the United States, Spanish is the fastest growing 2nd language. Premier Assistive has decided to support the 3 most popular languages in the Western Hemisphere. The new PDF Equalizer ML enables users to pick the interface language of their choice as well as translate the information to that same language.

Consider the growing frequency and impact of multi-lingual requirements in our everyday lives. When you go to a store in Canada, you can pick up a can of soup and on one side, you will see English and on the other side, you will see French. For many phone companies, when you dial 411 for information, you may have the option to press 1 for English and 2 for Spanish. You do not need to pay more for these products or services, or worse, buy separate products depending on the language you need. Companies make one can of soup or have one service that serves the greatest number of individuals. Premier Assistive believes literacy technology needs to be the same. Schools should only have to buy one product and be able to change the interface to match the needs of the user.

Many students attending French immersion schools in Canada live in households where the parents cannot speak or read French. The new Universal Design approach to PDF Equalizer allows the user to switch the interface from French to English, so that the non-French speaking parents can assist the students in using the software. The same happens for many households in the United States. The student spends all day in an English environment, but comes home to parents who are not proficient in the English language. These students can quickly change the interface from English to Spanish so that their parents can assist them, even if they do not speak English.

The multilingual version of PDF Equalizer has been fully localized including the manuals, menus and help files. However, Premier did not stop there. Premier Assistive Technology has also incorporated translation technology into the PDF Equalizer. A student can now access electronic books written in English, French or Spanish and use PDF Equalizer’s translation capabilities to read the text in their language of choice.

The suggested retail price for PDF Equalizer ML is $89.95. For more information about PDF Equalizer, go to:
http://www.readingmadeeasy.ca/Products/PDFEqualizer.html

For volume pricing and to receive a demo, please contact:

Premier Assistive Technology
Executive Offices
1309 N. William St.
Joliet, IL 60435
Phone: 815-927-7390
Fax: 815-722-8802
www.readingmadeeasy.com

Premier Assistive Technology – Canada
PO Box 875, STN A
Sydney, NS
B1P 6J4
Phone: 902-482-4680
Fax: 902-270-5224
www.readingmadeeasy.ca