Microsoft Corporation   Tel 206 882 8080
One Microsoft Way       Telex 160520
Redmond, WA 98052-6399  Fax 206 936 7329


                          For Release 10 a.m. PDT
                               April 24, 1995

            Microsoft Licenses OSM Technology From Henter-Joyce
     Makes Windows Easier to Use for Computer Users With Disabilities;

Furthers Microsoft's Commitment to Make Windows the Most Accessible Operating System

REDMOND, Wash. - April 24,1995 - Microsoft Corp. today announced it is

licensing core Off-Screen Model (OSM) technology from Henter-Joyce of St.

Petersburg, Fla., developers of JAWS(Job Access With Speech) for the

Microsoft Windows operating system, a screen-access program that makes

Windows accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired.

Microsoft will use the OSM as the basis of an open component architecture

to provide individuals with disabilities access to the information

displayed on Windows-based computer screens.  Microsoft plans to provide

this technology to developers working on technologies that make computers

more accessible to users with disabilities -such as blind-access, screen-

magnification and voice-input technologies - to help reduce time to market

and increase robustness of such key products while requiring fewer system

dependencies.

     "Microsoft's efforts to provide an Off-Screen Model further

demonstrates our commitment to make Windows and Windows-based

applications easier to use for everyone, including individuals

with disabilities," said Brad Silverberg, senior vice president of

the personal systems division at Microsoft.  "Our licensing

agreement with Henter-Joyce is a key step in that process.

Microsoft plans to work with accessibility vendors to build a

common, shared interface around the OSM code we are licensing,

helping to ensure compatibility with other accessibility technologies.

We are very excited about the potential it will bring to the Windows

environment."

     "This is one of the most important events in the history of

computing for blind individuals," said Ted Henter, president of

Henter-Joyce and a blind user of computers for 15 years.

"Microsoft leads the world in computer software, and now its view

of the world includes blind people.  Steps like this ultimately

will result in making computing access better for all people."

     Off-Screen Model is the term for a database of a computer

screen's contents, including text, graphics, controls and other

elements.  This technology primarily has been used for blind

access products, which allow users to browse the contents of their

computer screen using synthesized speech or a Braille display.

Some capabilities of OSM also are useful for speech recognition

utilities that need to determine what commands are appropriate at

a given time and screen-magnification utilities that must track a

user's focus as he or she works.

     Microsoft will incorporate Henter-Joyce's OSM technology into

its own open architecture to help make Windows accessible to

individuals with disabilities.  Numerous features specifically

designed to make computers easier to use for people with

disabilities are being incorporated into the Windows 95 operating

system, with additional enhancements planned for the future.  The

company plans to release the first set of accessibility

enhancements as soon as possible after Windows 95 ships to help

independent software vendors (ISVs) port their existing products

to the Windows 95 and Windows NT   TM operating systems.  This

will be followed by adapting and distributing the OSM technology

for Windows 95 and further integrating the technology into future

versions of Windows and Windows NT.  Future plans also

include incorporating the accessibility technology into OLE,

allowing mainstream applications to communicate and cooperate with

accessibility aids.


Benefits of OSM Technology for Windows

     The open component architecture Microsoft is building with

the Henter-Joyce OSM technology ultimately will make accessibility

products more readily available to individuals with disabilities,

since time-to-market demands will be decreased for ISVS.  The

technology will reduce engineering time and costs, allowing ISVs

to reduce time to market with new products and for new releases of

the Windows operating system.  It also will help them improve the

quality of their core products by allowing them to focus their

time and resources on their areas of expertise.

     In addition, with the component architecture, ISVs will be

able to replace or extend the functionality of the OSM easily,

share components or enhancements with other types of products, or

simply use the underlying libraries that provide system "hooks"

required by these types of products.

     Microsoft's licensing of OSM from Henter-Joyce is part of an

overall effort to make Windows the most accessible operating

system available.  Microsoft is committed to ensuring that

accessibility is addressed in Windows 95 by providing the

following:

               Guidelines for accessible software design that will
               be promoted throughout the software industry

               Published guidelines for accessible software design

               The necessary application programming interfaces
               (APIs) and libraries to allow ISVs to develop high-
               quality accessibility aids, including blind-access
               products

               Documentation for Windows 95 and other Microsoft
               products in an accessible ASCII text format at no
               additional charge for people who have difficulties
               reading or handling printed materials

               An audio tutorial designed for users who are blind

               A set of utilities, including Dvorak single-handed
               keyboard layouts and other low-end accessibility
               aids


     Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide

leader in software for personal computers.  The company offers a

wide range of products and services for business and personal use,

each designed with the mission of making it easier and more

enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of

personal computing every day.



Microsoft, Windows and Windows NT are either registered trademarks
or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other
countries.
JAWS is a trademark of Henter-Joyce.

For More Information, Press Only:
          Erin Carney, Microsoft Corp., (206) 882-8080
          Catherine Merten, Waggener Edstrom, (503) 245-0905

          Eric Damery, Henter-Joyce. (813) 803-8000

