Music Icon Stevie Wonder Helps Promote Technology For Visually Impaired At CES Expo

January 9, 2009 6:59 a.m. EST

Las Vegas, NV (CNS) - Grammy-award singer and songwriter Stevie Wonder was on hand at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Thursday, where the music icon helped spread the word on technology products still needed in the visually-impaired community. Wonder, along with the National Federation of the Blind, joined forces with the Sendero Group in exhibiting vision-free products that can be used independently by the blind at the technology trade show.

"I want to encourage all the various manufacturing companies to be a part of making technology more accessible to the blind," Wonder said during a press conference at the Venetian Hotel.

The music icon shared the stage with Michael May, chief executive of Sendero Group that designs devices and applications for the blind. Both highlighted the need for a new movement for vision-free products to help the blind gain easier access to appliances such as stoves and washers and dryers.

"It would be great if you could come to a place like the Venetian Hotel and pick up a device at the door that could guide you to your meeting room," May said.

May stated that over 10 million Americans are blind or visually impaired and that it is "a fact that manufacturers should not ignore."

Wonder also said, "Products such as the iPod are more accessible to a blind person, which is a great thing. For a person who doesn't understand why there is so much excitement about the iPod, by him or her being able to hear or understand how to navigate it by pressing the center area to go into the various menus, it gives you a great sense of how you can appreciate the technology of downloading music."

The music legend also expressed his desire to see the government to be more involved in making products affordable for the blind. He also stated that he would like to see popular internet radio XM Sirius Satellite "make what they do more accessible for the blind" as well.

Wonder was also on hand to present the Best of Innovations Award at a invitation-only reception sponsored by iBiquity Digital.