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Bookworm

History

Help Tech - for more than 25 years

Help Tech can look back on a successful company history since 1974. The product range has been constantly expanded and today includes a wide range of aids for blind and severely visually impaired people. 

2019

25th company of Help Tech anniversary (formerly Handy Tech Elektronik GmbH)

Anniversary Logo 25 Years Help Tech

2017

Handy Tech Elektronik GmbH now renamed to Help Tech GmbH. Marc Züfle (B.A.) was acquired as the second managing director.

2016

Presentation of the OrCam, the smart mini-camera, which discretely reads text as well as recognizes objects and persons.

First OrCam version

2015

Active Star the shining star amongst Braille displays. Active Star is the universal access terminal for blind computer users.

2014

20 years Handy Tech, 20 years of innovation for the visually impaired, 40 years Braille technology from the home team.

2012

Rounding up the portfolio with the Basic Braille

2011

Introduction of the Active Braille with patented ATC Technology

2009

The reading solution iRead was the first pure software product introduced by Handy Tech.

2008

The company’s head quarters in Horb, Germany, were extended by adding a level to the main building.

2007

Opening of a branch office in Lueneburg in the north of Germany, close to Hamburg.

2006

Introduction of the Modular Evolution, the world’s first Braille display with implemented Handy Tech invention ATC (Active Tactile Control).It is the ideal Braille display for professional workplaces.

Modular Evolution on a desk

2005

Easy Braille, a super compact Braille display as well as Sophie, the reading system with a natural sounding voice, and Sophie Pro an extended Version of the Sophie, were introduced.

2004

The Handy Tech Braille systems Braille Wave, Braille Star 40 and Braillino have been equipped with wireless Bluetooth technology.

2003

Handy Tech introduced its compact Braille Note Taker, the Braillino.

2002

Opening of a branch office in Stuttgart, in the South of Germany.

The Braille Star 40, the ideal Braille system for combined use with a Laptop and the Braille Star 80, Handy Tech’s Braille system for professional work places, ideal for blind telephone operators, were introduced.

2001

With Graphic Window Professional (GWP), Handy Tech presented the first access to computer graphics for blind computer users.

2000

The main building of Handy Tech’s head quarters in Horb Germany was refurbished and extended by an annex.

Braille Wave

1999

Opening of a branch office in Marburg.
Handy Tech presented the first Braille system with note taking capability, the Braille Wave.

1997

The quality management system of Handy Tech was certified for DIN EN ISO 9001.


Introduction of the Bookworm, the world’s first electronic book reader for blind users.

1996

Opening of a branch office in Cologne.

1995

Handy Tech Braille display in combination with a screen reader makes Microsoft Windows accessible for blind users.

Logo Handy Tech

1994

The company changed its name to Handy Tech Elektronik GmbH. Starting with 8 team members, Dipl.-Ing. Siegfried Kipke takes on as owner and CEO.

Handy Tech becomes a strategic partner of Siemens, the future technology partner Unify GmbH & Co. KG.

Dipl.-Ing. Schönherr -inventor of the world's first Braille module

The foundation stone was laid in 1974 by Dipl.-Ing. Klaus Peter Schönherr in Horb-Nordstetten. With the invention of the world's first Braille module by company founder Klaus Peter Schönherr in 1975, computer systems were made accessible to the blind for the first time. This invention was the prerequisite for the development of Braille displays, which are still our core competence today. Schönherr was awarded the Louis Braille Prize in 1980 for the invention of Braille module technology, which enables the dynamic tactile display of Braille. 

 

When Schönherr was killed in a car accident in 1981, the German Institute for the Blind (Blista) in Marburg initially continued to run the company as a non-profit production facility under the name EHG. The production facility for Braille displays remained in Horb. In 1990, the company was renamed Blista EHG GmbH.

Company founder Klaus-Peter Schoenherr
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