Software Lets Blind Surf the Net from Any Computer, Anywhere
From: NASA Tech Briefs Insider - Software - 07/16/2008

Today, we use home computers, work computers, and mobile devices. But for the
10 million people in the US who are blind or visually impaired, using a
computer has required special screen-reading software installed only on their
own machines. New software called WebAnywhere lets blind and visually
impaired people surf the Web on the go. The tool, developed at the University
of Washington, turns screen-reading into an Internet service that reads aloud
Web text on any computer with speakers or headphone connections. 

The software is the first to be hosted on the Web, so it does not need to be
downloaded onto a computer. It is ideal for situations where someone who's
blind can't use their own computer, but still wants access to the Internet at
places such as museums, libraries, public kiosks, or airports. The software
processes text on an external server and then sends the audio file to play in
the user's Web browser. 

Like other screen readers, WebAnywhere converts written text to an
electronically generated voice. The UW team plans to create updates that will
allow users to change the speed at which the text is read aloud. 

Links:
Online service lets blind surf the Internet from any computer, anywhere
http://uwnews.org/article.asp?articleID=42563

WebAnywhere
http://webanywhere.cs.washington.edu/