News release

Compaq Strengthens Commitment to Develop Accessible Technology with New Accessibility Program Office

Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ) today announced the creation of an Accessibility Program Office to address the computing needs of America's more than 54 million people with disabilities. The announcement was made at the annual CSUN (California State University at Northridge) 2001 International Conference on Technology and People with Disabilities.

"Today, more than 17 million Americans use assistive technologies to accommodate some form of disability, and more than one-half million people with disabilities use a computer and the Internet to perform job-related tasks," said Kyle Ranson, Vice President, Marketing Strategy, Compaq Computer Corporation Access Business Group. "Compaq believes it is critical to drive accessibility into all areas of our business and to develop accessible computing platforms and information on the Internet."

Michael Takemura will head the Accessibility Program Office. The Program Office will guide accessibility in product design, engineering, product development, documentation, web, and services and support, and will be advised by members of Compaq's Global Business Units.

In support of this initiative, Compaq is donating 45 Deskpro Desktops with monitors to the CSUN Conference for its Instruction Lab and "Playroom," where conference presenters and attendees can demonstrate and trial the adaptive software and hardware being debuted at the conference, as well as have access to e-mail and the Internet. Compaq's Human Factors research group is also conducting focus groups during the conference to learn more about the needs of customers with visual, aural and motor disabilities in the areas of technology products, capabilities, support, Internet accessibility, documentation, professional services and distribution.

"It's one of my goals as director to involve mainstream IT companies in the assistive technology industry, so I'm extremely pleased that Compaq is partnering with us and taking a leadership position within the assistive technology community," said Dr. Bud Rizer, Director of the Center on Disabilities at CSUN and Director of the CSUN 2001 Conference.

Compaq has led the industry in the development of assistive technologies since 1983, as the first major computer manufacturer to deliver the DECtalk system, an output device that assisted people with visual deficits by accepting ASCII text, and speaking rather than printing the output. Since then, Compaq has continued to work with assistive technology partners on such projects as The iCommunicator System, created by Interactive Solutions, Inc. (www.teachthedeaf.com), a program developed on the Armada notebook platform that translates voice to text, sign language or computer generated voice. In addition, Compaq Chairman and CEO Michael Capellas joined with many fellow CEOs this past fall in urging the President to support technology for and employment of people with disabilities. Compaq also provided computers to the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) 2001 Annual Conference in February.

Last September Compaq also donated $100,000 in scholarships to CompTIA, the Computer Trade Industry Association, to train both minorities and individuals with disabilities to become certified computer technicians. CompTIA, a vendor-neutral not-for-profit association serving the rapidly converging computing and communications market, called for support from members and non-members alike to match its investment. Association member Compaq was the first company to answer the challenge and commit to a $100,000 contribution.