News release

Compaq Sponsors Technology, Keynote Address and Streaming Video Coverage of CSUN Conference

Compaq Office of Accessibility Provides Not Only Access Devices, but Access to the CSUN Conference via AbleTV.net

Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ) today announced three major sponsorships for this year's annual CSUN (California State University at Northridge) International Conference on Technology and People with Disabilities. This is the second year Compaq has taken a leadership role in sponsoring the CSUN conference, which will be held March 18-23 in Los Angeles.

In addition to providing more than 50 Compaq Evo Desktop PCs with monitors to the conference for the instruction lab and "playroom," Compaq is underwriting streaming video coverage of the conference on AbleTV.net of the TVWorldwide.com Internet TV network. Compaq is also sponsoring the keynote address by renowned accessibility expert Greg Vanderheiden, Ph.D., director and founder of the Trace Research & Development Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Vanderheiden's keynote will be held Wednesday, March 20th at 7:30 a.m. at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport.

"Compaq is pleased to support this prestigious event," said Michael Takemura, director of the Accessibility Program Office at Compaq. The Program Office guides Compaq's accessibility initiatives in product design, engineering, product development, documentation, Web, and services and support. "CSUN plays an important role in providing information and educational opportunities regarding accessibility, and Compaq is proud to be able to provide not only access devices, but access to the conference to people who are unable to attend."

The new award-winning Compaq Evo Desktop PCs with Compaq flat panel displays will enable conference presenters and attendees to demonstrate and test the adaptive software and hardware being debuted at the conference, while providing access to e-mail and the Internet.

"It is 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 in making products, services and information technology accessible to persons with disabilities," said Dr. Bud Rizer, director of the Center on Disabilities at California State University at Northridge and director of the CSUN conference. This year's conference, which attracts thousands of participants from around the globe, will be held at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport and Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotels.

"We are thrilled to be able to provide a webcast with captioning of the keynote and other events during the day, upon which many AbleTV viewers and people with disabilities who can't make it to the show depend," said David Gardy, chairman and CEO of TVWorldwide.com, Inc., and chairman of AbleTV. "We are pleased that a major IT company like Compaq is underwriting this event to ensure that people with disabilities have access to the conference."

AbleTV.net is the first global TV network for the disabled, powered by accessibility via the Web. Access to archived, captioned, streaming video of the conference will be available at www.abletv.net. Participants should have the free RealPlayer installed prior to viewing the video. Technical questions can be directed to 703-961-9250, ext. 223.

Compaq has led the industry in developing assistive technologies since 1983, as the first major computer manufacturer to deliver an output device—the DECtalk system—that assisted people with visual deficits by accepting ASCII text, and speaking rather than printing the output. Since then, among major computer manufacturers, Compaq was:

• First to use the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) online to assist government agencies' efforts in locating accessible products
• First to provide accessible product information on the Section 508 "Buy Accessible" Web site
• First to develop a third-party Assistive Technologies Partner Program—the Compaq Solutions Alliance Program

For more information on accessible Compaq products and services, please see www.compaq.com/accessibility.

About CSUN

California State University, Northridge is a vibrant, diverse university community of nearly 31,000 students and more than 3,300 faculty and staff, sited on a 353-acre campus in the heart of Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley. Cal State Northridge is committed to the educational and professional goals of students, and service to the community. More information about the campus can be found at http://www.csun.edu.

About Compaq

Founded in 1982, Compaq Computer Corporation is a leading global provider of information technology products, services and solutions for enterprise customers. Compaq designs, develops, manufactures and markets information technology equipment, software, services and solutions, including industry-leading enterprise storage and computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, communication products, personal desktop and notebook computers, and personal entertainment and Internet access devices that are sold in more than 200 countries directly and through a network of authorized Compaq marketing partners. Information on Compaq and its products and services is available at http://www.compaq.com.