News: Nuance Talks & Zooms Product Manager Torsten Brand passes away

News
Nuance Talks & Zooms Product Manager Torsten Brand begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting passes away
by Ted Mc from BlindMind.net, 14 Apr 2010

Torsten Brand begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting, Nuance Product Manager and Co-Founder of the accessibility startup which eventually became the most widely used screen reader & magnification software used by the blind and visually impaired on mobile phones, died yesterday from complications during a hernia operation.  He was 47.

Torsten's contribution to the accessibility world cannot easily be measured.  The impact of mobile devices' wide-ranging use for blind users is both staggering and incalculable.  Torsten was a pioneer in the field, and continued tirelessly until his untimely passing.

Remembering Torsten Brand

My recollections of Torsten from having interviewed him just a few weeks ago, was that of irony.  I'd been participating in the beta-testing of Talks 5, and hence reading his many replies to those of us complaining about important, and oftentimes not so important things, but usually with much passion either way.

Torsten's answers were often short, and almost seemed abrubt at times.  I used to think he could have even bit a bit rude in his lack of words to what was obviously something very important to the person writing the original email.

But he was nothing of the sort.

Before I spoke to him, a friend mentioned to me that he had met Torsten at a conference, and knowing I had the interview coming up, I asked what he was like, and was told he was very friendly, and had lots of time to speak to people.

I certainly found this to be true.  The irony I spoke of before was that I was expecting a "business-only", almost gruff personality, but found a warm person who cared much for his cause, but also enjoyed people.  In hindsight, his manner of speaking while emailing was simply an overly busy person being economical with words due to the amount of work he had to get through.  But when you got him one-on-one to have a conversation, he was as generous as they come.  He chatted candidly to me for about 30 minutes after we finished the Podcast, about other mobile platforms, and what Nuance may or may not do in the future.  He spoke fondly of his love for music, and his enormous music collection.  He also said that they were looking forward to some time off after the intensive development cycle of Talks 5.

Torsten, you have certainly earned your break.  You will be sorely missed by both those that knew you, and the industry you contributed most vigorously to.

Our hearts go out to his family, co-workers, and longtime friend and business partner Marcus Groeber.

Posted by Ted Mc at 14 Apr 2010, 8:43 AM
Categories: News - Mobile, Blind, Smartphones, Visual Impairment, S60 3rd Edition, Symbian, Screen Reader, News - Software, S60 5th Edition, Windows Mobile, News, Accessibility, News - S60, Advocacy, Nokia, News - Symbian, Nuance Talks/Zooms
Tags: symbian visually impaired Nuance Talks 5.0 accessibility Windows Mobile News smartphones Nokia Talks 4.5 blind Screen Reader mobile phones
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