[gui-talk] Fruchterman Wins MacArthur Foundation

[David Andrews]

I am sure that many of you have heard of the so-called "Genius 
Awards" from the MacArthur Foundation.  This years 25 winners of the 
$500,000 gift were just announced and one is somebody that will be 
familiar to many of us, Jim Fruchterman of Arkenstone / Benetech / 
BookShare.org fame.  Here is what the MacArthur web site says about him:


James Fruchterman

James Fruchterman
Technologist
Chairman and Founder
The Benetech Initiative
Palo Alto, California
Age: 47

James Fruchterman is an electrical engineer-turned-entrepreneur who 
adapts cutting-edge technologies into affordable devices for the 
visually impaired and
others underserved by traditional commerce.  As a student, 
Fruchterman designed a reading machine for the blind using 
optical-character-recognition technology
originally intended for military defense purposes.  Determined to 
keep the cost of his reading machine within reach of the largest 
number of users, Fruchterman
founded the non-profit company, Arkenstone, to develop and 
manufacture the system.  He has since delivered this reading tool in 
a dozen languages to people
in 60 countries and created a stream of other inventions for the 
visually impaired, including Open Book, a PC software program that 
reads scanned texts
ranging from school books to utility bills, Atlas Speaks map 
software, and Strider, a talking GPS locator.  In 2000, Fruchterman 
founded another non-profit,
Benetech, as an incubator for socially-oriented technology 
applications.  With Bookshare.org, Benetech has created a web-based 
library of scanned books
to provide people with visual or learning disabilities downloadable 
access to a dramatically increased volume of printed 
materials.  Other initiatives
include Martus, a secure, computer-based reporting system to assist 
the human rights sector in collecting, safeguarding, and 
disseminating information
about human rights violations, and a Landmine Detector Project with 
the goal of placing state-of-the-art detection devices in the hands 
of humanitarian
deminers in war-torn countries.  Fruchterman puts existing 
technologies to use in innovative ways to make life-changing machines 
for those who need them
most.

James Fruchterman received a B.S. (1980) in engineering  and an M.S. 
(1980) in applied physics from the California Institute of Technology 
and pursued doctoral
studies at Stanford University (1980-1981).  Prior to founding 
Benetech, where he serves as president, CEO, and chairman, he was 
president, CEO, and chairman
of Arkenstone, Inc. (1989-2000) and co-founder and vice president of 
Calera Recognition Systems, Inc. (1982-1989).  Fruchterman also 
served as co-founder
and CFO of RAF Technology, Inc. (1989-2004).

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
140 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60603-5285 USA

Phone: (312) 726-8000

TDD: (312) 920-6285
4answers at macfound.org


James Fruchterman

James Fruchterman
Technologist
Chairman and Founder
The Benetech Initiative
Palo Alto, California
Age: 47

James Fruchterman is an electrical engineer-turned-entrepreneur who 
adapts cutting-edge technologies into affordable devices for the 
visually impaired and
others underserved by traditional commerce.  As a student, 
Fruchterman designed a reading machine for the blind using 
optical-character-recognition technology
originally intended for military defense purposes.  Determined to 
keep the cost of his reading machine within reach of the largest 
number of users, Fruchterman
founded the non-profit company, Arkenstone, to develop and 
manufacture the system.  He has since delivered this reading tool in 
a dozen languages to people
in 60 countries and created a stream of other inventions for the 
visually impaired, including Open Book, a PC software program that 
reads scanned texts
ranging from school books to utility bills, Atlas Speaks map 
software, and Strider, a talking GPS locator.  In 2000, Fruchterman 
founded another non-profit,
Benetech, as an incubator for socially-oriented technology 
applications.  With Bookshare.org, Benetech has created a web-based 
library of scanned books
to provide people with visual or learning disabilities downloadable 
access to a dramatically increased volume of printed 
materials.  Other initiatives
include Martus, a secure, computer-based reporting system to assist 
the human rights sector in collecting, safeguarding, and 
disseminating information
about human rights violations, and a Landmine Detector Project with 
the goal of placing state-of-the-art detection devices in the hands 
of humanitarian
deminers in war-torn countries.  Fruchterman puts existing 
technologies to use in innovative ways to make life-changing machines 
for those who need them
most.

James Fruchterman received a B.S. (1980) in engineering  and an M.S. 
(1980) in applied physics from the California Institute of Technology 
and pursued doctoral
studies at Stanford University (1980-1981).  Prior to founding 
Benetech, where he serves as president, CEO, and chairman, he was 
president, CEO, and chairman
of Arkenstone, Inc. (1989-2000) and co-founder and vice president of 
Calera Recognition Systems, Inc. (1982-1989).  Fruchterman also 
served as co-founder
and CFO of RAF Technology, Inc. (1989-2004).

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
140 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60603-5285 USA
Spacer
Phone: (312) 726-8000
Spacer
TDD: (312) 920-6285
4answers at macfound.org
Spacer


David Andrews and white cane Harry.