Montreal, Canada, 9th August 2005
We are very saddened to advise that on Sunday, 7 th August 2005, our company Chief
Executive, Dr Russell Smith, and his wife Marian, were killed in a light aircraft crash.
Russell was a very keen flyer, owned a Cessna 182, and had built a private airfield
and hangar on his property in New Zealand. On Sunday Russell and Marian were
returning home in their Cessna, when the aircraft crashed into the sea.
Russell devoted his working life to developing products for people with severe visual
impairment, and in a 30 years involvement in our industry, he became an icon,
recognized and admired all over the world.
His death at age 61 is a huge loss to HumanWare, and to the industry in which we
operate.
Both he and Marian will be greatly missed by family, friends, and
colleagues all over the world. Until a replacement CEO is appointed, the company
will be managed by a core team of senior managers, with strong support from the
Chairman and other members of the board.
If you wish to email a message of support and sympathy to the family, please send
your message to: russellandmarian@humanware.com
Russell Smith Biography
Russell graduated from University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, with
B.E.(Hons) in Electrical Engineering and went on to complete a Ph.D. degree in 1972.
Following a period as Assistant Lecturer in Electrical Engineering at University of
Canterbury, he joined the Wormald International Group in 1975 to head a new
division which would develop the SonicGuide sonar mobility aid for the blind.
In 1976 Russell was appointed the first Manager of Wormald International Sensory
Aids Ltd, which became Pulse Data International Ltd in January 1988 after a
management buyout.
In January 2005 Russell finalised a merger of the company with Canadian-based
VisuAide, and the new combined company was renamed HumanWare Ltd.
Russell was a frequent speaker at International Conferences for the visually
impaired, and in July this year he addressed the annual convention of the National
Federation of the Blind in Louisville, Kentucky.
About HumanWare
HumanWare combines two of the industry's most innovative companies - VisuAide
and Pulse Data International are recognised as world leaders in their respective
fields. Products like the SmartView video magnifier and more recently myReader the world's first low vision auto-reader - are redefining the way people look at low
vision while the Victor Reader family of digital talking book players has been at the
forefront of the industry since its inception. The BrailleNote is the best-known
solution in the notetaker market today, and this market will be expanded with the
introduction of Maestro. Finally, the companies produce the world's only
commercialised GPS based orientation solutions for the blind - Trekker and
BrailleNote GPS.
Additional Information
For further information about HumanWare, or Dr Smith, please visit our website at
www.humanware.com or contact:
Nicolas Lagacé
Communications Manager
HumanWare Canada
email: nicolas.lagace@humanware.com