Plane victim's company impressed Bill Gates

Russell Smith

The BrailleNote laptop produced by Russell Smith's company has helped thousands of blind people around the world, including entertainer Stevie Wonder, who bought three.

The world's richest man, Bill Gates, also supported the Pulse Data technology, which Microsoft helped to promote in the US.

BrailleNote is a handheld computer that allows blind people to use a word processor, send and receive email, and surf the net.

It was developed by Pulse Data, which was founded by Dr Smith and his colleagues from the electrical engineering department of Canterbury University in 1988.

Dr Smithcompleted a PhD in underwater sonar technology at the university in 1972.

His firm is recognised as the technology leader in information access for the blind, and exports to more than 30 countries, shipping over $50 million worth of products each year.

Pulse Data merged this year with Canadian firm VisuAide to become HumanWare Group, one of the world's largest companies in the low-vision and blindness industry.

HumanWare product manager Jonathan Mosen, former chairman of the Royal NZ Foundation of the Blind, is blind and had used the company's products for many years before joining the staff.

Speaking from the US, Mr Mosen said Dr Smith had made an "enormous contribution" to the lives of blind people.

"His vision, foresight and business acumen have enabled blind people to succeed. This one man has made such a difference to blind people all over the world."

Foundation chairman Don McKenzie said Dr Smith was a world leader whose innovations had been catalysts for the education and employment of the blind worldwide.

"He was a brilliant engineer and humanist ... I'm devastated by his death."