Whitby Abilities Centre Provides Community New Levels of Accessibility With Cisco-Enabled Kiosk

WHITBY, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 16, 2014) -  The Whitby Abilities Centre unveiled a new, interactive kiosk donated by Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) at a special ribbon-cutting ceremony today. The kiosk grants visitors access to a range of technology solutions, including wayfinding and two-way video communication, to enrich their visit and add to the Centre's reputation as a state-of-the-art, fully accessible facility for people of all abilities within the community. 

Using Cisco TelePresence® technology, the kiosk offers real-time collaboration, including high-definition two-way video and high-quality audio. In addition to wayfinding, users can also access the community portal, local GO transit schedules, tourism content, maps, and links to neighbouring regions. The kiosk features assistive technology, such as high contrast and font-size adjustment, for quick and easy navigation.

The kiosk also serves as a preview for some of the technology that will be used at the upcoming TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Games. Similar kiosks will be deployed throughout Toronto and at various competition venues, offering similar features as well as the ability to communicate with participating athletes and other venues, leading up to and during the Games. Cisco is a Premier Partner and the Official Information and Communications Technology provider of the Games. Abilities Centre will host judo and boccia competitions during the 2015 Parapan Am Games. 

Supporting Quotes:

Leo Plue, executive director, Abilities Centre:
"The Abilities Centre is dedicated to enriching the quality of life for people of all ages and abilities through an inclusive, innovative environment. One of the ways to accomplish this goal is by joining with leading companies such as Cisco in order to harness the latest adaptive technologies and provide our community with access to the latest, unique applications. The new kiosk is a great example of our commitment to providing a dynamic, state-of-the-art facility, and is a most welcomed addition to the Centre."

Ron Dekker, vice president, corporate development, Cisco Canada:
"Cisco is proud to help the Abilities Centre further its vision of being a vibrant and innovative hub for all members of the community. It's a great way for people to witness firsthand how technology and connectivity continue to have a positive impact in everyday life. This kiosk technology is also a taste of the exciting things Cisco and its partners have planned for next year's Pan Am/Parapan AM Games, as well as an example of the technology legacy that will remain beyond the Games." 

Saäd Rafi, CEO, TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015):
"It's fitting that Cisco, a Premier Partner of the TORONTO 2015 Games, is unveiling this accessible, interactive kiosk in one of the most accessible, state-of-the-art recreational community centres in Canada. During the Games, this technology will help us deliver an enhanced experience for athletes and spectators and will continue to serve the centre's visitors as a legacy of the Games for years to come."

About the Abilities Centre
Located in Whitby, Ontario, the Abilities Centre is a 125,000 square foot, state-of-the-art community facility that offers sports, fitness, arts and life skills programming, as well as research and education opportunities, for people of all ages and abilities. For more information, visit http://www.abilitiescentre.org/news.

About Cisco
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in IT that helps companies seize the opportunities of tomorrow by proving that amazing things can happen when you connect the previously unconnected. Cisco products and services are supplied in Canada by Cisco Systems Canada Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems, Inc. For ongoing news, please go to http://thenetwork.cisco.com and http://newsroom.cisco.com/canada.

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