Zackary Villeneuve surfs the net.
John LeSieur, a Las Vegas resident who in the software business, saw how useless traditional Web browsers were to his 6-year-old grandson, Zackary, who has autism, so he built one specifically for children with autism and is now distributing it for free, The Associated Press reports.
Zac found the huge number of options presented by the computer frustrating.
But the Zac Browser For Autistic Children that LeSieur built "greatly simplifies the experience of using a computer," The AP reports. "It seals off most Web sites from view, to block violent, sexual or otherwise adult-themed material. Instead it presents a hand-picked slate of choices from free, public Web sites, with an emphasis on educational games, music, videos and visually entertaining images, like a virtual aquarium. It essentially takes over the computer and reduces the controls available for children like Zackary, who find too many choices overwhelming."
Zac's mother, Emmanuelle Villeneuve, reports that he can start the Zac Browser himself. "He enjoys listening to music through the program and trying puzzles — things he always liked before but hadn't been able to explore online," she said from the family's home in suburban Montreal.
