We want to begin by acknowledging something important: we should have communicated these changes earlier, more clearly, and with greater transparency.
Several of you have shared that the rollout of user registration felt abrupt, confusing, or too personal. We understand this feedback, and we sincerely apologize for the delay in responding. We are committed to improving how—and how often—we communicate going forward.
Creating an account should never feel like an obstacle between you and the products you rely on. Our intention was to introduce functionality that benefits users, but we recognize that without proper explanation, it created uncertainty instead. Thank you for your patience and for continuing to share your concerns. We are listening, and we will get better.
Below is a clearer, more transparent explanation of why we ask for certain information, how it is used, and what will change based on your feedback. I have also included Frequently Asked Questions for your reference.
Why Accounts Exist
Accounts unlock features that were not previously possible—starting with the ability to sync your settings across devices so your experience stays consistent wherever you use JAWS, ZoomText, or Fusion. Over time, accounts will enable more personalization, better reliability, and improved access to new features—including AI-assisted capabilities.
But we should have explained this earlier. That is our oversight, and we apologize.
What We Ask For—and Why
Age Verification
Birth Month, Birth Year (changing soon—update follows). We are legally required to verify age because privacy laws differ for adults, teens, and children, especially when using services connected to AI features. Some third-party AI integrations cannot legally be used by minors. Age verification ensures we comply with regional laws and provide the correct experience for all users.
Login Method and Contact Information
Email Address, First/Last Name, Password. If you sign up with Google, only basic contact information is shared, never your password.
This information helps us:
- Confirm account ownership
- Contact users in the event of outages or product issues
- Support account recovery and prevent unauthorized access
We should have explained more clearly that your information is not used for marketing unless you explicitly opt in.
User Details for Adults (18+)
These questions help us understand where and how our software is used—at work, at home, in school, or across multiple settings. This allows us to:
- Prioritize improvements that benefit the greatest number of users
- Understand real-world workflows for people who are blind or low-vision
- Allocate engineering effort responsibly
However, we recognize we asked for too much upfront. Many of these fields will soon become optional (details below).
Country
This ensures your account is created under the appropriate legal and regional framework (privacy laws differ by country). It also helps ensure product options are correct for your location.
Phone Number
This field was added as a secondary contact method during outages. Based on your feedback, we know this can feel unnecessary, and we will revisit this as part of simplifying registration.
Product Use Information (Work, Personal, School)
These questions help us understand usage patterns so we can improve the product. They are also useful for evaluating adoption across enterprise agreements with employers or school systems.
However, these fields should not have been required at initial sign-up—and that will change.
User Details for Teens (13–17)
Privacy rules for minors are strict. For teens, we only request:
- Country
- School name (to support educational licensing and adoption tracking)
- Required consent statement
We intentionally collect less information from young users to protect their privacy.
Our Data Security Practices
We apologize for not communicating more clearly about how your information is protected. All account data is:
- Stored in AWS data centers with industry-standard protections
- Encrypted in transit and at rest
- Protected by AWS network security, WAF, and IDS
- Accessed only under tightly controlled, audited processes
We take data protection very seriously and will publish a more detailed security overview soon.
Changes Coming to the Registration Flow
We have heard your feedback clearly, and we are making improvements.
Over the next few weeks:
- Most fields currently required will become optional
- Only age confirmation and basic contact information will remain mandatory
- Age verification will change to a simple “Over 18?” confirmation
- Users under 18 will still be able to use the products but will have certain AI features disabled
- Workplace, school, or personal use information will be optional, not required
These changes maintain legal compliance while removing friction for users.
Our Commitment to You Moving Forward
The purpose of accounts is to make the products better—not to make your experience more difficult.
We recognize we did not communicate this well enough, and we apologize for any frustration or confusion this caused.
Going forward, we are committed to:
- Communicating earlier and more transparently
- Providing timely responses when concerns are raised
- Sharing updates proactively rather than reactively
- Making user registration as simple and respectful as possible
- Working hand-in-hand with the community as we improve the software
We will continue to listen and adapt based on your feedback.
Thank you again for your patience, honesty, and partnership.
Rhonda
Vispero Account – FAQ
Q: Why do I need a Vispero account?
A: A Vispero account allows us to provide new features—starting with syncing your settings across devices. Over time, accounts will unlock more personalization, reliability, and cloud-connected enhancements.
Q: Why didn’t you explain this earlier?
A: We should have communicated these changes sooner and more clearly. We apologize for the confusion and are committed to improving communication going forward.
Q: Why do you need my age?
A: Some AI features legally require users to be over a certain age. A simple confirmation (“Are you over 18?”) will replace collecting birth dates.
Q: What information is actually required to create an account?
A: Starting soon, only two things will be required:
- Basic contact information (name and email)
- A simple age confirmation
All other fields will become optional.
Q: Why do you ask for things like job, school, or how I use the product?
A: This information helps us understand which workflows matter most so we can improve JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion. We understand if you are not willing to provide this information, and these fields will soon become optional.
Q: Will my data be protected?
A: Yes. All data is:
Stored securely in AWS data centers
- Encrypted in transit and at rest
- Protected by strict access controls
- We do not sell your information
Q: Why do you ask for my phone number?
A: It’s optional. It helps us contact users quickly in case of outages or critical issues—but it is not required.
Q: What changes are coming to registration?
A: Based on your feedback:
- Most fields will become optional
- Age confirmation will be simplified
- Registration will be shorter and faster
- Additional workflow questions will only be asked if you choose to provide them
Q: Will I still be able to use the software if I’m under 18?
A: Yes. However, some AI features may be disabled due to legal requirements.
Q: What if I don’t want to provide optional information?
A: That’s completely fine. You can skip optional fields and continue using the software without limitations.
Q: Will you communicate changes earlier going forward?
A: Yes. We recognize that we need to do better, and we are implementing new processes to communicate updates clearly and proactively.
Q: Who can I contact with questions?
A: You can reach our support team at 727-803-8600, weekdays between 8:30 AM and 7:00 PM ET.
We welcome your feedback and will continue improving based on what we hear from you.