# Berkeley Systems

> defunct American software company

**Wikidata**: [Q4892118](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4892118)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkeley_Systems)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/berkeley-systems

## Summary  
Berkeley Systems was a defunct American software company that operated from 1987 to 2000. Based in Berkeley, California, it functioned as a video‑game developer and also produced computer‑accessibility software such as the OutSPOKEN screen reader.

## Key Facts  
- **Founded:** 1987, in Berkeley, California, United States.  
- **Founders:** Wes Boyd and Joan Blades.  
- **Industry:** Video game industry and computer‑accessibility software.  
- **Headquarters:** Berkeley, California (grid ID grid.432715.6).  
- **Primary product:** OutSPOKEN, a screen‑reader program for computer accessibility.  
- **Company type:** Classified as both a “video game developer” and a “business” (Wikidata).  
- **Dissolved:** 2000.  
- **Identifiers:** ROR 05sb0mt20; Freebase /m/04w7x6; MobyGames 1199; IGDB berkeley‑systems.  
- **Wikipedia entries:** Available in English, Spanish, and Dutch.

## FAQs  
### Q: What was Berkeley Systems?  
A: Berkeley Systems was an American software company that created video games and computer‑accessibility tools, most notably the OutSPOKEN screen reader, before ceasing operations in 2000.  

### Q: When and by whom was Berkeley Systems founded?  
A: The company was founded in 1987 in Berkeley, California, by Wes Boyd and Joan Blades.  

### Q: What accessibility product is Berkeley Systems known for?  
A: Berkeley Systems developed OutSPOKEN, a screen‑reader software that helped make computers usable for people with visual impairments.  

### Q: In which industry did Berkeley Systems operate?  
A: It operated primarily in the video game industry while also contributing to the field of computer accessibility.  

### Q: When did Berkeley Systems cease to exist?  
A: The company was dissolved in the year 2000.  

## Why It Matters  
Berkeley Systems occupies a notable niche in the history of software development because it bridged entertainment and accessibility. While contributing to the video‑game industry—a sector that drives significant cultural and economic activity—it also pioneered assistive technology with OutSPOKEN, an early screen‑reader that expanded computer use to visually impaired users. This dual focus exemplifies how commercial software firms can simultaneously pursue profit‑driven entertainment products and socially beneficial tools. The company’s existence during the formative years of personal computing (late‑1980s to 2000) placed it among the innovators shaping user interaction paradigms, influencing later accessibility standards and inspiring subsequent developers to consider inclusive design. Understanding Berkeley Systems helps trace the evolution of both gaming and assistive technologies in the United States.

## Notable For  
- **Early video‑game development** within the burgeoning U.S. gaming market of the late 1980s.  
- **Creation of OutSPOKEN**, one of the first mainstream screen‑reader applications for personal computers.  
- **Pioneering computer‑accessibility** at a time when few commercial products addressed the needs of users with disabilities.  
- **Being founded by notable entrepreneurs** Wes Boyd and Joan Blades, who later became influential in technology and advocacy circles.  
- **Operating out of Berkeley, California**, a hub for tech innovation and progressive software development.

## Body  

### History  
- **Inception (1987):** Berkeley Systems was established in Berkeley, California, with Wes Boyd and Joan Blades as co‑founders.  
- **Location of formation:** Recorded as Berkeley (grid ID grid.432715.6).  
- **Dissolution (2000):** The company ceased operations after 13 years in business.  

### Products and Services  
- **OutSPOKEN:** A screen‑reader software designed to improve computer accessibility for visually impaired users.  
- **Video‑game titles:** Developed and published games as part of its core activity in the video game industry (specific titles not listed in the source).  

### Industry Classification  
- **Instance of “video game developer”:** Recognized by Wikidata with a reference to the video game industry.  
- **Also classified as a “business”** in broader commercial terms.  

### Identifiers and External References  
- **ROR ID:** 05sb0mt20 (Research Organization Registry).  
- **GRID ID:** grid.432715.6 (Global Research Identifier Database).  
- **Freebase ID:** /m/04w7x6.  
- **MobyGames ID:** 1199 (gaming database).  
- **Internet Game Database ID:** berkeley‑systems.  
- **Media Arts Database ID:** C46547.  
- **VideoGameGeek ID:** 12733.  

### Legacy  
Although dissolved in 2000, Berkeley Systems’ contributions to both entertainment software and assistive technology remain referenced in historical records of the video game industry and computer accessibility development. Its early adoption of accessibility principles prefigured later industry standards and highlighted the commercial viability of inclusive design.

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-05-22
2. MusicBrainz
3. Quora
4. VideoGameGeek