Author: David Banes, Chief Executive Officer, Mada - Qatar Assistive Technology Center. Edited by James Thurston, Microsoft Trustworthy Computing Group.
Vision
In-built solutions within the Operating System:
Almost all technologies offer a degree of ability to customise the presentation of visual information according to personal preferences. These usually take two forms:
Making information larger on screen (magnification)
Replacing visual output with audio or tactile forms (Screenreading or Braille)
Information on the solutions offered within OS can be found via a number of websites:
Updated content for new OS and computers is currently also available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/guides/.
Open Source and Free technologies to enhance a platform
There are a number of free and open source technologies that enhance the operating system. Examples of these include:
NVDA for Windows
Orca for Linux
Commercial and Proprietary Solutions to meet individual needs
Commercial solutions can offer either a specific solution such as magnification or screen reading, but increasingly combine these features to allow users to mix and match features to meet their personal needs.
Examples of such programmes include
Jaws
Supernova
Physical
Meeting the physical needs of users will often require a combination of hardware in the form of alternatives to the standard keyboard or mouse and software to adjust the way the keyboard/mouse or alternative responds to an action
Information on a full range of alternatives to the keyboard and mouse can be found at
Solutions within the Operating System
Updated content for new OS and computers is currently also available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/guides/.
Open Source and Free technologies to enhance a platform
Further customisations to the platform are available through a range of free and open source solutions. Some examples are given below
Dasher
FXC Software
Click N Type
Commercial and Proprietary Solutions to meet individual needs
There are a wide range of commercial and third party solutions designed to assist with ease of access. People with physical impairments may need to utilise a range of solutions. Some of these include:
Touchscreens
Switching
Voice Recognition
On screen keyboards
Information on all of these and others can be found at:
Reading and Communication
There are a number of standalone devices that are available to assist people with difficulties in reading and writing. These would include Voice Output Communication Aids (VOCA) suitable for people with little and no speech and reading aids such as ebook readers or spelling aids for people with reading difficulties such as dyslexia.
Examples of these types of devices can be found at :
Solutions within the Operating System
Updated content for new OS and computers is currently also available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/guides/.
Open Source and Free technologies to enhance a platform
There are a number of additional resources that support reading. These can be divided into tools that change the way text is presented on screen, amending the font, colours, style etc and tools that are designed to be applied to the text as additional tools.
Tools to amend the style of text include:
RapidSet
Washer
ssOverlay
Solutions that add extra tools to the computer to support reading include:
VuBar
ReadPlease
Natural Reader
BookReader
Commercial and Proprietary Solutions to meet individual needs
There are in addition a number of commercial and proprietary tools that enhance the computer with specialised features. These include both hardware and software tools.
Hardware:
BookCourier
Daisy Readers
Kurzweil Reading machines
Ebook readers
Software:
TextHelp Read and write ClaroSoftware Dragon Naturally speaking
Further information on solutions can be found at GATE and EMPTECH.