Welcome! Wikis are websites that everyone can build together. It's easy!

Portable Software Solutions

This page discusses the increasing range of Assistive Technology Solutions that are now available as on a USB flashdrive to allow the user to carry the solution with them at all times

Portable Apps website


Portable Apps logowww.portableapps.com has details of a range of free assistive technoologies and other applications that will run from a USB drive without requiring an installation onto a harddrive

These are examples of what is available:

  • Portable Software Solutions - Global Assistive Technology Wiki Firefox Accessibility Extension - Make Firefox more accessible
  • Portable Software Solutions - Global Assistive Technology Wiki On-Screen Keyboard Portable - Easily access an on-screen keyboard
  • Portable Software Solutions - Global Assistive Technology Wiki Virtual Magnifying Glass Portable - A full-featured screen magnifier


    DSpeech is a free screenreader that runs from a USB drive

    In addition a number of companies and vendors are creating USB versions of their software to support hotdesking and mobile workers and students.

    SuperNova USB: Magnification and speech.

    Claroview USB: Text help and word prediction.

    Thunder USB: The Thunder Screen Reader is a free down load but the USB version comes bundled with Thunder Plus.

    Text Help read and Write USB: Text help, text to speech and word prediction.

    Premier Assistive Technologies

    From http://www.scottish-rscs.org.uk/access/?page_id=217

    ELearning Accessibility and Inclusion


    AccessApps consists of a range of open source and freeware assistive technology applications which can be accessed from a USB flash drive.
    These programs will run without the need to install them onto a computer and offer a range of e-learning solutions to support writing, reading and planning as well as visual and mobility difficulties. AccessApps pendrive

    There are over 40 applications, utilties and learning games pre-installed on AccessApps - something for everyone!

    AccessApps also features the complete series of TechDis ‘Accessiblitly Essentials’ in an accessible web-based format as well as a comprehensive easy-to-follow user guide.Introductory video clip If you are still unsure what open source software and portable applications are you can find out more by watching the introductory video clip.

    To download and view the video clip select this link

    Step-by-step tutorials To get you up and running with AccessApps and to help familiarise you with some of the portable applications and utilities, you can download a step-by-step introductory guide. This is available in a variety of formats, for example, Word, PDF, Open Writer as well as range of accessible and alternative formats such as MP3 and DAISY/digital talking book.

    Click here to download the tutorial in Word
    Click here to dowload the tutorial in PDF format
    Click here to download the tutorial in Open Writer
    Right click and choose ‘Save Target As’ to download the tutorial in MP3 format
    Right click and choose ‘Save Target As’ to download the tutorial in DAISY format

    The MP3 and DTB files are in a compressed folder. Right click on the folder and select ‘Extract All’ to your desktop or a location of your choice.
    You can play the DAISY files in Amis, a DAISY reader on AccessApps.Video tutorials We have also provided video/screencasts which you can use to supplement the guide or use as standalone tutorials. These guides are based around the assistive technology support programs and include tutorials on alternative web browsers, mind mapping and magnification software.

    To get started select the tutorial of your choice from the list below:

    FreeMind
    Freemind is a visual learning tool which can help you plan and organise your thoughts - great for essay writing. Watch the FreeMind mind mapping tutorial

    Mozilla Calendar Plan your day, week and all your appointments with Sunbird calendar.
    Watch the Mozilla Sunbird Calendar tutorial

    RapidSet Change background and font colours with RapidSet
    Watch the RapidSet tutorial

    TheSage Find out the definitions of words and much, much more!
    Watch TheSage tutorial

    Vu-Bar If you find reading large chunks of text difficult Vu-Bar will help you to read on line of text at a time.
    Watch the Vu-Bar tutorial

    Virtual Magnifying Glass Increase the size of icons, toolbars, menus and text - works in all Windows applications.
    Watch the Virtual Magnifying Glass tutorial

    WebbIE Toggle between text and visual views with this flexible and accessible browser.
    Watch the WebIE accessible browser tutorial

    Podcatcher Listen to your favourite podcasts with this accessible podcaster.
    Watch the accessible Podcatcher tutorial

    Click N Type Virtual keyboard with load of accessible features.
    Watch the Click N Type tutorial

    Download portable apps to AccessApps The type of software solution required by a student is often dictated by their own individual learning support need.

    The aim of the download section is to allow learning support staff and/or students to choose which portable application best suits their individual need and to download the chosen application to their USB drive.

    This flexible approach will enable AccessApps to be used to support a range of learning needs. For example, AccessApps could comprise of portable applications to support specific and general needs, such as visual, reading and writing etc.

    The download section is currently undergoing development and will be ready in August 2008.Acknowledgements We would like thank the following developers for allowing us to use their software on AccessApps.

    RapidSet and Vu-Bar: http://www.fxc.btinternet.co.uk/
    TheSage: http://www.sequencepublishing.com/thesage.html
    D-Speech: http://dimio.altervista.org/eng/
    Power Reader: http://www.projectpossibility.org/viewProject.php?id=1
    Amis DAISY Reader: http://amis.sourceforge.net/
    Type Faster Typing Tutor: http://www.typefastertypingtutor.com/
    Virtual Magnifying Glass: http://magnifier.sourceforge.net/
    WebIE and Podcatcher: http://www.webbie.org.uk/
    Click N Type: http://www.lakefolks.org/cnt/
    MouseTool: http://www.mousetool.com/index.html
    Dasher: http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/dasher/
    ArtWeaver: http://www.artweaver.de/index.php?artweaver_en
    Gimp: http://www.gimp.org/
    Audiobook Cutter: http://audiobookcutter.sourceforge.net/
    UnFREEz: http://www.whitsoftdev.com/unfreez/
    Wink: http://www.debugmode.com/wink/
    Scribus: http://www.quate.net/newsnet/read.php?id=31
    KompoZer: http://kompozer.net/
    CamStudio: http://camstudio.org/
    7-Zip: http://www.7-zip.org/
    ClamWin: http://www.clamwin.com/
    KeePass: http://keepass.info/
    Converber: http://www.xyntec.com/converber.htm
    PDF Producer: http://www.paraschopra.com/software/pdfproducer.php
    TobOCR: http://www.topocr.com/
    Soduku: http://www.easysw.com/~mike/sudoku/index.html
    Joolem: http://jooleem.sourceforge.net/#Downloads
    Othello: http://www.cylog.org/games_3.asp
    Stranded II: http://www.unrealsoftware.de/game_stranded2.php
    Anagrmarama: http://www.coralquest.com/anagramarama/





  • Latest page update: made by invisiblebloke , Jun 16 2008, 1:41 PM EDT (about this update About This Update invisiblebloke Portable apps logo and link added - invisiblebloke

    7 words added
    6 words deleted
    1 image added

    view changes

    - complete history)
    More Info: links to this page

    Anonymous  (Get credit for your thread)


    Started By Thread Subject Replies Last Post
    invisiblebloke Free - Portable word processor called Jarte 0 Friday, 10:06 AM EDT by invisiblebloke
    invisiblebloke
    Thread started: Friday, 10:06 AM EDT  Watch
    A colleague came across this wordprocessor that is free, v slim but v functional and can open/save .doc and .docx docs among others. It's also v screen reader accessible (it was demoed on a blindness podcast). What's more it runs from a pendrive without needing to install anything.

    Good article on it at Barry's tips - http://www.barrysbestblog.com/2008/01/jarte-cool-free-portable-word-processor.html

    • Fully compatible with Windows Vista
    • Tabbed interface to provide easy access to open documents
    • Opens files with file extension RTF, file extension DOC, and file extension DOCX
    • Compact screen size
    • Optional "Clickless Operation" feature greatly reduces clicking
    • Can be run directly from a pluggable USB flash drive
    • High quality spell checker with custom user dictionary
    • Included spelling dictionaries: English (American, British, & Canadian), Spanish, French, German, and Dutch
    • Link to, or import, your existing custom Word spelling dictionaries
    • Support for templates
    • Export to HTML or PDF
    • Single click bookmarking and bookmark navigation
    • Send documents via e-mail
    • Full drag and drop file support
    • Instant access to recently opened documents and folders
    • Instant access to documents and folders designated as favorites
    • Adjustable document zoom
    • Detailed Help documentation

    Get Jarte at http://www.jarte.com/download.html
    Do you find this valuable?    
    Keyword tags: None

    Related Content

      (what's this?Related ContentThanks to keyword tags, links to related pages and threads are added to the bottom of your pages. Up to 15 links are shown, determined by matching tags and by how recently the content was updated; keeping the most current at the top. Share your feedback on Wetpaint Central.)