Global Assistive Technology Wiki - Recently Updated Pages

Touchscreens and Tablet PCs

invisiblebloke — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:40:47 CST

Pointing at something you want is a natural way to communicate. Young children often point accurately and with understanding long before they can react in other ways. Bright, noisy computer programs can provide the stimulus needed by children and people with special needs. However, a mouse may require too much motor skill and switches may be too indirect. Touch monitors operate with standard mouse operated programs and provide the most direct input method of all. The user watches the screen and uses it as an input method. There is a direct connection between action and result. (Words: Inclusive Technology)

What is Touchscreen ?

A touchscreen is a combination of a computer monitor and an easy-to-use input device. Using a touchscreen, a user can operate devices such as PC’s, communication devices, public terminals, etc., without a keyboard, mouse or any other input device. To make selections, user presses buttons that appear on the screen directly by using fingers, pointing pens or even toes and prostheses. The surface of the screen is touch-sensitive and can provide the computer with information on the exact location on the screen where a touch was made – very much the way a mouse sends signals to the computer.

Image Source: touchscreens.com	Image source: ERGO

Image Source: touchscreens.com

Image source: ERGO

Touchscreens can be used as assistive devices by users who lack skills to use classic computer equipment. With touchscreens, use of devices becomes more natural, intuitive, and user-friendly.

How the technology actually works > . . .

Note that not all types of touchscreens react when not touched with bare skin (capacitive type requires a conductive input) and that there are differences in picture quality (surface acoustic wave type is best).

There are three types of touch screen technology (Source:CIO-Midmarket):

Resistive: A resistive touch screen panel is coated with a thin metallic electrically conductive and resistive layer that causes a change in the electrical current which is registered as a touch event and sent to the controller for processing. Resistive touch screen panels are generally more affordable but offer only 75% clarity and the layer can be damaged by sharp objects. Resistive touch screen panels are not affected by outside elements such as dust or water.
Surface wave: Surface wave technology uses ultrasonic waves that pass over the touch screen panel. When the panel is touched, a portion of the wave is absorbed. This change in the ultrasonic waves registers the position of the touch event and sends this information to the controller for processing. Surface wave touch screen panels are the most advanced of the three types, but they can be damaged by outside elements.
Capacitive: A capacitive touch screen panel is coated with a material that stores electrical charges. When the panel is touched, a small amount of charge is drawn to the point of contact. Circuits located at each corner of the panel measure the charge and send the information to the controller for processing. Capacitive touch screen panels must be touched with a finger unlike resistive and surface wave panels that can use fingers and stylus. Capacitive touch screens are not affected by outside elements and have high clarity.

Comparing touch technologies > . . .

Touchscreen Overlays

It is also possible to put a "Touch Window" over the front of a standard monitor to give the same function as illustrated in the picture below. A lightpen is a similar idea, requiring you to hold a pen and point it at the screen.

A touch screen kit includes a touch screen panel, a controller, and a software driver. The touch screen panel is a clear panel attached externally to the monitor that plugs into a serial or Universal Serial Bus (USB) port or a 'bus' card installed inside the computer. The touch screen panel registers touch events and passes these signals to the controller. The controller then processes the signals and sends the data to the processor. The software driver translates touch events into mouse events. Drivers can be provided for both Windows and Macintosh operating systems. Internal touch screen kits are available but require professional installation because they must be installed inside the monitor. (Source:CIO-Midmarket).

Touch Overlay Window with Software

Touchscreen overlay kit (Touchscreens.com)

More about Touchscreen overlays > . . .

Touchscreen Technologies

Touchscreen iMAC		HP IQ500 TouchSmart PC.

Asus Eee Top touchscreen PC The latest offering from Asus. It has a 15.6" Single Touch Panel and a 1.3 megapixel webcam, plus built-ib microphone, speakers and Wi-Fi. (Image source: Play.com)		Asus Eee Top demo

Asus Eee Top Review		Hands on with the HP TX2z

Touchscreen panels for Monitors		Dell Studio One 19

Microsoft Surface

Microsoft Surface is a new technology that has recently been released The video illustrates the power of multitouch technology where you can activate more than one area of the screen at a time

Microsoft Surface is a new technology that has recently been released

The video illustrates the power of multitouch technology where you can activate more than one area of the screen at a time

3D Interface with Touchscreen

Xgl is a new Xserver architecture layered on top of OpenGL. Xgl can perform intricate graphical operations--such as rendering antialiased fonts--noticeably faster than other available Xservers that do not use OpenGL. More important than speed alone, Xgl accelerates complex composite operations, making possible new stunning visual effects. These visual effects have broad practical use, making Linux more accessible for the visually impaired, and creating a workspace that is easier to comprehend and navigate for less experienced users. More about SUSE Linux desktop . . .

Xgl is a new Xserver architecture layered on top of OpenGL. Xgl can perform intricate graphical operations--such as rendering antialiased fonts--noticeably faster than other available Xservers that do not use OpenGL.

More important than speed alone, Xgl accelerates complex composite operations, making possible new stunning visual effects.

These visual effects have broad practical use, making Linux more accessible for the visually impaired, and creating a workspace that is easier to comprehend and navigate for less experienced users. More about SUSE Linux desktop . . .

TouchScreen Suppliers & Resources

Tablet PCs

What is a Tablet PC?

Tablet Tutorial Part 2

Tablet Tutorial Part 3

Apple MacBook Tablet

Hearing

invisiblebloke — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:15:01 CST

Hearing Loss and technology

Tools to assist with access to a PC for people with a hearing loss

People who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can configure Windows to use visual cues in place of sounds, or increase the volume level of program and system sounds. This article discusses the accessibility tools that are available for deaf or hard-of-hearing users, and also describes how to use standard Windows XP features to assist these users.

The accessibility tools that are included with Windows are intended to provide a minimum level of functionality for users with disabilities. Most users with disabilities need utility programs with more advanced functionality for daily use. For information about accessibility products and aids for Windows operating systems, refer to the Microsoft Web site, and then search for the word, "accessibility":

To Use Accessibilities Sound Features

The Accessibilities program in Control Panel offers two features for deaf or hard-of-hearing users: SoundSentry, and ShowSounds.

To open the Control Panel program:

Click Start.

Click Control Panel.

Click Accessibility Options.

Click the Sound tab.

•

SoundSentry is designed for people who have difficulty hearing system sounds that are generated by the computer. With SoundSentry, you can change settings to generate visual warnings, such as a blinking title bar or a flashing border, whenever the computer generates a sound. To turn on SoundSentry, select the Use SoundSentry check box, and then select the visual warning you prefer from the drop-down list.

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ShowSounds instructs programs that convey information by sound to also provide information visually, such as through text captions or informative icons. To turn on ShowSounds, select the Use ShowSounds check box.

To Use Windows XP Sounds Features

You can configure the standard Windows XP sounds features to assist deaf or hard-of-hearing users. These features are available in the Sounds and Audio Devices program in Control Panel.

To open Sounds and Audio Devices:

Click Start.

Click Control Panel.

Click Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices.

Click Sounds and Audio Devices.

•

To give users a quick way to control the volume of sounds, display the volume control icon in the notification area. To do so, on the Volume tab, under Device volume, select the Place volume icon in the taskbar notification area check box.

•

To make sure that users get the full effect of system sounds, create a sound scheme that uses sounds in the appropriate frequency. To do so, on the Sounds tab, in the Program events list, assign a sound for each event. Under Sound scheme, click Save As. In the Save Scheme As dialog box, type a name for the new sound scheme. The new scheme can be selected from the Sound scheme box.

Videos of Access Technology to assist people with a hearing loss

iCommunicator

Text Telephone (TTY)

A TTY is a device that enables people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-disabled to use the telephone by typing messages back and forth to one another instead of talking back and forth. In order to communicate, a TTY is required at both ends of the conversation, unless the call is placed through a Typetalk Relay Service, like the one offered by the RNID.

TTYs are traditionally used in one of two ways: either by placing a telephone handset in to the TTY's acoustic couplers or by directly connecting the TTY to an analog telephone line. Both methods have advantages. In noisy environments, Direct Connect eliminates distracting outside noises and allows the TTY to notify you of incoming calls (with a ring flasher or indication on the text display). It also allows for auto-answer and keyboard dialing capabilities. Acoustic use is convenient when an extra telephone jack is not handy or in environments that do not support an analog phone connection. TTY [teletypewriter], TDD [telecommunication device for the deaf], and text telephone all refer to the same device. (Source: Ultratec)

RNID Typetalk provides a link between the textphone user and the hearing person through a trained RNID Typetalk Operator who relays the conversation. The textphone user will type their part of the conversation and the operator will read exactly what is typed to the hearing person. The hearing person replies and the operator types exactly what is said so the textphone user can read the response on their textphone display panel. This is a service, where a person receives a teletyped message and then relays it verbally to the intended recipient. (Source: RNID)

Video relay Service

A Video Relay Service (VRS) is a telecommunication service that allows deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired individuals to communicate over the phone with hearing people in real-time, using a sign language interpreter (Source: Wikipedia).

How it works (Source: Wikipedia)

An individual who communicates by sign language, uses a videophone or other video device, such as a webcam, to connect via broadband Internet to a Video Relay Service.
The caller is routed to a sign language interpreter, known as a Video Interpreter (VI). The VI is in front of a camera or videophone.
The video user gives the VI a voice number to dial, as well as any special dialing instructions.
The VI places the call and interprets as a neutral, non-participating third party. Anything that the audio user says is signed to the video user, and anything signed by the video user is spoken to the audio user.
Once the call is over, the caller can make another call(s) or hang up with the interpreter.

Resources and Suppliers of Hearing AT

AZhearing.com. US specialist is Hearing related assistive technology. This is a very useful FAQ about hearing AT: http://www.azhearing.com/ald-primer.htm
CapTel. The Captioned Telephone works like any other telephone with one important addition: It displays every word the caller says throughout the conversation. CapTel users can listen to the caller, and can also read the written captions in the CapTel's bright display window. Learn More . . .
WebCapTel. It lets you have telephone conversations with the convenience of online captions. You make or receive phone calls using any phone you want, while viewing captions of the call in the Internet browser window on your computer. It's just like a traditional CapTel phone call, only you use your own phone (any phone!) and watch the captions online instead of in the CapTel display screen.
Captioned telephony - Ofcom's research into telephone relay services

Telephones

invisiblebloke — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:54:20 CST

Telephone Systems

Telephone conversations are an extremely important aspect of modern communication. To the hard of hearing user, finding the right phone or compatible device is extremely important to maximize clarity, minimize feedback and increase usefulness.

According to Connevans, high frequency hearing loss is a problem affecting up to 95% of hearing impaired people. Those with high-frequency hearing loss can't hear sounds like st and ch, so words like stair and chair sound like air. Just increasing the volume doesn't always help because it amplifies all frequencies. What these people probably need is a telephone which features a built-in sound equalizer which selectively increases the volume of high or low frequency sounds. (See the Geemarc CL1400).

Big Key Telephones

CSC 50 Jumbo Key

Opticom-big-button-corded-telephone Info source: Phone Review	BT Big Button 100 Info source: Connevans	Serene Innovations Jumbo Key HD-60J 60dB More big button telephones (US website) . . .

Video Phones

Video calling over a standard telephone line has been tried in the past. A typical example is the Amstrad E3 introduced in 2004. The Gadget magazine T3 said in a review posted in 2007," . . . the E3 is absurdly complex to use, with dozens of dedicated buttons, confusing labels and a weird menu structure. Basically, it's like a 3G phone without the bandwidth, sexiness or portability." BT revitalised the idea, by bringing out two handsets that can make and receive video calls over broadband. There are two handsets - the BT Videophone 1000 and the Videophone 2000.		Image: The Amstrad E3

The Videophone 1000 has a 3.5 inch colour screen and a video camera. To use it, you need to have a BT Total Broadband account, and be signed up to BT Broadband Talk - this is free if you're with BT Total Broadband. The phone can be used as a standard phone, as well as a videophone, and because the calls are made over the Internet, you get very low cost phone calls. According to the BT FAQ, you can make video calls to any other BT Broadband Talk customer who has a video enabled device connected to their BT Broadband Talk service. This could be a BT Videophone or the BT Softphone with a webcam connected. As for calling people overseas is concerned, the FAQ goes on to say, "You can make calls to people overseas, only if they have the BT Broadband Talk service. If they don’t have BT Broadband Talk, you will be able to make a voice-only call." More information about BT Videophones . . .		Image: BT Videophone 1000

Amplified Telephones

If you have difficulty hearing the phone ring, there are phones available that not only amplify the ringer but also have a flashing light which indicates incoming calls and call waiting. Many phones allow the user to adjust the ring and speaking volume and provide optimum volume power. To accommodate other members in your household, some are capable of returning to normal sound levels automatically. Amplified telephones can range from $50 to $200 and are offered with many unique features.

The HearEasy 313c Big Button Extra Loud Phone

Image source: TechReady

Telephone Amplifiers

Telephone amplifiers are an external component that are used with regular phones. There are some now that are mobile phone compatible, which is of great benefit to those on the go.

Connevans Ltd - Inline telephone amplifiers >

Earpieces and Headsets

Earpieces and headsets are also very popular. They are very practical in that they are hands-free and because of their small size, they are portable. Some earpieces are able to plug into cell phone.

Text Phones

For the severely hearing impaired, there are text phones which allow the person to read text messages with the assistance of a relay line. Some text phones are lightweight and portable and some are also cell phone compatible.

Telecoil

Telecoil or T-switch is a feature of some hearing aids and enables the user to better communicate on the phone through a magnetic field. The T switch is activated by the press of the button and is great in that it minimizes background noise and allows hearing aid users to speak directly into the phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Telephone Handset Issues
A person helping out on a reception desk struggles to lift the telephone handsets. He has limited upper body strength but still uses an ordinary computer keyboard so it seems that he can put pressure on static object. A headset appears not to be the solution. The telephone system is digital and managed by a Splicecom Maximiser PCS 400, supported by several PCS 50s. There is a headphone socket in the main phone. No separate socket in the ordinary phones and no obvious button to over-ride the cradle as a way of answering the phone. Are there any devices which would help.

Suggested Solution (supplied by an Abilitynet Consultant):
The Splicecom Maximiser system has a software application called PCS 50 that installs onto a computer and allows the phone system to be operated from the desktop. The user will then have the same view on their computer monitor as you normally see on the LCD touch screen on the phone. The user can then tab through the selections available on screen and/or just click on their chosen selection with their mouse pointer. http://www.ghc.co.uk/maximiser/maximiser_mini_site/partner_phone.html

Also built-in with PCS 50 are lots of usual office telephony systems such as a contacts list which are automatically updated and pushed out to all users, logging of all calls, hot desking, remote home working, etc. http://www.ghc.co.uk/maximiser/maximiser_mini_site/overview.html

At present this software does not have the ability to autoscan and work with a switch button. However, one UK supplier was happy to approach the software developers and work with them to develop the software further to possibly incorporate this. This same supplier actually gives the software away for free as standard with any purchase of the Splicecom systems. They will also offer support through the process of installation and usage. For further information, please contact Adrian Bolton (sales rep) at Gordon Harwood Computers Ltd. (http://www.ghc.co.uk/).

In regards to headsets, Plantronics are extremely good. Make sure there is noise cancellation built in to any headset being considered.

Telephone Resources

Telephone headset selector. Information on telephone headsets and is designed to help you choose the most suitable telephone headset for the job.

Telephone splitter box

Many offices employ blind and disabled personnel who are expected to operate a Telephone system, a Dictaphone system and a Computer system of some sort (often two at the same time). A Splitter Box enables all the operator inputs to be connected to a single unit (box) which, by means of a suitable switching system, and amplification where required, allows the user to select the required inputs and route them to a single headset/microphone assembly. (Hagger)		Image source: Hagger	Image source: Hagger

Many offices employ blind and disabled personnel who are expected to operate a Telephone system, a Dictaphone system and a Computer system of some sort (often two at the same time). A Splitter Box enables all the operator inputs to be connected to a single unit (box) which, by means of a suitable switching system, and amplification where required, allows the user to select the required inputs and route them to a single headset/microphone assembly. (Hagger)

Image source: Hagger

Hands-Free Computing. Specialists in technology to integrate telephone and computer.

Plantronics MX10 (Source:HandsFree)

Plantronics MX10 (Source:HandsFree)

VXI TalkPro SP2 (Source:HandsFree)

Telephone switches and headsets . . .
CapTel. The captioned telephone that displays every word a caller says, on a small screen on the telephone. Great for people with hearing impairment.

How it works:
CapTel phone users place a call in the same way as dialing a traditional phone. As they dial, the CapTel phone automatically connects to a captioning service. When the other party answers, the CapTel phone user hears everything that they say, just like a traditional call.

CapTel users can read conversation captions on their computer screen, at any size or font style they choose. The CapTel USB option lets you connect the CapTel phone to a computer to view captions on the computer monitor. Learn more

Smart phones and Accessibility

invisiblebloke — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:25:31 CST

Mobile phones are becoming more accessible, thanks to developments in screenreader software. First, there was Apple making the iPhone accessible with the addition of VoiceOver. And now, there will soon be a screen reader available specially for the Blackberry smart phones. Many other 'Smart phones' may also soon be become more accessible. This page seeks to highlight some of the available phones and what they offer in terms of accessibility.

Blackberry Humanware, a company specialising in assistive technology for the blind, has created a screen reader specially designed for the Blackberry, called — Orator. It was created in collaboration with two other companies: Research in Motion (RIM), who designed the line of Blackberry phones, and Code Factory, which designed Mobile Speak, a screen reader supported on many other Windows and Symbian phones. Orator is designed so that all core blackberry applications are fully accessible. Many of the third party applications developed for the blackberry may also have the chance to become accessible. RIM has created an accessible applications interface, which, if third parties chose, can help them streamline the process for creating applications that the entire potential customer base can utilise, even if some of those customers have disabilities. (original article . . .) Blackberry Storm v iPhone

iPhone The iPhone could be considered the leader in accessibility as far as accessibility features is concerned. The latest iPhone 3G Currently offers: Touchscreen (with speech feedback) Voiceover screenreader (as on the Mac computer range) Universal zoom, which magnifies the whole screen White text on black background Mono audio combines left and right, so that both ears can hear the sound More information about iPhone accessibility features . . . The iPhone can now also be used as a Communication Aid, thanks to a new App called Proloquo2go. (more information about Proloquo . . .)

Blackberry

Humanware, a company specialising in assistive technology for the blind, has created a screen reader specially designed for the Blackberry, called — Orator. It was created in collaboration with two other companies: Research in Motion (RIM), who designed the line of Blackberry phones, and Code Factory, which designed Mobile Speak, a screen reader supported on many other Windows and Symbian phones.

Orator is designed so that all core blackberry applications are fully accessible. Many of the third party applications developed for the blackberry may also have the chance to become accessible. RIM has created an accessible applications interface, which, if third parties chose, can help them streamline the process for creating applications that the entire potential customer base can utilise, even if some of those customers have disabilities. (original article . . .)

Blackberry Storm v iPhone

iPhone

The iPhone could be considered the leader in accessibility as far as accessibility features is concerned.

The latest iPhone 3G Currently offers:

Touchscreen (with speech feedback)
Voiceover screenreader (as on the Mac computer range)
Universal zoom, which magnifies the whole screen
White text on black background
Mono audio combines left and right, so that both ears can hear the sound
More information about iPhone accessibility features . . .

The iPhone can now also be used as a Communication Aid, thanks to a new App called Proloquo2go. (more information about Proloquo . . .)

Google G1 Android

Made by HTC, this G1 was unveiled circa September 2008. The image shows a G1 with iAugComm AAC software installed.

The Daily Telegraph (www.telegraph.co.uk) published an early review of the phone. Here is an extract from their review website:

' Although the reviewers were given only a few hours access to the HTC-made handset at its launch, and most of their conclusions are cautious, there appears to be emerging consensus. Namely that although the G1 is far from ground-breaking, it offers an operating system that could, with improvements, tempt users away from the Apple iPhone. You can click on the website names to read the reviews in full, and offer your own first impressions of the handset at the comment box at the bottom of the story. It doesn’t have quite the finish of the iPhone (both in terms of hardware or user interface), but it comes pretty **** close. And more importantly, it matches the iPhone on many fronts. It’s got GPS, WiFi, a touchscreen, an accelerometer, a camera, Gmail, Google Maps, a Webkit-based browser (just like Safari on the iPhone), and an App market.
Tech Crunch

From a hardware perspective, the G1 isn't a game changer. But under the hood, the Google Android software greatly improves the mobile Web experience for users, making it a compelling competitor to the Apple iPhone and a hands-down winner when compared with other smartphones.
CNET

While I was more impressed by the T-Mobile G1 than I thought I'd be, the list of catches for Android and the phone are quickly piling up - some that might very well be dealbreakers. Topping the list, it's tightly integrated with your Google account - so tightly that you can only use one Google account with the phone.
Gizmodo

Read more extracts and see the original reviews at: www.dailytelegraph.co.uk/technology . . .

T-Mobile Google G1 Review

T-Mobile Google G1 Review

What is Android?

Android was developed by the Open Handset Alliance. Android was built from the ground-up to enable developers to create compelling mobile applications that take full advantage of all a handset has to offer. It was built to be truly open. For example, an application can call upon any of the phone's core functionality such as making calls, sending text messages, or using the camera, allowing developers to create richer and more cohesive experiences for users. Android is built on the open Linux Kernel. Furthermore, it utilizes a custom virtual machine that was designed to optimize memory and hardware resources in a mobile environment. Android is open source; it can be liberally extended to incorporate new cutting edge technologies as they emerge. The platform will continue to evolve as the developer community works together to build innovative mobile applications.

More about Android . . .

Mobile Phones

invisiblebloke — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:23:06 CST

Training

AbilityNet offers an in depth course on mobile phones and accessibility at www.abilitynettraining.org

Mobile phone access for people with low vision		Video playlist of mobile phones and accessibility from www.youtube.com/abilitynet

Voice Controlled iPod		DirectVoxx Voice Controlled iPod and iPhone

Text to speech for iPhone or iPod		Text to speech for Blackberry Storm

Sony K800i and Wayfinder GPS software		Controlling a PC with a Mobile Phone (via Bluetooth)

Sony Ericsson C702i with Wayfinder GPS

Using mobile phones as video projectors

ViewSonic PJ258D iPod projector

The integrated iPod dock lets you project video content directly from an iPod for larger-than-life pictures and videos. The array of projector connectivity options allows you to connect a PC, DVD player, game consoles and more. The PJ258D uses Texas Instruments DLP technology for sharp digital images.

More information about the iPod projector . . .

Projectorphone by ChinaVision

Samsung W7900 projector phone

Samsung MBP200 Pico projector accessory

More on the Samsung Pico Projector phone

Easy Mobile:

A new handset in the 'Easy' range of accessible mobile phones has been launched in the UK by distributor
Communic8. The EasyUse handset has an anti-glare screen, large characters, large number keypad and other accessibility features. It is available through the RNIB shop or from Communic8 Ltd on a Vodafone Pay as you Talk package at £139.99:

http://www.silverphone.co.uk

Screenreaders for Mobile Phones

Screenreaders for Mobile Phones and PDAs

There appears to be only a limited number of screenreaders available for mobile phones (Smartphones) and PDAs:

A Smartphone is a mobile which can do a lot more than the typical mobile phone - in fact very much like a computer. A smartphone is a phone with advanced features like e-mail and Internet capabilities, and/or a full keyboard. The Nokia N95 for example, is a smartphone.

A PDA (or Personal Digital Assistant) is a handheld computer – also known as a palmtop. Some of the latest PDAs can also be used as mobile phones – and these are often referred to as Smartphones. They can do this either in their own right or via a Bluetooth connection to a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone. The Blackberry is described as a PDA phone. Another PDA is the Hewlett Packard iPAQ 114, described by HP as a Handheld PC. It is powered by Windows Mobile 6 but because it's a PDA, is not compatible with Smart HAL.

The new iPAQ 214 allows you to write emails, with the help of Outlook Mobile. It has integrated wireless networking so that you can get online whenever and wherever you like; at home or in the office, or even in a cafe - you'll always have access to the internet and email. It also includes Microsoft Office Mobile, which would allow you to write documents. However, it's a Windows Mobile 6 device, so will not work with Smart HAL or Pocket HAL, both of which only work with Windows Mobile 5.

Image: iPAQ 214

Mobile Speak, by Code Factory. Needs a Symbian series 8 or 9 phone.
Compatible phone list: http://www.adapt-it.org.uk/products/mobile-speak.asp
Nuance ‘Talks’. Running on Symbian™ Series 60 phones, Nuance TALKS converts the displayed text on the mobile handset into highly intelligible speech. With Nuance TALKS, blind and low-vision users can take advantage of most features, including contact directories, caller ID, text messages, help files, access to the Nokia web browser, and other screen content, available on their mobile phones. TALKS&ZOOMS support the newest Nokia handsets, like the Nokia E51, E90, N81, N82 / N82 8GB, and N95 8GB!. More info: http://www.nuance.com/talks/

View the Talks video . .
Dolphin Smart HAL for Smartphones with Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system. According to Dolphin, Smart HAL won’t work on a Symbian based phone. Smart HAL will apparently work on certain Mobile 6 smartphones but not PDAs.
Compatible phone list: http://www.yourdolphin.com/dolphin.asp?id=99.

There doesn't appear to be screenreader available yet for a Blackberry. It uses it’s own operating system called RIM Blackberry.

KNFB Reader:

The knfbReader Mobile and kReader Mobile software packages run on a multifunction cell phone that allow the user to read mail, receipts, handouts and many other documents wherever the user happens to be. This is a pocket-sized solution to reading on the go. The knfbReader Mobile software has a feature set designed for blind or low vision users. What it features: Reads most printed documents, from letters and memos to pages in a book Reads address labels and package information and instructions Easily recognizes U.S. currency Displays each sentence visually and highlights each word as it is read Stores thousands of pages using easily obtainable flash memory Transfers text files to and from computers or Braille note takers Adjusts reading speed to suit user’s preference. The Nokia N82 appears to be the only supported phone at present. http://www.knfbreader.com/products-mobile.php
KNFB general overview		Using the KNFB reader in detail

Captura Talk

Software that will run on some phones and windows mobile devices – take a photo of text and the software will grab the text and read it back to you. CapturaTalk is an innovative software package designed to operate on a range of Windows Mobile phones to access information and to support reading whilst on the move. This is ideal for people who require literacy support for disabilities such as dyslexia, or for those learning English. Take a photo of important text that you need to understand or remember; CapturaTalk will scan the photograph, recognise the text using the OCR software (Optical Character Recognition) and read the information aloud to you with the text to speech function. You could hear the information printed on a ticket, an information board or a set of instructions; anywhere text can be scanned. For more information about Captura Talk, goto http://www.capturatalk.com/ Appears not to be compatible with phones using Symbian OS.

Software that will run on some phones and windows mobile devices – take a photo of text and the software will grab the text and read it back to you. CapturaTalk is an innovative software package designed to operate on a range of Windows Mobile phones to access information and to support reading whilst on the move. This is ideal for people who require literacy support for disabilities such as dyslexia, or for those learning English.

Take a photo of important text that you need to understand or remember; CapturaTalk will scan the photograph, recognise the text using the OCR software (Optical Character Recognition) and read the information aloud to you with the text to speech function. You could hear the information printed on a ticket, an information board or a set of instructions; anywhere text can be scanned.

For more information about Captura Talk, goto http://www.capturatalk.com/

Appears not to be compatible with phones using Symbian OS.

The SideKick Slide:

The SideKick Slide is sold by T-Mobile. One of the features of the phone is Instant messaging. Deaf people will find this useful as they can connect and communicate with someone immediately. In Issue 69 of Ability Magazine (www.abilitymagazine.org.uk) they report that the parents of an autistic student load a list of things he must do each day, to remind him.

The SideKick Slide is sold by T-Mobile. One of the features of the phone is Instant messaging. Deaf people will find this useful as they can connect and communicate with someone immediately. In Issue 69 of Ability Magazine (www.abilitymagazine.org.uk) they report that the parents of an autistic student load a list of things he must do each day, to remind him.

Switch accessible mobile phones

Click-to-Phone The Click-to-Phone enables a person who cannot press the keys of a mobile phone to operate the phone with a single switch, a 5 switch device or the joystick on their powered wheelchair. All the Phone’s functions can be accessed through the Click-to-Phone software. For example the Phone can be answered, the contacts list can be browsed, text messages to be sent etc. More information from QED Online . . .		Using a Mobile Phone with Click-to-Phone

Click-to-Phone

The Click-to-Phone enables a person who cannot press the keys of a mobile phone to operate the phone with a single switch, a 5 switch device or the joystick on their powered wheelchair. All the Phone’s functions can be accessed through the Click-to-Phone software. For example the Phone can be answered, the contacts list can be browsed, text messages to be sent etc.

More information from QED Online . . .

Using a Mobile Phone with Click-to-Phone

Using Mobile Phones with Bluetooth keyboards:

Converts your mobile device into an easy to access Laptop. This newly introduced product is apparently the world's only dual standard full sized folding keyboard.

http://www.bluetooth-keyboards-uk.co.uk/

Web browsers on mobile phones

Safari for the Apple iPhone

Satellite Navigation for mobile phones

Loadstone GPS. Free GPS software for mobile phones. Developed for Symbian Mobile/phones using the Series60 platform. Although Loadstone-GPS is a useful navigational tool for everyone, it is particularly useful for blind and visually impaired people using screen readers such as Talks (TM) (a Nuance product) and Mobile Speak (TM) (a Code Factory product). FAQ and more information . . .
Wayfinder Access aims to help the blind and visually impaired to become more mobile with better access to their surroundings. The navigation software can be combined with text-to-speech applications like Code Factory's screen reader for Symbian mobile phones, Mobile Speak, to convert the displayed directions on the mobile device into highly intelligible speech. It also integrates unparalleled screen magnification with font smoothing thus making Wayfinder Access the perfect mobility solution even to the low-vision users. Find out more about Wayfinder and in which countries it is available . . .

Wayfinder North America - Compatible phones . . .

Useful Resources:

Global Assistive Technology Encyclopedia

invisiblebloke — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:40:06 CST

The Global Assistive Technology Encyclopedia (GATE) is a Wiki, or piece of server software that allows users to freely create and edit Web page content using any Web browser. It's a little bit like Wikipedia, but just concentrating on assistive technology. GATE is very simple to use, with a control panel enabling you to add content and more. There are currently 264 pages of information and 176 registered users.

More about Wikis . . .

Translate this wiki into 10 different languages - instantly.

	übersetzen	traduisez	traduzca	переведите	번역하십시오
	vertaal	traduca	traduza	翻訳しなさい	翻译

Information is power, but it is only distributed information which is truly empowering (1)

What this Wiki is all about

This wiki has been created by AbilityNet, the UK's largest provider of advice and information on all aspects of Access to technology. The purpose of the wiki is to provide live and up to date information on all aspects of Assistive Technology.

The wiki is moderated and all comments and opinions are those of the individual contributor not necessarily that of AbilityNet.

The wiki is in constant development and we welcome comments, thoughts and contributions.

Anyone who is a registered user can enter information.

Accessibility help . . .

Guidance for creators and writers

Site map to aid navigation . . .

Case studies

The experience and impact of AT is illustrated through case studies.

Access Technology in the workplace

Working with different needs

Vision

How a person with a vision impairment access a computer - bigger fonts, magnification, screen reading software and braille devices.

Physical Needs

Some disabilities will require to consider an alternative to the standard keyboard and mouse which comes with a computer. In this section you will find a range of keyboard and mouse alternatives, including on-screen keyboards, eye pointing and head tracking technology.

Language and Communication

AT to assist giving the user a voice - augmenting or offering speech. AT to assist with giving the user improved access to written communication as a reader or writer.

Learning Disability

People with learning disabilities have difficulty taking information in through the senses and processing the information with accuracy. This may lead to difficulty learning and performing in school and work. Most learning disabilities are manifested in poor reading, writing and math which subsequently affect a broad range of functions and skills.

Hearing

People who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can configure Windows to use visual cues in place of sounds, or increase the volume level of program and system sounds.

Education

Employment

Home

Other Sources of Information

Have you ever tried getting advice from any of the many so called 'support forums' on the internet and received this kind of advice?:

Question
how do i make the icons bigger on microsoft word 2007???

Answer 1 (from another-view)
Get a larger monitor

Answer 2 (from robknot)
sit REEEAAAAAALLLLLLLLLYYYYYYY close to the screen. hope this helps!

Answer 3 (from RubberBumBum)
Get a magnifying glass!

I think the avatars give the game away here. Not very helpful are they?

You can try asking AbilityNet - call us on 0800 269545 and you'll get a more sympathetic and meaningful response, or have a look at the 'knowledge banks'.

Knowledge Banks

If you can't find what you're looking for on the GATE, where else can you find information on assistive technology or sources of support?

Link to Knowledge Banks . . .

What is Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology - Enabling Dreams

A history and definitions of Assistive Technology, from ATTrain . . .

Technology Spotlight

RJ Cooper laptop/notebook keyboard cover plate

When space is at a premium or the default keyboard is a distraction to the disabled user, then why not cover the keyboard with a special cover plate and place the alternative keyboard on top!

There's even a special jumbo switch available, if an alternative keyboard is impractical.

More about RJ Cooper keyboard covers . . .

New Kensington Slim Blade Trackball Mouse

dapting and adjusting your computer

Adapting and adjusting your computer

OS Tweaks

Things you can do to adjust settings from within your operating system or main applications to make the computer more accessible and matched to your needs

Free Technical Support
List of Organisations providing free computer technical support to disabled people.

Screenshot: www.itcanhelp.org.uk

Hardware

Different input and output devices, i.e. Keyboards, Mice, Voice Recognition software, eye and head track systems, that make it easier for you to put information into a computer and get information out.

Software

Additional software solutions that make accessing information and comunicating on a computer easier, i.e. Word Prediction, Magnification, Communication, Voice Recognition, Screenreaders.

Other Platforms

Mobile Phones

The rapidly changing field of mobile phones creates a range of issues for disabled users. This area explores models of phone with high levels of accessibility and how phones canbe optimised for individual needs

Digital TV

Access to Digital Tv is an increasingly significant issue as The UK along with other EC countries seeks to turn off its analogue signal. This section looks at how disabled people are accessing asnd using DTV

PDA's

PDA's or Personal Digital Assistants descibe those portable or handheld computers that are used to carry information and resources with the user. examples include the HP Ipaq or the PalmPilot series

Communication Aids

Augmentative Alternative Communication aids (AAC), for people who have lost the power of speech through disability. It includes the use of eye pointing, gesture, signing, symbols, word boards, or a speech output device. Augmenting communication involves speech and writing. In some cases, it also involves technology relating to teaching and learning, mobility, environmental control and employment

(1) Based on a quote by Tom Watson, Minister for Digital Engagement, as he outlined the next steps in the Government's Power of Information programme

This Wiki is supported by the Information Technologists Company

Mac Voice Recognition

invisiblebloke — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:36:29 CST

How to use the Macs' built-in speech recognition:

MacSpeech Dictate Demonstration 2

MacSpeech Dictate Demonstration 3

MacSpeech Dictate Built-in Commands

MacSpeech Dictate v1.5

ViaVoice. IBM ViaVoice for Mac OS X brings natural, continuous speech voice dictation to Apple's Mac OS X.

System requirements:
Mac OS X version 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3
300 MHz G3 processor or higher*
192 MB RAM (256 RAM recommended)
600 MB of available hard drive space

Goto IBM ViaVoice product homepage (US) >

Using ViaVoice a practical demo:

iListen v1.7 for OS X. As of January 2008, iListen has been discontinued and replaced by a new speech recognition program, called MacSpeech Dictate (released February 15, 2008). MacSpeech Dictate uses the same speech-recognition engine as Dragon NaturallySpeaking. (Source: Wikipedia). You can still buy the iListen software - if you look hard enough. iListen Supplier: http://www.macgold.co.uk/products/10695.shtml

Dragon Naturally Speaking

invisiblebloke — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:31:27 CST

Dragon Naturally Speaking uses a minimal visual interface. Dictated words appear in a floating tooltip as they are spoken, and when the speaker pauses, the program transcribes the words into the active window at the location of the cursor. Like other speech recognition software,

NaturallySpeaking has three primary areas of functionality. Dictation, whereby spoken language is transcribed to written text; commands that control, whereby spoken language is recognized as a command to click widgets (controls); and finally text-to-speech whereby written text is converted to synthesized audio stream.

(Source: wikipedia)

The Dragon Bar

Using in a school environment In the following video, Rhodri Buttrick shows you how voice recognition software transformed his schoolwork. He explained," When l was 9 years old, I was given a demonstration of voice recognition/ text reading software. I tried it out and it worked for me. Everyone (teachers, especially) had told me that the software didn't work for children. As my severe dyspraxia/dyslexia meant I wasn't able to learn to write or type, I was getting nowhere in school. It was that trial which helped my parents to decide to buy the software and help me to learn to use it. l used it for my GCSE exams, which I passed with high grades, and am now studying for A levels".

Using Dragon Naturally Speaking with a Digital Notetaker		Transfer Audio From An Olympus WS-110 To A PC

Browse the web with Dragon		Using Dragon V10 with MS Office 2003

Read about Katie, who has Friedrichs Ataxia and her experiences with Dragon Naturally Speaking > . . .

Hands Free Computing voice recognition demo video > . . .

Dragon Naturally Speaking Commands

There is information about Dragon Naturally Speaking commands on Wikipedia. It's in it's early stages but worth having a look from time to time. Go there . . .

Dragon Naturally Speaking v7 user guide . . .>
Dragon Naturally Speaking v8 quick start guide . . .>

Dragon Naturally Speaking v9 quick start guide . . .>
A free tutorial for Dragon:
A tutorial for using Dragon to word process

Using 'MouseGrid' to control the cursor (source: Dragon basics):

Dragon Naturally Speaking mousegrid Dragon NaturallySpeaking provides a Mouse Grid navigation system similar to that used in previous and current versions of Dragon Dictate to move the mouse pointer. Saying "MouseGrid" displays a 3x3 grid with nine numbered squares which cover the entire screen. Saying the number of a square "refocuses" the grid to the selected square. Repeating the selection process moves the mouse pointer to the desired object by a process of approximation. Saying "click" selects the object. Saying "MouseGrid" opens the Mouse Grid in the current window. Additional fine-tuning of the mouse pointer can be accomplished by using a limited set of mouse movement commands. Say "mouse (up, down, left or right)" followed by a number between 1 and 10, will move the mouse a few pixels in the selected direction. For example, saying "mouse up 9" will move the mouse pointer up about one-eighth of an inch. More about Mousegrid . . .

HippoCampus MouseGrid The Hippocampus Mouse Grid is designed to assist with voice only or keyboard only control of the mouse pointer for v5.0 or later Dragon NaturallySpeaking® voice-recognition software. When launched the application parks itself in the Taskbar adding a number of global mouse positioning voice commands. More information about HippoMouseGrid . . .

Using dragon with special macros to control the mouse cursor

Some useful hints and tips to get Dragon naturally Speaking working properly

Re-enrolling.
Re-enrol using a different user name. Can then be sure of a “clean” start and use most current understanding of dictation and correction technique to build the system’s knowledge of the user’s voice and vocabulary. Almost certainly re-enrol when using a new microphone.
In general – especially given the availability of tools that build personal vocabulary from existing e-mails and documents – re-enrolment should not be feared and can be very helpful.

Training.
As a general rule individuals who attempt to use voice recognition without training and support will not succeed. The current list of authorised Dragon specialist resellers and trainers is at www.nuance.co.uk/naturallyspeaking/locator.

Dictation Style.
Dictation style is important in order to dictate effectively to Dragon. While it can be fast and very natural, is not quite conversational speech. Talk to the system in a relaxed manner but with just a little more care with articulation, at least at first. In time the user will be speaking more and more naturally, without losing accuracy.

PC Processor.
Adequate RAM. A faster processor, dual-core if possible will help to ensure success.

Dragon Edition.
Only Professional fully supports Outlook.

Changing working position.
When using voice recognition it is very important to use relaxed postures, and even to stand occasionally, “unhooking” the body from the need to deliver the hands to the desktop in a single operating posture.

Dragon Naturally Speaking V10 – some personal observations from an experienced trainer

"Dragon’s accuracy is FANTASTIC. Demoing it to new people is akin to magic. And there is no doubt that Dragon looks most fantastic when dictating at flat-out speed - from a newspaper or a prepared script. Then it clearly lives up to its billing – 300% faster than typing, 100% spelling improvement, almost no errors. V10 enhances speed and introduces some smart-looking search facilities with natural language commands. Accuracy is said to be improved by 20% but they said that, and promised “up to 99% accuracy”, in the last three releases. So expect your 99% to go up to 99.2%. Strong recommendation NOT to try to carry v9 voice files to v10. Much better to do a clean new enrol on v10 and do the vocabulary enhancement with existing documents and mail. It IS possible to extract macros/commands from previous voice files and insert them into v10 … but you will have to ask Nuance how this is done. Other V10 Notes V10 starts and launches applications faster. Dragon Voice Shortcuts - New natural language commands. Examples: “Search web for Plantronics” – uses your chosen search engine. “Search desktop for legal template” – uses Google desktop.	Dragon Naturally Speaking V10 demo

"Dragon’s accuracy is FANTASTIC. Demoing it to new people is akin to magic. And there is no doubt that Dragon looks most fantastic when dictating at flat-out speed - from a newspaper or a prepared script. Then it clearly lives up to its billing – 300% faster than typing, 100% spelling improvement, almost no errors. V10 enhances speed and introduces some smart-looking search facilities with natural language commands.

Accuracy is said to be improved by 20% but they said that, and promised “up to 99% accuracy”, in the last three releases. So expect your 99% to go up to 99.2%.

Strong recommendation NOT to try to carry v9 voice files to v10. Much better to do a clean new enrol on v10 and do the vocabulary enhancement with existing documents and mail. It IS possible to extract macros/commands from previous voice files and insert them into v10 … but you will have to ask Nuance how this is done.

Other V10 Notes

V10 starts and launches applications faster.
Dragon Voice Shortcuts - New natural language commands.
Examples:
“Search web for Plantronics” – uses your chosen search engine.
“Search desktop for legal template” – uses Google desktop.

Dragon Naturally Speaking V10 demo

“Search images for …..”
“Search Amazon for …..”
“Search Youtube for ….”
“Search wikipaedia for …”

Improved natural language commands for Office 2007 are only available in DNS Professional. The very smart and genuinely NEW search commands can be said to open up DNS for a new type of (non-disabled) user; one who is not so much a writer of lots of words as a searcher, researcher and surfer.

The command, “send mail to Joe Bloggs” will launch your e-mail application and start a new message, with the address in.
No-training option produces excellent accuracy. The view is that training not necessary at all for an experienced user. We are getting closer all the time to speaker independent speech recognition.
A new, third training option on the new user screen is labelled for children and impaired speech (so three options: no training, normal training (6-7 minutes), special training).
The US version includes new regional accents. Expect news about additional future UK English accents and a new option for child users.
‘Small word’ recognition is said to have improved.
The “cap that” irritation/bug (you say ‘cap that’ to capitalise something and get “That”!) is apparently fixed.
Reduced “latency” = faster transfer from the “box” to the application.
Wireless microphone effectiveness apparently improved. With an ear-mounted Plantronics CS60, a DECT/USB connected mic, the results are very impressive – even with the speaker many metres away. The similar Plantronics Callisto, a Bluetooth device, gives similar quality, we are told. For about £50 extra you can now get some Dragon editions with Plantronics mics in the box. But check which one. Beware of tiny buttons on wireless headsets that disabled people can’t find or press, and check out if the user can handle the re-charging and connection process. (All wireless mics need to pick up power from somewhere).
“Blindingly fast” in Office 2003 and XP.
2Gb ram still recommended although the box may still say 1Gb.
There is an option to run a scheduled accuracy upgrade.
Upgrades only go 2 versions … so v8-10 is ok, 7-10 not.
Nuance confirm that DNS does run under BootCamp (Windows under Mac).

Dragon Naturally Speaking V10 and Windows 7

Nuance has apparently performed testing on Windows 7 and found that Dragon installed and ran on this operating system with no major issues and should get official confirmation from Microsoft that it is a compliant application shortly. So for anyone who is wondering if Dragon will run on Windows 7, the short answer is yes!

Using Dragon - general notes from an experienced trainer

In Dragon Naturally Speaking, the green ball at the top of the screen, is the 'select and say' button. If greyed out, then some areas of the underlying program are not compatible, i.e. Powerpoint. ("Start Powerpoint"). Dragon recognises words in context - NOT as single words in isolation. After an upgrade to a more up to date version of Dragon, it's always best to discard the saved voice file and start a new one. If using a digital voice recorder, always use a noise cancelling microphone - VXI are best. Can be used via BlueTooth with dongle. A 'Buddy' reduces the noise interference (the yellow bars on DNS enrolling process).

Using the following phrase,"What can I say?", will bring up a list of available commands relevant to the current application. Also: Under the Help Menu you can view the help topics. Also you can view the Accuracy Center. Select “Improve My Accuracy” from the help menu. Chose “Sample Commands” a list of global commands will appear on the right side of the screen.

The old version - Dragon Dictate - is still out there. Dictate accepts input one word at a time, which suits people with certain vocal difficulties. It does not work very well with Windows XP. Dragon Professional can be configured for complete hands free use. A cheaper option is Dragon Preferred, with Talking Point software running alongside.

Dragon V9 supports 'Roaming Profiles' on a network, but there are usually problems because of IT security restrictions. The 'Tap System' is an interface for use between a Dragon user's computer and the host network computer. Some network software is not fully compatible with Dragon. Sometimes Pixel Mapping (Grids) is required for those which only allow mouse clicks. Professional allows a 3rd party to edit saved voice files, without affecting the original sound recording. The DNS command 'Heard Word' can be used to change a command phrase.

A number of international languages are supported. This German website, Abitz.com, offers a particularly detailed description of what the program offers.

Dragon Naturally Speaking does not currently operate on an Apple Mac (accept under boot camp - windows on mac), although the new MacSpeech Dictate uses the Dragon engine.

Using voice recognition with other software

Dragon Naturally Speaking and JAWS (Screenreader). If you want to use Dragon with JAWS, you need a bit of 'go between' software like J-Say Pro, which was developed specially for this. You do not have to have a vision impairment to use J-Say Pro. More about this > . . .
Vista and JAWS. J-Vist allows a JAWS user to talk to their computer with Windows Vista voice recognition. More about this > . . .
What J-Say users say about the product (Source: T&T Consultancy
Dragon stories - some personal experiences

Suppliers

Voice Recognition

invisiblebloke — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:48:50 CST

What is Voice Recognition

Voice recognition is software that runs on your computer which allows the words that you speak to be converted into text. In addition the sofware has a range of voice commands that allows you to control your computer with your voice, starting programmes, browsing the web sending emails etc. As a means of enabling control this is now a realistic option for those who have good speaking voices. The systems take time to "train" to recognise the speaker, but with practice it is possible to work at the speed of a good typist. More recently these systems have become much more affordable - a full list of options is described in the AbilityNet factsheet "Voice Recognition Systems".

Example of a Voice Recognition user		Accessing the web using voice recognition

Example of a Voice Recognition user

Accessing the web using voice recognition

In an article for Dyslexic.com, entitled,'My Journey with Speech Recognition Software', Charles J.R. Williams writes about his early experiences using speech recognition with a congenital muscular condition (www.dyslexic.com).

Voice Recognition Demo		Using EasyYouTube with Voice Recognition

Voice recognition in the Opera browser		Also have a look at headsets and microphones . . .

Dragon Naturally Speaking >

Vista Voice Recognition >

Voice recognition on the Apple Mac >

Voice recognition and languages

Espanol		Deutsch

Italiano		Nederland

Other voice recognition programs

Simon Open Source Voice Recognition

... is an open-source speech recognition program and replaces the mouse and keyboard.
... is designed to be very flexible and allows customization for any application where speech recognition is needed.
... is a potential European project of "e-inclusion" because of the language-independent programming.
... is in development for physically disabled people to give them the possibility to chat, to write e-mails, to surf the internet, to do internet-banking and much more.

More information about Simon . . .

MultiSpeak - Voice recognition for meetings. Multi-Speaksoftware package is designed to take transcriptions of multi-person meetings easily and accurately, all by just using your voice. Designed for use during meetings, conferences, court reporting, interviewing and more,Multi-Speakcan instantly capture and transcribe speech from up to four speakers at a time, even when they are speaking simultaneously.Multi-Speak outputs entire transcriptions as your meeting continues, ready for revision and correction, complete with the original audio data at the meeting’s completion. Your files can be saved anywhere on a network, making it easy for a third party to editMulti-Speak’stranscriptions. Multi-Speak is apparently the only multi-voice speech recognition software on the market, and already major companies and government departments from around the world are using it.

Example: The Isle of Man Parliament has just installed a second system, after experimenting since April 2008. Each member was asked to record a five minute pre-recorded passage. The resulting voice profile was then improved using the corrected audio from each session to adapt its' accoustic and language elements. Each speaker has a separate microphone and as he/she stands up to speak, the chamber editor uses a touch screen to switch in the correct voice profile, which is then automatically transcribed. There is a small team of editors in another office, correcting text as it appears on their screens. Colour coding indentifies each speaker and 'utterances' are date and time stamped.

More information about Multi-Speak . . .
Tazti. Free download. Navigate Facebook & Myspace. Control iTunes player. Search Google, YouTube, etc. Create speech commands. Manage bookmarks. Surf the internet.

Users can control the iTunes player (by Apple) if it's installed on their PC, change tracks, adjust volume, search or spellsearch itunes music store and perform 30 other functions by speaking to their PC and much more. More information about Tazti's capabilities . . .

Tazti - English demo

Using Tazti with German search engines
SpeechMagic. Voice recognition system by Philips for the healthcare sector. Enables dictation, recognition and correction at any location within a LAN, WAN, across the Internet or in a Terminal Server/Citrix environment. More information about SpeechMagic . . .
Voice Pro 11. Based on the latest in IBM ViaVoice technology. Only available in the german language. Apparently requires no speech training - just go ahead and dictate.
Video presentation . . .

More information about Voice Pro . . .
e-Speaking. An easy software solution to enable you to control your computer, dictate emails and letters, and have the computer read documents back to you. Runs in Windows2000 and WindowsXP. Free download and 30day trial. More information about e-Speaking . . .

e-Speaking demo videos . . .

Voice recognition resources

On Screen Keyboards

invisiblebloke — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:14:08 CST

Millions of disabled individuals use on-screen keyboards every day. An on-screen keyboard is an application that resides on top of other windows, which allows keyboard input to be passed directly from the on-screen keyboard application to the window below. There are many different designs of on-screen keyboards, each having their own specific features and functionality.

Microsoft Windows Onscreen Keyboard

On-Screen Keyboard is an accessibility utility that displays a virtual keyboard on the computer screen, that allows people with physical impairments to type data by using a pointing device or joystick. On-Screen Keyboard can also be used as a typing tutor.
	Features: Audible click on key press Scanning mode Hover mode (dwell clicking) Clicking mode - typing with the cursor Changing key font and size Cons: You can't resize the keyboard

Alternative Onscreen Keyboards

WiViK on-screen keyboard. Also includes a built in word prediction program. The keyboards can apparently contain any keys you want, can be moved anywhere on the screen and can be any size.

More information about WiVik . . .

WiViK is suitable for people of all ages who are unable to use a physical keyboard, such as those with spinal cord injuries, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), muscular dystrophy, and cerebral palsy. Any pointing device or one through six discrete switches may be used as input. Select a key and WiViK sends it to a word processor, e-mail message, web page or other text-based application you may be using. Keyboards can contain any keys you want, can be moved anywhere on the screen and can be any size. It comes with WordQ, which uses advanced word prediction to suggest appropriate words to make typing with WiViK faster and to help with spelling.

Grid 2 and GridKeys

Grid 2
has a mode providing on-screen keyboards for people who are unable to operate the computer using the regular keyboard. Mouse, mouse emulation or switch access can be used to access any computer program including the internet. Sample grids are provided for common functions for applications such as word processing, internet explorer, mouse control, calculator, media player and also sample chat displays for communication are included. The internet explorer display includes command buttons such as 'scan links' and 'scan frames'. Any displays can be customised for individual requirements.

Info and images: Zygo Australia

Using Grid 2 with a Joystick:

Grid Keys Onscreen keyboard
Grid Keys is a computer control program that allows users of switches and pointing devices to use standard Windows programs without either the keyboard or mouse.

Grid Keys is closely related to Grid 2. If you only need Computer Control, then Grid Keys is sufficient. All thefeatures of Grid Keys are available in the Grid 2 plus many more: The Grid 2 also includes voice-output communication, environment control, eye gaze support and many other features.
Screenshot of Gridkeys being used with MS Word

More information about Gridkeys' capabilities . . .

Supplier: Sensory Software

Click 'N' Type (Free)

Click 'N' Type
FREE full featured on-screen virtual keyboard for anyone with a disability that prevents him or her from typing on a physical computer keyboard. - Word prediction and completion - Fully configurable including macros. - AutoClick and Scanning Modes. - Many language/keyboard packs available. Keyboard Designer and many user designed layouts included - Audible and visible feedback options, including Spoken Keys

Designed for anyone who needs help using a physical keyboard with special consideration for the severely handicapped. - Works with all pointing devices including head mouse and virtual mouse programs like Point-N-Click. - Programs to administer user access available. - Requires Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/XP/Vista. - Portable version for USB Flash Drives.

More information about Click 'N' Type . . .

Clicker 5

Clicker is a writing support and multimedia tool for children of all abilities. At the top of the screen is a word processor called ‘Clicker Writer’. At the bottom of the screen is the ‘Clicker Grid’. This has ‘cells’ containing letters, words or phrases that you can click on, to send them into Clicker Writer – so children can write sentences without actually writing or using the keyboard.
Clicker 5 comes with realistic British speech, so you can hear the words before you write. Simply click on any word with the right-hand mouse button (or Control-click on it if you’re using a Mac). Clicker Writer can also speak letters, words or sentences to you as you write.

Clicker 5 also comes with highly detailed pictures to illustrate common words, and you can use your own pictures too. You can have pictures in the Clicker Grid and click on them to send them into Clicker Writer, so you can write with pictures as well as words! Pictures can appear instantly in cells when you type into them. Pictures can also appear instantly as you type into Clicker Writer.
More about Clicker 5 . . .

Penfriend XL

On screen keyboard (OSK)

More information about Penfriend XL . . .

OSK with word prediction

Apple Specific

KeyStrokes - for Apple Mac.

KeyStrokes is a fully-functional advanced virtual on-screen keyboard that allows you to type with a mouse, trackball, head pointer or other mouse emulator to type characters into any standard Macintosh application.

KeyStrokes provides advanced multilingual word prediction. Thanks to its revolutionary PolyPredix™ word prediction engine it can do word completion, next word prediction and even multi-word prediction in any Roman language as well as many other languages. The PolyPredix™ prediction engine offers many unique, time and effort saving features allowing significantly easier and faster typing. PolyPredix™ can reduce typing efforts by 50 to 70%. More information . . .

Envoy for Mac OS X
Envoy is the latest in access software for the Mac OS X. It is keyboard and mouse replacement software designed to work with the IntelliSwitch wireless switch interface. Envoy is designed for individuals with physical disabilities, and those who are not able to access the Macintosh with the tradition keyboard or mouse.

How does it work?

Pointing Setups (On-Screen Keyboards or OSK): Envoy will allow users of alternative pointing devices, such as the Tracker from Madentec, access to an on-screen keyboard. All keyboard functions can be controlled from these “virtual” keyboards, as well as many scripted computer functions, like launching an application.

Scanning Setups (Automatic Scanning): Envoy also gives one switch automatic scanning and two switch step scanning access to the computer through scanning on-screen Setups. Activation of the switch will bring up a scan array and advance the “scan hilite” to move from one item to the next. Each switch activation selects the hilited item. In this manner, all keyboard and mouse functions can be accessed through the use of a single switch.

More about Envoy . . .

Additional resource

Big Screen Keys keyboard		KeyVit on-screen keyboard

My-T-Soft. www.imgpresents.com/mytsoft/mytsoft.htm		My-T-Pen uses a concept found in fighter planes, helicopters, tanks, and automobiles. That concept is called "Heads Up Display" technology and its principal objective is to keep the users focus and concentration centered in one place. My-T-Pen uses that concept to reduce the visual re-focusing and re-positioning, caused by the heads up and down motion of going from screen to keyboard to screen, and the resulting confusion it causes. www.my-t-soft.com/mytpen/mtp.htm

Build a Board. IMG's latest release of My-T-Soft, My-T-Pen, and My-T-Touch allows you to use custom keyboard layouts created with IMG's Build-A-Board.

Changing from Qwerty to Dvorak

The Dvorak keyboard layout, designed for speed and efficiency by Dr. August Dvorak in the 1930s, can increase typing speed and decrease finger fatigue. It places all the vowels in the left hand of the home row and the most commonly used consonants in the right hand of the home row. Because the frequently-used letters are right there underneath your fingertips and the next most common are directly above, typing involves much less reaching. In this sample paragraph, 70% of the letters are on the home row in Dvorak, with 15% top and 15% bottom. In QWERTY 30% are on the home row. Beware, it takes a little getting used to, especially if you're transitioning from a standard QWERTY.		(Source: http://www.wikihow.com/Switch-to-a-Dvorak-Keyboard-Layout ).
Linux OSK
OnBoard from Ubuntu. As basic OSK with limited switch input capabilities. More information...		GOK (GNOME on screen keyboard). Advanced features including UI grab and switch capabilities. More information...

Vision

invisiblebloke — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:42:32 CST

What do we mean by 'vision impaired' ? There are various definitions which describe this disability, but in simple terms it could be: Partially sighted - a person can see but with some difficulty; Low vision - a more severe impairment of vision, but not necessarily limited to distance vision. This would be someone with sight who is unable to read a newspaper at a normal viewing distance, even with the aid of eyeglasses or contact lenses; Blind - a person having no useful sight.
How the vision impaired use a computer	Office for employees who are blind (US video)

How does someone with a vision impairment use a computer ?

Dependent on the severity of the impairment, there are a number of products available or computer adjustments that can be made, which allow you to use a computer more easily.

Those with partial or low vision:

Increasing the screen resolution - Windows display options
Larger monitor
Larger fonts - making them easier to see in Microsoft Windows
Different background colours - Choosing your preferred colours in Windows
Magnification
Magnification with speech software
Screen overlay sheet or lens - called a 'Fresnel'.

Those with no useful sight:

Other visual difficulties:

Light sensitivity. Some people are affected by the light emitted by the computer monitor. Sometimes this can be resolved by either increasing or decreasing the monitor refresh rate. CRT are generally worse than LCD (flat screen). Other ways of reducing these affects include using Coloured screen overlays or Anti-glare filters. There are varying degrees of filtering available. The filters reduce the strain on the eyes by blocking 99% of ultraviolet rays radiated from LCD screens. In addition, the filters allow 90% of light transmission while protecting the LCD screen from degradation as a result of strong sunlight and other natural lights.

What the RNIB say about light sensitivity (photophobia)

Anti-Glare Filters:

(Image: Screenfilter.net)
(Image: Screenfilter.net)
(Image: Screenfilter.net)
(Image: LaOffice.co.uk)

Suppliers:

Screenfilter.net

ComputingPlus

3M
Photosensitive Epilepsy. The name given to epilepsy in which all, or almost all, seizures are provoked by flashing or flickering light, or some shapes or patterns. Both natural and artificial light may trigger seizures. Various types of seizure may be triggered by flickering light. The word hertz (Hz) refers to how often something happens in a given time. In photosensitive epilepsy, hertz (Hz) refers to the number of flashes or flickers a second. When talking about televisions or computer screens, hertz refers to the rate the scanning lines ‘refresh’ themselves.
Most people with photosensitive epilepsy are sensitive to 16-25 Hz, although some people may be sensitive to rates as low as 3 Hz and as high as 60 Hz. Anti-glare screens do not reduce the flicker rate and are therefore of no specific benefit to people with photosensitive epilepsy.
(Source: Epilepsy.org)

Some useful tips for light sensitivity issues (Source: Prodigy.net)
- Changing Background Colors
  Eyestrain and flicker can also be reduced by changing the background colors of your computer applications from the color white, to a darker color, and making the text brighter if necessary.
- Contrast and Brightness
  If you are light sensitive, try setting the brightness and contrast as low as possible. If the lowest settings are too dark, adjust the contrast before adjusting the brightness. Adjusting the contrast is preferable to increasing the brightness. Contrast is the degree of difference between the lightest and darkest parts of a picture.
- Adjusting LCD and CRT Monitors
  For good LCD viewing, set brightness so that whites are displayed at a comfortable intensity. Then, set contrast so that blacks and whites are as distinct as possible - that is, so the displayed contrast ratio is sufficiently high.
  Reducing eyestrain from video and computer monitors
Visual Stress. Many children and adults suffer from visual discomfort when reading. This can affect reading fluency, concentration and comprehension and can cause rapid fatigue. This Visual Stress can cause symptoms such as movement of print, rivers running through the print and headaches/eyestrain. It's said to exist in many conditions, including: Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Photosensitive Migraine, Photosensitive Epilepsy, Autism and ADHD. Visual stress is defined as a condition which is also known as “Mears-Irlen” syndrome. It refers to reading difficulties, light sensitivity and headaches from exposure to disturbing visual patterns. It can be responsible for print distortion and rapid fatigue when reading. The severity of these symptoms can vary from person to person. Coloured overlays can enable an increase in reading fluency, efficiency and duration. (Source:Cerium Optical).

Irlen syndrome - Irlen Filters. People with Irlen syndrome or Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome cannot read comfortably. The words are not clear and easy to see. There is no typical Irlen syndrome profile. The symptoms vary from person to person and there are many variables involved such as:
- Light Sensitivity - fluorescent, sunlight, car headlights.
- Contrast – reading black print on white paper.
- Print – words blurring, or merging together.
- Span - Unable to see groups of letters or words clearly at the same time.
- Concentration - Problems concentrating on reading or writing.
- Depth - Inability to judge distance and spatial relationships accurately. May bump into things, have difficulty with ball games and stairs.
Coloured or tinted filters called Irlen filters can be prescribed that helps an individual overcome the debilitating effects of the condition. The assessment involves an intensive diagnostic process. More information about Irlen Syndrome . . .

Computer glare and software overlays (courtesy of Chris Stringfellow at AbilityNet).

Dark Screen. Some computer users experience problems with glare from the screen. Dark Screen sits over all windows and provides a means of dimming the output between 20 and 90%. Dark Screen is multi monitor aware, and can be used on the main monitor only or all monitors. Everything is controlled from the icon in the Notification area of the Taskbar (where the clock sits). Clicking this icon will open the menu which allows the selection of Multi Monitor Support, and the percentage of dimming of the screen.

Download Dark Screen . . .

SSOverlay. Very similar to Dark Screen, ssOverlay (the ss stands for Scotopic Sensitivity), places a coloured overlay onto the screen. The colour and transparency levels can be adjusted to suit the user.

Download ssOverlay . . .

Colour blindness or Colour blindness , a colour vision deficiency, is the inability to perceive differences between some of thecolours that others can distinguish. It is most often of genetic nature, but may also occur because of eye, nerve or brain damage, or due to exposure to certain chemicals. (Source: Wikipedia).

ColorHelper has developed interactive software called EyePilot which allows colour-blind people to work more efficiently with the full range of colours in the computer environment. This application is designed as an interactive floating window which can be used to layer over any browser window on your computer screen. The eyePilot tools will then start to work. When you click upon a particular element on the screen, the rest of the screen will turn gray. This allows you to see better the colour of your choice. A second click will cancel the effect. (Source: MyDigitalLife). See more information about EyePilot, by ColorHelper . . .

New Product - Huetility ColourBlindness Simulator App for the iPhone

The Huetility Colourblind Simulator app is intended for people who know someone who is colourblind and want to better understand how he or she perceives colour. It's ideal for parents with children who are colourblind or people who have friends who are colourblind. It's also useful for designers, content creators and developers who want to check that colours they have used are colourblind friendly.

The Huetility app has three important views: 1) normal colour vision, 2) colourblind view (including severe red-green, blue-yellow and complete colour loss) and 3) an error view which highlights, using a grayscale intensity image, the regions of the colour image that change colour the most and hence are likely to cause a colourblind viewer the greatest problems.


The images can be loaded directly from the camera, your photo album or from the samples folder included in the application; the samples folder contains 28 images selected to highlight the accessibility barriers colourblindness presents.

Screen Tinter
Some individuals with apparently normal eyes, experience discomfort and eye strain when viewing computer screens. In some cases these symptoms can be relieved by changing the screen colours. This can be achieved by changing the Windows Display Properties. However, this process is cumbersome and counter-intuitive. Screen Tinter is a free utility which allows the screen foreground and background colours to be changed at the click of a button.

Simply select your preferred Background and Text colour from the palette of the Colour Picker control and click on Set Screen to this Colour and magically all Windows applications will adopt your chosen colours. Click on Reset screen to white to return to the default settings.

More useful information about Screen Tinter Lite at Charlie Danger's BLTT website
:
http://www.bltt.org/software/screentinterlite/index.htm

This is a useful guide for changing colours in Internet Explorer:

http://www.bltt.org/software/ie/colours.htm

T3 Tactile Talking Technology
The T3 is a touch sensitive, multi sensory device which provides instant audio feedback from tactile images. This combination of sound and touch transforms the way in which people who are visually impaired can access graphical information. The T3 is connected to a standard PC or laptop computer via a USB connection and the self-installing programme CD is inserted. To activate the system all that is needed is a T3 tactile diagram overlay to be placed on the surface of the device and touched by the operators finger. (Source: Royal National College for the Blind)

The tablet consists of a touch screen within a plastic surround which houses the tactile embossed sheets with maps, images etc. When various symbols, icons, and regions on the tactile surface are pressed, an audio response comes from a connected computer. The types of voice output depends on the speech synthesis available. PC based software is provided to allow for the design of maps etc and these can be adapted to suit learning preferences. (Source: EmpTech.info)

RNC

EmpTech.info

Screen reading software

Products in practice

This is a novel way to use a Fresnel lens !	Using the free screenreader called Thunder.

Using AT - overcoming Low/No vision difficulties.	Using a screen magnifier - in this example, 'ZoomText'.

Lormer - Computer technology for the DeafBlind The Lormer is a machine invented by Thomas Rupp which translates machine text into movement. It assigns a defined meaning to particular motion - a letter or a sign - and reproduces it. This movement is then applied by a stylus in Lormen lines to a hand resting on a comfortable metal grid (like a kitchen sieve). The Lormer registers and stores three dimensional motion. Each motion can be tuned or set individually and matched to the size of any hand, and can be stored and retrieved. Using the Lormer deafblind people can read and access machine readable text without external assistance or translation and can therefore communicate directly with others. Watch a youtube video of the Lormer and how it was developed . . .

iRotate (free software)

iRotate provides convenient access to the native rotation capabilities present in contemporary display drivers, via a popup menu accessible from the system tray and optional system-wide hotkeys. It's no longer necessary to resort to additional software layers or phantom drivers to achieve content rotation. In most instances, support is now available directly from the graphics chip manufacturers, who continuously improve and apply quality assurance to their drivers.

By usiing the native rotation capabilities now provided by ATI, nVidia, Intel, Matrox, S3, XGI and others, iRotate offers speed and efficiency, with minimal impact on scarce system resources. iRotate supports multiple graphics cards from various vendors, simultaneously, under every multi-monitor enabled operating system from Windows 98 to Vista.

Link to download iRotate . . .

Useful Resources

Assistive technology videos - useful search Tags (YouTube): assistive / disability / magnifier / ZoomText / macular

Guide Software - useful video on what it does, how it works
BrailleNet - French equivalent of the RNIB.
Talking Dictionary is a speech enabled encyclopedic dictionary that can be used with or without a screen reader. The dictionary is based on the Wordnet 2.1 database and contains over 250,000 words. These include historical figures, slang and jargon. Talking Dictionary has been optimized for windows XP. http://www.filetransit.com/view.php?id=18055
Screenless Switchers Podcast - Reviews of product accessibility
BlindWord Blog and Podcast
Vision Australia

Babylon Free online dictionary: http://dictionary.babylon.com/

How to use the Babylon online dictionary: http://www.alehblind.org.il/ellen/babylonwa.html

Ultimate Talking Dictionary. The voice can be “turned off” so that it will not interfere with a screen reader voice: http://65.200.22.182/training/UTD/utd.htm

Using Ultimate Talking Dictionary with JAWS. This narrative teaches you how to look up a definition of a word and getting Jaws to automatically read you the definition: http://65.200.22.182/training/UTD/UTDandJaws.htm
Coping with Blindness - A personal tale of blindness rehabilitation
Vision Support. A Regional Charity recognised as the leading provider of local support and services to people of all ages living with a visual impairment in Cheshire and North Wales. Among the many services on offer, is computer training. More information about this . . .

Vision Technology Suppliers

Free software

iZoom Free web-based magnification and screenreader program. Requires connection to the internet.

A good review of iZoom: http://magnifiers.org/popularnews.php?action=fullnews&id=284

Screenreaders and Text to Speech

invisiblebloke — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:56:45 CST

It is often thought that a graphical interface such as Windows, with its pictures and "icons", is inaccessible to those without vision. In fact these operating systems are still, in reality, text-based and often pictures are purely cosmetic or accompanied by a text label.

A blind computer user can know what is on the screen by having the necessary information spoken by a synthetic voice. This could include having each character or word echoed back as you type. On computers that can produce sounds and music the speech output can be produced in a similar way, through the main speakers. In other instances a separate piece of equipment may be required to make the computer talk.

The software programs that control the speech (called "screen readers") vary in their reliability and intelligence. The more sophisticated allow the user effective and reliable "eyes-free" use of the vast majority of DOS or Windows 95/98/NT programs (as well as some running under other operating systems).

RNIB factsheet: What is a screenreader

Accessing the web using JAWS

Accessing the web with a screenreader

Browsealoud

Browsealoud is a Free Windows program that instantly speech-enables websites, reading the text that users require with the hover of a mouse. Free to download, easy to use with control over the voice, pitch and speed, browsealoud is there when you need assistance as you navigate the Web. Browsealoud can only read sites that have been enabled for its use. While a growing number of websites are enabled, it will provide access only to those sites whose owners or webmasters have elected to utilise this service. For full accessibility, another text-reader or talking browser should be chosen for those sites that are not enabled for Browsealoud.

Browsealoud features		Browsealoud options

Downloading Browsealoud

Guide

An all-in-one computer package, for people who are blind or partially sighted. It has been designed to be easy-to-use and easy-to-learn. Guide has its own in-built screen reader, so it will read out the text on every screen, even while you're typing. It has its own in-built screen magnifier, so you can enlarge the text on every screen, whether you are writing a letter or surfing the Internet. It turns your computer into an easy-to-use Reading Machine. Printed text documents are placed on the scanner and then both spoken out and magnified on the screen. It is available as a CD to be loaded onto an existing computer, or as a complete computer package, all setup and ready to be used. It offers many features, integrated within one package, so that there is no need to switch between different programmes to complete each task. These features include: Write letters and documents; Spell-checker; Dictionary and thesaurus; Magnify handwriting, diagrams or pictures; Print or edit photos from your digital camera; Send and receive emails; Surf the internet; Addresses and contacts; Calendar and reminders and playing CDs and MP3s. Guide-Handsfree is an all-in-one computer package which can be fully controlled by your voice. No keyboard or mouse required.
Guide Demo Part 1		Guide Demo Part 2

Guide Demo Part 3		Guide Hands-Free Introduction

JAWS

A screen reader which works with a PC to provide access to software applications and the Internet. It has an internal software speech synthesizer which works with the computer’s sound card, information from the screen is read aloud, providing technology to access a wide variety of information, education and job related applications. JAWS also outputs to refreshable braille displays, providing braille support for a variety of screen readers. Essentially to use JAWS, you need to be familiar with the keyboard. Ideally you need to be a touch typist. A standard keyboard is recommended, as it has the full range of keys - and where you would expect them to be. More about this . . .

JAWS training Resources MakeLifeBetterNow FreedomScientific Azzabat TandT Consultancy		Useful JAWS user manual Using JAWS with voice recognition software JAWS common keystrokes (Better Living Through Technology)
JAWS Screenreader - Hear an example		Using JAWS to examine website structure

HAL

Another screenreader developed for blind computer users, Hal is a software screen reader that works by reading the screen interactively and communicating through a speech synthesiser or a refreshable Braille display. The makers claim: It is Vista compatible and a few fully featured screen reader. It can be used independently - in other words, not just on a desktop PC, but can be transported on a USB stick to use at any university, internet café, library or work place. Users are able to carry their screen access, with their favourite settings with them at all times. Hal users can apparently also connect remotely on terminal servers or Citrix mainframes. The latest v9.3 works with Vista. More about this . . .

HAL version 10 now available. What's New ?:

Support for Mozilla FireFox
All new Setup Wizard
Improved Internet Quick Navigation Keys
Virtual Focus Text Selection
URL Specific Document Settings for Internet Explorer
Support for Winamp Media Player
Multi-Core ready
Product Improvement Programme

Find out more about it . . .

User manual for HAL v9.0 (English) Other languages available here . . .

Pocket HAL. This a version of HAL which is designed to run on a compatible PDA. Dolphin no longer list this software on their website,, as it is no longer in development. However, if you can get hold of a copy, they tell me it will only work on a PDA running Windows Mobile version 5.

More screenreaders

Window-Eyes
Window-Eyes is a software application for the blind and visually impaired, which converts components of the Windows operating system into synthesized speech allowing for complete and total access to Windows based computer systems.

Using the web with Window Eyes

Talklets and the Textic Toolbox

Talklets let you listen to any web text in clear, life-like speech with a choice of accents and languages. Website owners can easily add Talklets accessibility to a website to provide vocalised web text for all visitors without the need for downloads or special software.The standard Talklets Toolbar offers a range of speech and visual controls and provides a handy way of adding such enhancements to a web page with the addition of a small JavaScript snippet to each page to be speech enabled.http://www.textic.com/

Windows Light 2007
Developed in 2004 by Ha See-Hung, a blind computer user in Hong Kong. Supports Braille output and 3 languages - Cantonese, Putonghua and English.

Tip Top Text Reader

A text to speech reading aid for those who find reading text on a computer screen difficult, for example due to being partially sighted, dyslexic or maybe English is not a first language. Use it to read emails, webpages, documents - anything.

Download Tip Top Reader from TipTopBanana . . .

How to use Tip Top Text Reader

Talking ClipBoard

Talking Clipboard is a free text to speech program, that can read text documents, RSS feeds and webpages using realistic synthetic voices and can convert text to audio files for your music player. It can read text from any application using clipboard and can read a large number of native document formats directly, like: ePub, PDF, DOC, RTF, HTML, TXT. You can also convert large number of text documents to audio WAV or MP3 (with ID3 tags) files, using batch command line conversion or GUI tools. In Talking Clipboard, you have full control over reading like Play/Pause/Stop, jump to next or previous paragraph or line via menu or media remote or keyboard media buttons. Other features include bookmarks, spell correction, text manipulation using regular expressions, RSS reader, Wordnet dictionary, talking reminder, Drag & Drop support, etc.

More information about Talking Clipboard . . .

SaToGo

There is a really good screen reader called System Access To Go (SaToGo) which compares favourably to high-cost screen readers such as Jaws, Window-Eyes and Hal in many areas (it also competes favourably with Thunder, NVDA or other free screen readers) and is now free of charge. It requires an internet connection but installs no files so you can use it on any machine that has a net connection regardless of admin rights (it has no video intercept but relies on MSAA and the object model). Just roll up to a machine and hit Windows+R to bring up the Run dialog and then type www.satogo.com and it will come up talking. Works for unlimited session length and unlimited times. Saves your settings/preferences to their server so will come up the same on any subsequent machine. Use it in libraries or internet cafes as makes no odds if machine totally locked down to sw installs.

It uses mostly Jaws keystrokes which makes any subsequent transition to Jaws very straightforward. Also has nice features no other screen reader has - such as when you land on a website with unlabelled images and you label an image that label is sent to the server and anyone else landing on that page will experience those images already labelled. Of course the same happens for you with any images labelled by others.

For home users with a net connection it's the obvious choice now it's totally free. Also for anyone who is blind and having to use other people's machines. www.satogo.com / http://serotek.com/cas.html

DixerIT. Dixerit reads your website aloud, helping people who may have difficulty reading your content for themselves. No downloads or plug-ins are required: just add a link or button and start listening. More information about DixerIT. . .

TextAloud. TextAloud reads text from email, web pages, reports and more, aloud on your PC. TextAloud can also save your daily reading to MP3 or Windows Media files ready for playback on your iPod, PocketPC, or even on your TV with Tivo's Home Media Option. More information about TextAloud . . .

Open Source

NDVA

This Open Source screen reader for Windows is rapidly gaining features and an enthusiastic user base. At least one Jaws user has been heard to say that they are now able to use a Windows PC without Jaws. It currently supports speech in 13 languages but Braille support is not yet available. A good range of Windows programs are supported and Mozilla Firefox gives a particularly rich accessible browsing experience.

NVDA not only works with programs that make themselves accessible through the MSAA accessibility technology but also supports the growing number of programs that offer richer accessibility though the IAccessible2 Open Standard. More Information and Download . . .

Using NVDA with PacMate braille display

D-Speech.

This is a free TTS (Text To Speech) program with functionality of ASR (Automatic Speech Recognition) integrated. It is able to to read aloud the written text and choose the sentences to be pronounced based upon the vocal answers of the user. OS: Win2000/NT/XP/2003.

Features:

Allows you to save the output as a .WAV or .MP3 file.
Allows you to quickly select different voices, even combine them, or juxtapose them in order to create dialogues between different voices.
DSpeech integrates a vocal recognition system that, through a simple script language, allows you to create interactive dialogues with the user.
Allows you to configure the voices in an independent way.
Thanks to apposite TAGs, it allows you to dynamically change the features of the voices during the playback (speed, volume and frequency), to insert pauses, emphasize specific words, or even to spell them out.
Allows you to capture and reproduce the content of the ClipBoard.
DSpeech is compatible with all vocal engines (SAPI 4-5 compliant).
AI dialog system. Not really useful, but amusing. It does not work in every language.

BalaBolka. A Text-To-Speech (TTS) program. All computer voices installed on your system are available to Balabolka. The on-screen text can be saved as a WAV, MP3, OGG or WMA file. The program can read the clipboard content, view the text from DOC, RTF, PDF, FB2 and HTML files, customize font and background colour, control reading from the system tray or by the global hotkeys. Balabolka uses various versions of Microsoft Speech API (SAPI); it allows to alter a voice's parameters, including rate and pitch. The user can apply a special substitution list to improve the quality of the voice's articulation. This feature is useful when you want to change the spelling of words.

Hindi screen reader breakthrough for blind.

Prologix Software Solutions presented Vaachak Indian Text-to-Speech (TTS) software to assist 480 million Hindi speakers worldwide. In addition, Vaachak now allows visually impaired people to access electronic Hindi content through the SAFA Screen Reader. More about this . . .

ORCA.

A free, open source scriptable screen reader. Using various combinations of speech, braille, and magnification, Orca helps provide access to applications and toolkits that support the AT-SPI (e.g., the GNOME desktop). The command to run orca is orca. You can enter this command by pressing Alt+F2 when logged in, waiting for a second or so, then typing orca and pressing return. Orca is designed to present information as you navigate the desktop using the built-in navigation mechanisms of GNOME. These navigation mechanisms are consistent across most desktop applications. (Source: Linuxlandit)

Online text to speech translator (Source: http://text-to-speech-translator.paralink.com/)

Wikipedia list of Screenreaders

Text to speech software reviews

NaturalReader and BrowseAloud (Source: http://edtech.ed.sc.edu/kseibert/Software_Review.htm)
Penscanner - Text to Speech (Source: PCMag.com)

Screenreaders and Accessibility

The rise in the use of AJAX to dynamically change web content without refreshing the page (Web 2.0 applications) has resulted in accessibility problems for users of Assistive Technology such as Screen Readers. The problem can be divided into two issues:

Users not having access to content changes.
Users not being aware of the changed content if they can access it.

(more on this at http://css.dzone.com/news/ajax-and-screen-readers-conten ).

Isolani - Ajax and Accessibility (Alternative format)

Other Screenreader Resources

Windows Narrator in Windows XP only lets you use the Microsoft Sam voice. This is bad if you're having to use Narrator for situations where your screenreader will not work (e.g. safe mode) or you are not an English speaker and need to do some testing.

How to set Narrator Voice Options in XP

How to change Windows Narrator voice (from Microsoft Sam)
VoiceOver in Mac OS X Leopard. To make it easier for the blind and those with low vision to use a computer, Apple has built a solution into every Mac. Called VoiceOver. It provides a wide variety of requested feature enhancements. These include a new high-speed, high-quality voice, plug-and-play support for refreshable Braille displays, international language support, an interactive built-in tutorial, and the NumPad Commander, which make navigation easier for new Mac owners who previously used Windows screen readers.

Once you’ve customised your own Mac, you can take all your VoiceOver settings with you on the road. To do so, connect a USB flash drive to your Mac and choose Create Portable Preferences from the File menu in VoiceOver Utility. When you connect the flash drive to a Mac, VoiceOver automatically its presence and instantly reconfigures itself to match the Portable Preferences saved on the flash drive for such items as your Pronunciation Dictionary, Braille input key assignments, and NumPad Commander settings.
VoiceOver in more detail . . .

How to use Voiceover

Navigating the Dock and Menu Bar
GhostReader. Text to speech software for the Apple Mac. Convert documents to audiobooks to listen to on an iPod or iPhone. Convert text from news sites and emails to audiobooks to listen to on an iPod or iPhone. Point the cursor at text in Safari, TextEdit, Mail or Pages 2008 to hear the paragraph below the cursor.
InfoVox. Naturally sounding voices in a language of choice for use by any Mac OS X application
MathPlayer: A Math reader for Blind Students

This was copied from a blog called Fred's Head.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Design Science has developed a product called MathPlayer to help the visually impaired. The player reads mathematical text aloud, and you can alter the way it reads certain functions (for example, you may prefer close parens or you might like it to just say parenthesis). The program understands the need to know whether a portion of a fraction is the numerator or the denominator, it understands that you would need to know when the argument of the square root ends, etc. MathPlayer enables Microsoft Internet Explorer to display mathematical notation in web pages. It is based on MathML technology and requires Internet Explorer for Windows version 6.0 and later. "We make MathPlayer available for free in order to foster the adoption of MathML in the math, science, and education communities". Right-click on an equation and see what MathPlayer lets you do with it! You can cut-and-paste math into any one of a growing number of MathML-compatible software packages, such as Maple and Mathematica. You can open it in our WebEQ and MathType products for further editing, reuse in your own documents, and much more>.

Click this link to visit a demonstration page where you can hear JAWS for Windows read a website with and without MathPlayer.
Click this link to download MathPlayer.
Posted by Michael McCarty at 11:10 AM

Screenreaders for Mobile Phones and PDAs

There appears to be only a limited number of screenreaders available for mobile phones (Smartphones) and PDAs:

A Smartphone is a mobile which can do a lot more than the typical mobile phone - in fact very much like a computer. A smartphone is a phone with advanced features like e-mail and Internet capabilities, and/or a full keyboard. The Nokia N95 for example, is a smartphone.

iPAQ 214

A PDA (or Personal Digital Assistant) is a handheld computer – also known as a palmtop. Some of the latest PDAs can also be used as mobile phones – and these are often referred to as Smartphones. They can do this either in their own right or via a Bluetooth connection to a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone. The Blackberry is described as a PDA phone. Another PDA is the Hewlett Packard iPAQ 114, described by HP as a Handheld PC. It is powered by Windows Mobile 6 but because it's a PDA, is not compatible with Smart HAL.

The new iPAQ 214 allows you to write emails, with the help of Outlook Mobile. It has integrated wireless networking so that you can get online whenever and wherever you like; at home or in the office, or even in a cafe - you'll always have access to the internet and email. It also includes Microsoft Office Mobile, which would allow you to write documents. However, it's a Windows Mobile 6 device, so will not work with Smart HAL or Pocket HAL, both of which only work with Windows Mobile 5.

Mobile Speak, by Code Factory. Needs a Symbian series 8 or 9 phone.
Compatible phone list: http://www.adapt-it.org.uk/products/mobile-speak.asp
Nuance ‘Talks’. Running on Symbian™ Series 60 phones, Nuance TALKS converts the displayed text on the mobile handset into highly intelligible speech. With Nuance TALKS, blind and low-vision users can take advantage of most features, including contact directories, caller ID, text messages, help files, access to the Nokia web browser, and other screen content, available on their mobile phones. TALKS&ZOOMS support the newest Nokia handsets, like the Nokia E51, E90, N81, N82 / N82 8GB, and N95 8GB!. More info: http://www.nuance.com/talks/

View the Talks video . .
Dolphin Smart HAL for Smartphones with Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system. According to Dolphin, Smart HAL won’t work on a Symbian based phone. Smart HAL will apparently work on certain Mobile 6 smartphones but not PDAs.
Compatible phone list: http://www.yourdolphin.com/dolphin.asp?id=99.

There doesn't appear to be screenreader available yet for a Blackberry. It uses it’s own operating system called RIM Blackberry.

Free and Low Cost Solutions

invisiblebloke — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:31:17 CDT

Useful low cost programs

These pages bring you a database of shareware programs and utilities that are used by people with a wide range of disabilities.

Whether you are a designer looking for tools to assist you in the testing process, have a disability yourself or know someone who has, this database of shareware and freeware will prove a valuable resource.

If you have a software recommendation you believe should be included on this page, we would love to hear from you.

Go to AbilityNet's shareware and free resources web page . . .

Free Assistive Software Resources

Free assistive software written by Chris Stringfellow, principal consultant with AbilityNet. Some brilliant programs available - large mouse pointers, fun mouse pointers, screen filters, magnification, dwell clicking and many more.
Go to Chris's website . . .
ATutor. An Open Source Web-based Learning Content Management System (LCMS) designed with accessibility and adaptability in mind. Administrators can install or update ATutor in minutes, develop custom themes to give ATutor a new look, and easily extend its functionality with feature modules. Educators can quickly assemble, package, and redistribute Web-based instructional content, easily import prepackaged content, and conduct their courses online. Students learn in an adaptive learning environment.
More information about ATutor . . .
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. 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.
Find out more about AccessApps . . .
Design Science MathPlayer™ enables Microsoft Internet Explorer to display mathematical notation in web pages. It is based on MathML technology and requires Internet Explorer for Windows version 6.0 and later. We make MathPlayer available for free in order to foster the adoption of MathML in the math, science, and education communities.
Download MathPlayer>

OATSoft is dedicated to improving Assistive Technology and computer accessibility through the power of Open Source development techniques. OATSoft makes the best Open Source Assistive Technology Software (OATS) easy to find. Users and developers meet at OATSoft to create better software. Open Source Software is free and the 'source code' that makes the software is freely available. It is developed by international communities operating on-line.
http://www.oatsoft.org/Software/listing/Repository
ICT Hub - Choosing software: http://www.icthubknowledgebase.org.uk/softwarebasics
Internet4Classrooms (I4C) - Free training resources for teachers: http://www.internet4classrooms.com/assistive_tech.htm
SENSELANG. A free touch typing tutor on the internet at http://sense-lang.org/typing/. It can be used online or downloaded.
Wisdom-Soft. From the people who brought you ScreenHunter, here is a FREE program called AutoScreenRecorder 3
The program apparently allows you to record anything you see, do and hear on your screen and save it to a video file or Flash movie.

Linux Accessibility

KDE is a powerful Free Software graphical desktop environment for Linux and Unix workstations. It combines ease of use, contemporary functionality, and outstanding graphical design with the technological superiority of the Unix operating system.

Accessibility features in KDE

Accessibility aids in KDE : The kdeaccessibility package contains three KDE Accessibility Aids: KMouseTool, KMag and KMouth.

KMouseTool is a Linux-based KDE program. It clicks the mouse for you, so you don't have to. KMouseTool works with any mouse or pointing device.

KMagnifier (or kmag, its unix name) is a small utility for Linux to magnify a part of the screen. It magnifies the area of the screen around the mouse pointer or optionally a user defined area. Additionally it offers to save a magnified screenshot to disk.

KMouth is a KDE program which enables persons that cannot speak to let their computer speak, e.g. mutal people or people who have lost their voice. It has a text input field and speaks the sentences that you enter. It also has support for user defined phrasebooks.

Ubuntu

invisiblebloke — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:58:09 CDT

Ubuntu is a community developed operating system that is perfect for laptops,desktops and servers. Whether used at home, at school or at work Ubuntu contains all the applications you'll ever need, from word processing and email applications, to web server software and programming tools. Ubuntu is and always will be free of charge. You do not pay any licensing fees. You can download, use and share Ubuntu with your friends, family, school or business for absolutely nothing. (Source: Ubuntu website)

Ubuntu is based on Linux - the open source operating system and has apparently become the most popular of all the Linux distributions. It is currently used by the French national police force, which runs its operations on the open source OS; computer systems supporting Spanish schools have their own version; the online encyclopaedia runs its hundreds of servers on Ubuntu and SFIA's internal computer system is based around it. (Source: BBC)

Version 9.10 (release candidate) of Ubuntu was released on 29th October 2009 and is known as Karmic Koala.

More information about Ubuntu . . .

Installing Karmic Koala release candidate 9.10		Another Ubuntu installation guide

Pimp your Ubuntu (quick access)		Setting large text and icons

Magnification and speech synthesis Orca is a screen reader and magnifier that enables users with limited vision, or no vision, to use the Gnome desktop and associated applications. The magnifier features automated focus tracking and full-screen magnification. The screen reader enables low-vision and blind users to access applications via speech and braille output. Key-mapped functions are organised on layers giving control over navigation, mouse, magnifier, speech and Braille devices. Orca can be customised to individual applications. This can make otherwise difficult interfaces, such as those of instant messaging clients, easy to use. Orca is available on the Ubuntu Desktop CD. More about Ubuntu accessibility . . .

Accessible Games

invisiblebloke — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:02:32 CDT

,
This is a resource for anything to do with accessible games. Feel free to add your links and other relevant information.

According to the Game Accessibility project, the game industry is expanding at a tremendous rate. Games have been growing in depth and complexity over the past years and have become one of the most popular forms of entertainment, with yearly sales exceeding 7.4 billion dollars. Many innovative developments in new media and ICT arise from the game industry. At the same time there is a huge increase in game-oriented studies at universities and academies.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of modern computer games do not meet the needs of gamers who function under limiting conditions. Limiting conditions can be functional limitations, or disabilities - such as blindness, deafness, or mobility limitations. (Source: Game Accessibility)

Why some games are not accessible (Source: Axistive.com )

Playing a race game with one hand	Playing a game with a head tracker

Playing a game with one switch	Can someone who is quad play video games?

Playing Counterstrike using SmartNav	Using combination of head track and voice recognition

Mainstream Game Developers talk about Accessibility
AbleGamers.com is talking to Mainstream Game Developers Paul Barnett, Creative Director of WarHammer Online	AbleGamers.com Asks Developers About Game Accessibility @ GDC '09

Advocate for Accessible video games Florio was paralyzed from the neck down at age 14 after a diving accident. These days, the 20-something is pursuing an online course in art and game design. The video game fan hopes to start his own game company some day. In the meantime, he has become an advocate of "accessible" games-- games that can be easily played by people with handicaps. Robert uses a combination of SmartNav, voice recognition and sip'n'puff. View the video and read more about Robert Florio . . . Video game technology gives injured war veterans a new lease on life. More about this story . . .

Switch accessible pinball	Special Effect Accessible Game Therapy

Games Resources

Game Box controllers by RJ Cooper - Adaptations available for all models:XBox 360, XBox, Playstation 2 or 3, and GameCube

Cordless XBox 360 Rear-Triggers Switch Adaptation w/optional

X-Box with Rear-Triggers Top-Mounted Button Augmentation

X-Box 360 With Rear-Triggers Top-Mounted Button Augmentation AND Joystick Extensions

Game Accessibility.

This website is part of the Game Accessibility project, a research project that focuses on the accessibility of electronic games for gamers with disabilities.

This website aims to inform disabled gamers about the availability of accessible games, and functions at the same time as an academic resource for developers, publishers and researchers in order to stimulate accessibility in games. More about Games Accessibility . . .

Games links by disability group . . .

AbleGamers.com

AbleGamers.com is a community for disabled gamers. One of the most active site for news on mainstream games written for the disabled community, by fellow disabled gamers.

They have an active community, active forum, and frequently updated news. AbleGamers has interviewed the makers of Star Trek Online, Diablo 3, World of Warcraft and so many more.

AbleGamers is not just talking to each other about game accessibility; they are taking to the folks making the games disabled people want to play.

PS3 Switch Access Pod

For use with the Sony Playstation3
The PS3-SAP allows full access to all of the switch functions of the SONY Playstation3ä handset through seventeen 3.5mm sockets.
Both analogue proportional joystick and switch functions are also available on the PS3-SAP through two 9 way ‘D’ type connectors allowing the use of custom made analogue controls.

Image: QED

Game Accessibility Special Interest Group.
OneSwitch. A terrific resource for Accessible games and the input peripherals needed by some to play them.
Assistive Gaming - Tools of the Trade

Accessible Gaming Gear
Gamevial. A game arcade built for blind and partially sighted online game players. What they say about their website:

"Play our online blind games now free directly from your browser. All webgames on Gamevial Accessible were built exclusively and are available play now.
Gamevial accessible games use rich sounds, sound imagery, live speech, and in game audio, in game instructions and some pioneering online sound techniques in game such as audio pan which allows us to place sound objects in both 2D and 3D game engines we have developed. Some of the free games on this website will have you running about in 3D mazes and shooting the bad guys.

All games on this website have been built exclusively for Accessible Web games by the creators of Gamevial.com . Gamevial is a collection of over forty webgames built for free online play and online community for web gamers. The game website recieves over one hundred thousand players a month and is for seeing players, we believe in doing the same for the blind community an enjoyable game arcade and experience will grow.

Based in Edinburgh, UK, Gamevial developers had the opportunity to work with the RNIB where they exhibited games to the blind community, game feedback/link was very encourageing and using the feedback from the blind community Gamevial decided to dedicate time to developing games for the blind and launching the Gamevial Accessible Web Games game portal. " Gamevial . . .
BBC - CBBC. Siwtch games . . .
eBility.com. Useful list of accessible games resources and links . . .
Inclusive Technology and BBC's CBBC have teamed up to produce siwtch accessible games . . .
Free accessible games from Papunet . . .

Image: Papunet website screenshot

More stuff coming soon !

Head Tracking and Pointing

invisiblebloke — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:54:50 CDT

A wireless optical sensor tracks a tiny and disposable reflective target, which is usually placed on the user’s forehead, cap or glasses. The user moves their head and controls the movement of the mouse cursor. When this capability is combined with a mouse button clicking solution and on-screen keyboard software, the HeadMouse can completely replace the functions of a conventional mouse and keyboard.

Headmouse

A headmouse can be operated through the use of a reflective dot being placed on the user's forehead/glasses. If head movement ability is limited the dot can also be placed anywhere on a body part which does have good movement. For instance the dot can be placed on a fist, forearm, foot etc. whatever has the best movement. The tracker can be pointed in many directions. In that sense the term "headmouse" or "headtracker" is unnecessarily limiting and constrained. The rest of this article mainly uses the word "head" but please remember that this also refers to other functioning body movements. When the user moves his/her head, the movement of the headmouse is recognised by an infrared receiver which in turn translates the head movements into cursor movements on the screen. Clicking solutions
Using a headmouse in practice:

In addition to cursor movement another element is required for full mouse functionality. Button clicking. Mouse button selections are made either by using a dwell and click software application whereby the user pauses over the on-screen target for a user definable period of time, at the end of which, a pre-defined button click (left, right, double left, click and drag, scroll etc.) is generated. Alternatively, clicks can also be generated using a physical external switch (link to switches) that can be activated by fists, fingers, arms, foot etc.

Webcam head controlled pointer

The interface of a Webcam Head Controlled Pointer System

Webcam Head Controlled Pointers are the latest and most innovative devices available to the person unable to use the traditional mouse. The user sits in front of the Web Cam and looks at the screen. When the user moves their head the cursor follows in real time. The software automatically transforms detected movements into cursor movements or even into commands. The software includes motion detection systems that are able to detect and analyse any small movements.Typically all the software packages have basic pointer and dwell selection controls and some include spelling gesture control (a nod of the head to the left for a mouse click, for example). One of their big advantages is that no headgear is required. On the negative side they do require top of the range computers to run on.

Free Cameramouse

There is also a completely free head-tracker solution if you already own a Web-cam. Many laptops already have a built in Webcam. It is called a camera mouse www.cameramouse.org/index.html . It tracks a unique feature on your face such as the bridge of your nose etc. This works quite well and doesn't require much processing power. However It's not as precise as a dot tracking unit such as the Tracker Pro by Madentec. It doesn't work in the dark or poor lighting conditions but it is well worth a try. It might just work for you.

Examples of head tracking systems

TRACKER PRO by Madentec tracks the movement of a user’s head, and converts it to mouse cursor movement signals. The user wears a small reflective sticker on the forehead or glasses frame (or hat or baseball cap!) or any other appropriate body part with good dexterity. It is positioned on top of the computer screen or AAC device and emits infrared signals to the reflective dot that in turn reflect the signals back to the tracker. The user’s head movement is measured and converted to mouse movement. The Tracker Pro simply plugs into the USB port and it works instantly. No drivers are required on Windows XP and Vista. The Tracker Pro also works in poor light conditions, even in total darkness. For the dwell and click functionality Madentec sells a solution called Magicursor.

SMARTNAV is similar to Tracker Pro. A wireless optical sensor tracks a tiny and disposable target that is placed on the user’s forehead or glasses. The user simply moves their head to position the cursor. When this is combined with Smartnav's dwell and click software, and the free Microsoft virtual on-screen keyboard software (in the Accessibility section in Accessories on Windows systems), the functions of a conventional keyboard and mouse can be totally replaced. It enables true hands free control of a computer. SmartNav was designed to complement the natural head motion you already perform when looking around. Moving your head less than a quarter inch easily maneuvers the cursor across your entire screen. The device works well - if you can get your computer to recognise the camera. If you have Vista, make sure you have the latest driver from the NaturalPoint website. SmartNav4 is the latest version (Source: TechReady).

Dwell Clicking. You can left click, double click, drag, right click, and more - with Smartnav's "dwell clicking toolbar" software application.
You can type on your computer screen with SmartNav's virtual keyboard program.

Switch Input:. You can plug a click switch or a footswitch directly into the back of the SmartNav. With the Y Breakout Cable (included), you can plug in separate click switchesfor left and right clicking.

SmartNav 3

SmartNav 4

Using SmartNav 4 together with a sip+puff switch

User with MS

Using SmartNav with Grid 2

Using SmartNav with Mac OS X
Head tracking for VR displays using the Wii Remote

DREAM MOUSE is a new development that enables two individuals to share equal access to a PC at the same time. Plug Dream-Mouse directly into a USB port and Windows will automatically recognise it and install it on your computer. Dream-Mouse works with Windows 98, 2000, ME and XP. Dream-Mouse uses head movements (or other body movements) to give the user full control over games, e-mail, documents or access to the internet. Dream Racer Blog

CAP-MOUSE uses motion sensors activated by head movements to position a PC cursor. Cap-Mouse is based on similar technology we designed for the Dream-Racer and Dream-Gamer products. Anyone driving a Dream-Racer car or playing a game on the Sony PlayStation with Dream-Gamer will be able to use Cap-Mouse to send e-mail, access the internet, play games on a PC.

Synapse Head Tracker

The Synapse Head Tracking device provides full mouse control of a computer. Requires good headcontrol. Moving one's head moves the cursor on the screen. Activating a 'sip and puff' switch or other external switch makes selections. On-screen keyboards such as WiViK® allow for word processing and other text entry.

You can change the Synapse Head Tracking device from Apple to Windows compatibility just by flipping a switch. Full support for one, two, and three button mice is built in. You can operate the mouse button with the puff switch mounted on the headset or plug other switches into the back of the control box. If the user has acceptable speech then Dragon NaturallySpeaking voice recognition facilitates efficient voice recognition keyboard entry and speech activated mouse button clicks.

More information about Synapse . . .

Dwell and Click applications

Point 'N' Click . Free alternative to clicking software This is a dwell-and-click software solution called point-n-click www.polital.com/pnc/ . This software is extremely feature rich and stable and works on both Windows XP and Vista. This software also works perfectly in conjunction with Madentec and Smartnav tracker hardware. For example, the combination of the $399USD Smartnav tracker (or the Tracker Pro), the FREE point-n-click software and the FREE Microsoft virtual keyboard delivers a very cost effective and functional solution for hands free computing.

MagicCursor2000. It's for people who can't, or don't want to click the mouse button. It performs all the mouse button functions automatically through software. All you need to be able to do is point: MagicCursor automatically takes care of the rest. It is an ideal companion for the Tracker head operated mouse products. Instead of clicking the mouse button, simply dwell over the item you want to select. After a preset amount of time, MagicCursor will automatically perform the click for you. More information about MagicCursor2000 . . .

Head Pointers

Head Pointers now come in quite a variety of designs. Unlike forehead protrusion pointers, an 'out from the chin' device allows closer proximity to the item being accessed and reduces the head movement needed to activate such a device. It eliminates the barrier imposed by the forehead pointers because it doesn't interrupt either the wearer's field of vision or the full view of the wearer's face.

Zygo Pointer		Using the Zygo Head Pointer

Using a head pointer and a foot mouse		FRS Pointer Image: Forbes Rehab Services

Using head mounted laser pointers to communicate

The Ace-Centre have started to put together a list of currently known head pointer designs, in an attempt to inform the buyer of the capabilities and pitfalls of each particular product. More information . . .

AAC Hardware

invisiblebloke — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:36:36 CDT

Examples of current AAC Technology

Proloquo2Go - AAC on an iPhone

Proloquo2Go™ is a new product from AssistiveWare that provides a full-featured communication solution for people who have difficulty speaking. It brings natural sounding text-to-speech voices, up-to-date symbols, powerful automatic conjugations, a default vocabulary of over 7000 items, full expandability and extreme ease of use to the iPhone and iPod touch.

If you know how to use an iPhone or iPod touch you know how to use Proloquo2Go. While Proloquo2Go has a lot of advanced features the basics are extremely simple and easy.

Proloquo2Go is now available for purchase on the App Store

More about Proloquo2Go . . .

AMDi TechTouch.

Using a computer based platform, the Tech/TouchTM can be customized for special needs of users.The Tech/TouchTM is encased in a customized housing to ensure durability. With Windows® XP Professional operating system, 20 GB hard drive, 256MB of memory and 10.4 inch LCD touch screen. It can function as a basic computer with the capability of adding components from Wireless Adapters to custom communication software packages, such as Grid2, depending on the necessity of the users special needs.

Pathfinder.

A communications tool that features both a static keyboard plus a colour display. It comes pre-installed with vocabulary and pictures, computer keyboard emulation and infrared controls. It's apparently lightweight and compact.

The makers claim a battery life of over 10 hours of continuous use. The device can be accessed directly via a keyboard and touch screen display, through infrared head pointing or with switch-activated scanning ( single and double switch and joystick options).

Parameters can also be adjusted to create the most effective access to the device. Auditory promptshelp users with vision impairment.

Q-Talk

A communication Aid based on the Samsung Q1Ultra SSD UMPC. SSD means 'solid state drive' and means that there are no moving parts inside. This makes it very robust and ideal for something which may get bashed about a bit.

The Q-Talk software was developed by. two parents, one a software engineer, the other a teacher and CAP assessor. The editing suite is 'what you see is what you get' (WYS/WYG). A button wizard enables you to create symbol pages with the click of a button.

The Q-talk comes with symbols as standard In the editor you can simply drag the symbols from a directory at the side of the page and away you go.

You can also build visual scene displays (interactive pictures), design your own onscreen keyboard, access the internet and many other things.

MegaBee

A simple-to-use writing tablet to aid frequent communication. The tablet uses eye movement and blinking as the method to select letters, which are displayed on the integral screen. It's fully portable and can be used for bed-confined, home-care and chair-mobile situations. Whilst the unit does not require computing equipment for its basic operation it does however have Bluetooth® wireless communication ability should the user require to display on a larger screen or input text into a personal computer. For example the letter ‘K’ would be selected by looking first at the blue block where the letter K is located and blinking (the carer then presses the blue button), then, as the letter ‘K’ is black, the user looks at the black block and blinks (the carer presses the black button and the letter ‘K’ appears on the screen). Similar protocols exist for deleting text and adding spaces, as well as accessing various menu functions such as bluetooth, contrast, scrolling and other housekeeping facilities. There is an LCD display on each side of the tablet, visible to reader and writer. A powerful vocabulary facility is also provided. This allows users to compile their own set of shorthand words or phrases which can be uploaded at will. For example ‘T2’ might assigned to ‘Television’, or ‘H1’ means ‘I am too hot’. These phrases can be changed to suit varying situations such as bed care, mobility, or in the case of ward supervision, can be changed for different users.

http://www.megabee.co.uk/index.html

LightWriter

A portable text-to-speech communication aid.It hasdual displays, one facing the user so they see what is being typed, and a second outfacing display to allow communication in a natural face-to-face position. Suitable for the needs of people with some literacy skills but nt so good dexterity/mobility skills and for those who have problems with speech, and want messages that can be typed and read out in stages. It can be used by those who are hard of hearing. Font sizes can be enlarged and there is version with larger keys which is useful for people with vision impairment.

Meet some Lightwriter users . . .

Using the Lightwriter
SL40 User guide . . .

Autism and the DynaVox

Abbey and her DynaVox III

GUS Communicator 6000

GUS Communicator Q1

Glenn and his communicator

Tap-to-Talk for the Nintendo DS

Introduction to the Liberator Vantage Lite

Overview of the Vantage Lite

Liberator Vantage Lite tutorial with Minspeak/LLL

Say It Sam

The Say-it! SAM Communicator has been one of their most popular products since 2003. Now they've completely updated the design. The Say-it! SAM Communicator has a new look with a larger speaker for better sound, plus more battery life, a faster processor, and an easier-to-use, more robust charging port. It responds quicker to the touch, starts up easily even if the battery runs all the way down, and has a day-light display. they've added a NeoSpeech voice option to the traditional DECtalk voice.
www.words-plus.com/

Say-IT Sam and CALLtalk

Say-IT Sam and MessageMaker

The FuturePad - by SmartBoxAT

The FuturePad is a Windows XP based communication aid that is light and rugged enough to be carried, or can be mounted on a desk stand or wheelchair.

It has a finger-operated touch screen and a battery life of about 5 hours. The FuturePad is supplied with The Grid 2 pre-installed, so it is ready to use for either text or symbol based communication.

More about SmartBoxAT communicators . . .

SmartBoxAT PowerBox 4
SmartBoxAt PowerBox 3

Super Auggie AAC
Super Auggie consists of a 'slate PC' (about the size of a piece of paper), running Windows XP Home, with a 12.1" true touchscreen. With this device you can:

Use their own, included, AAC software, PTP-PC!
Surf the Internet! (it has built-in WiFi *and* Ethernet port, and a 56K modem)
Play any DVD movie!
Operate by direct touch, *trackball, *joystick, *switch(es), *head tracking

More information about the Super Auggie . . .

The FAB (Frenchay Alphabet Board)

FAB is suitable for any person who is literate but is unable to speak. This may be due to vocal chord damage, swallowing difficulties, tracheotomy, stroke, MS, MND, ALS, Rett syndrome, dyspraxia, Parkinsons disease, or people with general communication problems, ventilation or speech difficulties. It is also a useful spelling device when trying to talk to people with hearing problems. FAB is a useful emergency back-up for users of higher technology equipment such as eye-tracking of text to speech devices. Having no batteries it is always available.

Offers additional benefits to existing products.

Positive finger location for letter selection
Washable, hygenic design
Non-slip, antibacterial rubber base
Spill-proof
Choiceof sizes and layouts

Full details are available at their website at www.fab.uk.com

The Tellus Mobi

A portable version of the popular Tellus 3+, providing the same versatility via the Windows Operating System. It is the first communication device with an integrated mobile Phone option, allowing users to be able to make and receive phone calls.

It can be used with a wheelchair mounting system if required. The Mobi is supplied with MindExpress, keyboard, mouse, USB memory stick, USB hub, carry case & AC Adapter.

Tellus 3+

A Fujitsu tablet computer that has been adapted to create a very robust, wheelchair mountable dynamic screen communication aid.
Finger Touch Screen (resistive)...True finger touch access
GEWA Module for environmental control

External battery or wheelchair power cable
Switch or Joystick interface

More informaion about Tellus 3+ . . .

More information about the Tellus Mobi, from Techess . . .

VOCA Suppliers

Mind Mapping

invisiblebloke — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:14:46 CDT

Learning support professionals often recommend using Mind maps. A mind map is a pictorial representation of how a concept is connected to other concepts and ideas.

Mind mapping is useful for taking notes, revising, retention, summarising and generally organising information.

Brainstorming is another popular use of mind maps.

A mind map uses images and words connected by lines. One begins with a central topic or idea. Related concepts and ideas are drawn or pasted in and linked with lines.

Mind mapping software allows the user to insert images or files from a computer. Some mind mapping software allows the mind maps to be presented as a word processing file or as a graphical presentation.

The software allows the user to organise information in a visual way, using pictures and graphics.

Resources

Inspiration

Introduction to Inspiration V8

Using Inspiration (on the Mac)

Using Inspiration with a SmartBoard

Inspiration V7.5
MindManager Pro

What is Mind Manager

Mind Manager7 for the Mac
PersonalBrain. Free mind mapping software.
Linux - Works on many Linux/Unix variations. Tested on: Ubuntu, Red Hat, Fedora, Solaris, SUSE.
Mac OS 10.4+
Windows Vista, XP, 2000

Using PersonalBrain 4

PersonalBrain 4 Review
Wikipedia list of mind mapping programs

Online Mindmaps

New technologies such as bubbl.us allow groups to create collaborative mindpaps together across the internet

Getting started with Bubbl.us

Bubbl.us basics

Magnification Software

invisiblebloke — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:03:09 CDT

An Introduction to Screen Magnification Software

If you have difficulty seeing what's on your computer screen, then you may have to consider some form of magnification. The main operating systems now incorporate magnification capability and so do most web browsers. However, when those offerings are still not enough, then you may have to resort to others means.

A number of programs such as word processors allow the user to increase the size of the text in the window where the document appears quite considerably. This does not affect the size in which the text is printed out. Most buttons on the toolbar (the row of small pictures at the top of the screen that can perform an operation when clicked with the mouse) can be enlarged also by choosing the right option within the program..

A number of products are available that produce an enlarged image on the computer's screen. The sizes of enlargement possible the image quality and the method of control vary. Enlarging characters in this way always means that only a portion of the whole screen is visible at any time. Use of such software is relatively simple and is available for DOS and Windows 95/98/NT as well as other operating systems. There are also a number of word processing packages specifically designed for use with large characters.

Magnification within operating systems and web browsers

Using a mouse with a scrollwheel between the buttons such as the standard microsoft ergonomic mouse. Hold the Ctrl key on the keyboard whilst moving the scrollwheel backwards or forwards. Using a mouse with a trackball such as the Kensington Expert Pro. Hold the Ctrl key down on the keyboard whilst turning the scrollwheel ring surrounding the trackball. Using the percentage resizer in Microsoft Word 2003. Either select one of the default % or type the desired % and then press the enter key. Using the percentage resizer in Microsoft Word 2007. Select the 'View' tab and choose the 'Zoom' section. Use either the magnifying glass or go into the % sub menu. Using the scrollbar at the bottom right hand side of the program page (Microsoft Word 2007 only). Using the % magnifier at the bottom right hand side of the Internet Browser (IE 7). Enlarging the screen contents in IE 6. Unless you can 'Zoom' using the mouse as described in 1 and 2 above you only have the option of increasing the text size. Select 'View' on the main toolbar and then choose 'Text size' from the drop down list. Choose the desired size. In Vista, just hold the Ctrl key and press the + key. Press - (minus) to decrease the size again. The Firefox Web browser now has full page zoom so web page text and images are zoomed. Use the 'Ctrl' key with '+' to increase size ' ' to decrease or '0' to reset. Mouse zooming is also provided with Ctrl + mouse wheel as above.
Windows 7 magnification		Windows XP magnifier

Mac OS X full screen zooming feature		Point N See target magnification for Mac OS X Point N See lets you magnify a portion of the screen to read fine print or magnify an image. (image source: Macupdate) More information about Point N See . . . Independent review of Point N See . . .

Commercial magnification packages

MAGic. Magnification with Speech. From the makers of JAWS screenreader. MAGic is fully compatible with JAWS and uses many of the same reading commands. This makes MAGic easy to use for those who already use JAWS for screen reading. Also adds visual enhancements when used in conjunction with JAWS. Read more about MAGic . . .

LunarPlus. Offering all the benefits of a screen magnifier LunarPlus also offers added speech output to provide extra support for partially sighted computer users. For people with low vision or deteriorating sight at home at work and in education. www.dolphincomputeraccess.com

Key Benefits:

Includes supporting output to speech which can read documents web pages menus and button prompts and talk as you type.
Access complex websites with ease by choosing to list links headings or frames.
Reduce eye strain and increase the magnification during the day as your eyes become tired or to suit levels of visual impairment.
Choice of magnification style with many options such as split screen whole screen lens and window so you can set it up to suit you.

SuperNova. Supernova offers magnification speech and Braille support. More about SuperNova . . .

It includes a full screen magnifier with features such as variable magnification multiple screen management styles and a variety of colour replacement options to overcome partial sight impairments.
It also includes a full screen reader for people who are blind which can cope with text and Braille input together with speech and Braille output.
SuperNova case studies (Source:Dolphin UK website)

ZoomText

ZoomWare by AI Squared. Apparently a replacement for 'BigShot'. Screen magnification software that magnifies and enhances everything you see on your computer screen web pages email documents menus dialog boxes everything. It's designed for those who squint at their computer screen lean forward to read emails and view web pages or complain about eye fatigue. Provides up to 2 times magnification so that hard to read text is larger clearer and easier to see. You can also apply a soft tint to white areas of the screen or reverse all colours to eliminate that familiar blinding glare.

ZoomWare suppliers:

ZoomWare Demonstration

Dixerit Plus is a professional service for automatically speech enabling of web contents. As well as as text-to-speech, Dixerit Plus also includes screen magnification and colour contrast tools, all presented through an easy-to-use control panel.

Features:

No downloads or browser plug-ins required to listen to pages - just click and listen
Fully-featured screen magnification tool to help those who may find text too small to read
Fully-featured colour contrast adjustment tool which helps many people, including those with dyslexia, who have difficulty reading text on a bright background
Real-time conversion of content to speech
Uses the highest quality voices
User can listen to entire pages, hover and click to listen to paragraphs, highlight and click to listen to specific blocks of text or listen to a list of links on the page
Reads many formats including HTML, PDF, plain text

More information about DixerIT . . .

DixerIT Plus in action

Magic Lens Max. A screen magnifier and display filter to zoom rotate enhance filter and capture any area or the full of screen display. With built in highly optimized resampling and enhancing filters

Magic Lens Max boasts very clear and sharp display effects to suit individual visual needs in various situations. It is also able to greatly reduce screen glare with realistic anti glare texture filters.

More information about Magic Lens Max . . .

Open Source, Free, Freeware or Shareware Programs

Virtual Magnifying Glass V3.3

A free Open Source screen magnification tool for Windows and Linux. It is simple customizable and easy to use. Once installed and loaded the magnifier can be activated in an instant either by using a hotkey combination or by clicking on the program icon in the Taskbar.

The magnifier is controlled by the mouse cursor. Just drag it oround the page and over whatever needs enlarging. The magnifier is easily configured by right clicking on the Taskbar icon and selecting the appropriate settings to change. You can change the size of the magnifier amount of magnification and invert the colours.

Virtual Magnifying Glass

Using Virtual Magnifying Glass, ZZoom and MagicalGlass:

As with anything which is free it has it's limitations. However if you have limited funds or want something simple this is worth a try. Downloadable from: http://magnifier.sourceforge.net/

iZoom.

The iZoom Screen Magnifier & Reader. It makes viewing web pages and emails easier with SmartAlign, a technology which doesn't require you to scroll horizontally over and over to read paragraphs extending beyond the screen. You can carry your iZoom Screen Magnifier & Reader on a portable thumb drive and use it on any Windows compatible PC without administrative privileges or installation.

Although most schools, libraries and public clusters prevent installation of any kind, most screen magnifiers require installation...which means you can't use a computer you want to. iZoom allows you to use any computer, anywhere without licensing or installation issues. iZoom works equally well on laptops and desktops.

Fatbits Magnifier

A very fast compact easy to use and versatile FREEWARE (for non commercial use) screen magnifier for Windows 9x/ME/NT4/2000/XP/2003. It magnifies an area of the screen centered around the mouse pointer and paints the giant pixels into a small tastefully decorated window. This can be indispensable when you want to see something right down to the last pixel. Also useful as an accessibility tool. It can perform text smoothing and can modify the colors it displays to help those with color vision deficiency.
More about Fatbits . . .

Other Useful Resources

Linux magnifiers Kmagnifier and Gnome and Firefox has full page zoom.
RNIB information on video magnification
More magnifiers from magnifiers.org: http://www.magnifiers.org/links/Cool/
EmpTech list of magnification software: http://www.emptech.info/products_by_subcategory.php?ID=197
ZoomIt. A screen zoom and annotation tool for technical presentations that include application demonstrations. ZoomIt runs unobtrusively in the tray and activates with customizable hotkeys to zoom in on an area of the screen move around while zoomed and draw on the zoomed image. I wrote ZoomIt to fit my specific needs and use it in all my presentations. Read more about ZoomIt . . .

ZoomIt How To Zoom In Like A Mac On Windows:
ieZoom. With febooti ieZoom it is possible to zoom in and out Internet Explorer contents change Internet Explorer window size to evaluate web page contents as they will be seen by end users in different screen resolutions. Color Picker allows to pick RGB value in decimal hexadecimal or percent format from any pixel on screen. Web page history provides basic and statistic data on web page visits.Requires 64 bit versions of windows and Internet Explorer 7 64 bit Edition.
More information about ieZoom . . .
Lightning Magnifier with Speech.

(Image from ClaroRead)

Lightning with Speech (formerly called Storm) is an integrated combination of the popular Lightning Magnifier and the Thunder Screenreader. Whatever appears on the computer screen can be magnified up to 36 times. It is easy to install and just as easy to use. With lightning you can magnify the entire screen or an area you choose, with a magnification strip or lens. Lightning works well with all Windows applications. You can even magnify video clips.

Lightning with Speech . . .
NVIDIA QuickZoom. To assist with eye strain and enable ergonomic computing NVIDIA added the QuickZoom feature to ForceWare Release 60. QuickZoom allows users to zoom in on any part of their desktop by pressing a single hotkey. When enabled QuickZoom does not require an additional zoom window making it optimized for both single and multi display configurations. QuickZoom works by zooming in on either the entire display or the current grid.
More information about QuickZoom . . .

Web Accessibility

invisiblebloke — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:25:16 CDT

The Issue

In the 21st century increasingly we all communicate across the Internet. Whether to learn, to consume, to play or just to interact, the internet and websites are a crucial medium for us all. But for some users with a disability the very medium is rendered unusable as a result of poor design not only by individuals, but sometimes because the platform upon which the website is constructed does not allow the designer to support people with a disability.

There are many organisations and individuals seeking to support users to access the web both through Assistive Technology and through the education and training of designers and engineers.

Access to the internet is a very real issue for us all. The moral and social case is clear in designing for an inclusive society. But equally the business case is strong. There are 9.8 million disabled people on the UK alone offering a huge market for business as well as being voters and members of communities. website accessibility is an issue that touches us all.

Web accessibility through the eyes of a screenreader		The importance of HTML headings for accessibility

Contrast website overlay tool helps dyslexic users		Screen magnification for accessibility for visually impaired users

Accessible website navigation using a speech enabled links list

Implementing the requirements for Level 'A' WAI compliance for websites

LowBrowse

LowBrowse - Internet browsing for the visually impaired. LowBrowseTM, an add-on to Mozilla's Firefox browser, enables people with moderate or severe low vision to view web pages as the original web author intended, as well as read the text on those pages in a format that is tailored to their own visual needs. Some of the features of this new extension include: a reading frame at the top of the browser in which users can customize font, text size, color contrast and letter spacing while preserving the original site layout below image enlargement speech capability More about LowBrowse . . .

LowBrowse Introduction		More browsing on LowBrowse

eSSENTIAL Accessibility

The provider of a software-based service that makes online environments fully accessible to individuals with physical disabilities.

The software includes many assistive technology features which gives users with physical limitations the tools they require to access a website.

eSSENTIAL website (and free download)

Fully compatible with external tracking devices like Quick Glance, SmartNav, Tracker One, Head Master, joysticks or switches and already includes built-in tools like:

Onscreen Keyboard and Layout Designer
WebCam Mouse
Auto Click
Auto Scan
Manual Scan
XY Mouse
Radar Mouse
Direction Mouse

Includes a Page-Reader system which allows any user with a vision limitation to:

Read the content of any web page out loud
Read the title of the frames out loud
Read the content of a selected frame out loud
Read the links on an open web page out loud

Fully compatible with the following Voice Recognition systems:

Scansoft Dragon Naturally Speaking 8.0 and above Microsoft Speech recognition 6.1 or greater

Research

AbilityNet carries out regular state of the enation reports which explore the current state of play in accessible design for a specific sector of industry or government. eNation archives > .

If you are interested in taking part in social networking, AbilityNet is conducting research into the accessibility of Social networks. Go to AbilityNet social networking >

Techniques and Solutions

The WebAim website contains a wealth of useful information on accessible design.

Useful AbilityNet Articles

Key New Features of the Web Accessibility Toolbar 2.0

Since our article on 19th September 2006 – Testing Your Website for Accessibility, the Web Accessibility Toolbar has been updated and improved. Version 2.0 of the toolbar which has been available from June 2007 is currently in beta and can be downloaded from here .

Accessibility Issues by disability Category

Cognitive

Blind

Visual

Colour blindness

Understanding sensory impairment when designing a website: When dealing with website design and sensory impairment, we need to consider both Vision and Hearing. Thus article address some of the key issues to consider in the design process.

SmartNav 3		SmartNav 4

Using SmartNav 4 together with a sip+puff switch		User with MS

Using SmartNav with Grid 2		Using SmartNav with Mac OS X

Introduction to Inspiration V8		Using Inspiration (on the Mac)
Using Inspiration with a SmartBoard		Inspiration V7.5

Global Assistive Technology Wiki - Recently Updated Pages

Touchscreens and Tablet PCs

What is Touchscreen ?

Touchscreen Overlays

Microsoft Surface

3D Interface with Touchscreen

TouchScreen Suppliers & Resources

Tablet PCs

Hearing

Hearing Loss and technology

Tools to assist with access to a PC for people with a hearing loss

To Use Accessibilities Sound Features

To Use Windows XP Sounds Features

Videos of Access Technology to assist people with a hearing loss

Text Telephone (TTY)

Video relay Service

Resources and Suppliers of Hearing AT

Telephones

Telephone Systems

Big Key Telephones

Video Phones

Amplified Telephones

Telephone Amplifiers

Earpieces and Headsets

Text Phones

Telecoil

Frequently Asked Questions

Telephone Resources

Smart phones and Accessibility

Blackberry

iPhone

Google G1 Android

What is Android?

Mobile Phones

Training

Using mobile phones as video projectors

Easy Mobile:

Screenreaders for Mobile Phones

Screenreaders for Mobile Phones and PDAs

Switch accessible mobile phones

Using Mobile Phones with Bluetooth keyboards:

Web browsers on mobile phones

Satellite Navigation for mobile phones

Useful Resources:

Global Assistive Technology Encyclopedia

Mac Voice Recognition

How to use the Macs' built-in speech recognition:

Dragon Naturally Speaking

The Dragon Bar

Dragon Naturally Speaking Commands

Some useful hints and tips to get Dragon naturally Speaking working properly

Dragon Naturally Speaking V10 – some personal observations from an experienced trainer

Dragon Naturally Speaking V10 and Windows 7

Using Dragon - general notes from an experienced trainer

Using voice recognition with other software

Suppliers

Voice Recognition

What is Voice Recognition

Voice recognition and languages

Other voice recognition programs

Voice recognition resources

On Screen Keyboards

Microsoft Windows Onscreen Keyboard

Alternative Onscreen Keyboards

Apple Specific

Additional resource

Changing from Qwerty to Dvorak

Linux OSK

Vision

What do we mean by 'vision impaired' ?

How does someone with a vision impairment use a computer ?

Those with partial or low vision:

Those with no useful sight:

Other visual difficulties:

Products in practice

Useful Resources

Vision Technology Suppliers

Free software

Screenreaders and Text to Speech

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