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Assistive Technology for Computers and Printed Material
Links to software and hardware resources.
This section provides links to software and hardware resources that can assist people with disabilities when working with computers or printed materials. Some of this assistive technology includes screen readers, talking web browsers, printed text readers, braille translators (text-to-braille and braille-to-text), screen magnifiers, special computer keyboards, and technology that allows control of a computer through head movements or eye movements.
JAWS--an acronym for "Jobs Access With Speech"--is the most widely-used screen-reader. It has versions that work with Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, and XP. It uses a software speech synthesizer, "Eloquence for JAWS," that can pronounce American English, Brazilian Portuguese, British English, Castilian Spanish, Latin American Spanish, Finnish, French, German, and Italian.
Window-Eyes, another widely-used screen-reader, has versions that work with Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, and XP. It supports multiple users, over 50 speech synthesizers, and over 40 Braille displays.
OutSPOKEN for MacIntosh OS 8 & 9
OutSPOKEN for MacIntosh, which is compatible with Mac OS 8 and 9, can be installed on almost any Mac (e.g., Powerbook, G3, G4, iMac, iBook) except the G4 Cube. It uses Apple's Plain Talk Text-to-Speech software and voices.
OutSPOKEN for Windows has versions that will work with Windows 95, 98, and ME. It contains an MS-SAPI Lernout and Hauspie speech synthesizer that can pronounce US English, UK English, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Dutch and Spanish. Its user-interface is available in Czech, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedish.
The major feature of Vocal-Eyes is that it is MS-DOS compatible. The default setting requires between 50K and 64K of DOS RAM. However, it only requires about 4K of DOS RAM if it is loaded into extended memory. Vocal-Eyes requires a high density 3.5 inch disk drive.
EmacSpeak works with the text-based UNIX systems and does not just read the screen but works within the Emacs system and can speak the information that is the basis of the visual display. It is completely free and can be downloaded from the internet. As T.V. Raman wrote in "Emacspeak: A Speech-Enabling Interface" in the September, 1997, issue of Dr. Dobb's Journal: "I implemented the speech-enabling approach in Emacspeak to overcome many of the shortcomings encountered with traditional screen-readers. Screen-readers allow users to listen to the contents appearing in different parts of the display, but users are entirely responsible for building a mental model of the visual display to interpret what an application is trying to convey. Emacspeak, on the other hand, does not speak the screen: It provides speech feedback from within the application, allowing the application to render information in both a visually and aurally pleasing way. Emacspeak audio-formats the text (analogous to visual formatting) and augments the spoken text with nonspeech auditory icons to succinctly convey information other than the text itself (such as events triggered by the application)."
Lynx, perhaps the most popular text-mode browser, is free (under the GNU Public License).It works on diverse platforms including MacIntosh (MacLynx), Windows, DOS, UNIX, and VMS. It works especially well with voice-synthesizers and Braille-based technology.
The Home Page Reader will work with Windows 98, ME, 2000, and XP. It is available in Brazilian Portuguese, English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.
Speakup for Linux Operating System
Speakup works with the Gnu/Linux operating system and provides access to all console programs in the operating system, and is compatible with Lynx, Pine, and similar applications.
LookOUT has versions that work with Windows 98, ME, 2000, and NT. There is also a DUAL version that both reads the screen and magnifies the screen up to 9 times.
Simply Web 2000 Talking Web Browser
This free talking web browser works with Windows 95, 98, ME, NT4, and 2000. It includes a SAPI compliant US English synthesizer that is software-based. It requires a 16-bit sound card.
Hal works with Windows 95, 98, Me, NT4, 2000 and XP. It provides a choice of 2 speech synthesizers: Dolphin Orpheus Speech System and Microsoft's MSAPI Speech Synthesizer. It will pronounce words in English (UK and USA), Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish (Latin and Castilian) and Swedish. It will also provide Grade 1 or Grade 2 Braille.
WebbIE is a free program that allows web pages to be read as simple text.
Sensus Talking Internet Browser
This talking browser has an internal speech synthesizer (which is software based and uses the computer's sound card), navigation via the keyboard, and dynamic document translation. It requires either Windows 95 or 98.
WebWizard works with Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, and 2000, and with Microsoft Explorer 5.x as the browser. It extracts the information presented in a web site--including information presented in nested tables, frames, etc.--and presents it in a text window. It will operate with any screen reading software.
MicroTalk's Automated Screen Access Program (ASAP)
ASAP provides access to modern DOS programs. It comes as a software program but is also available with an external speaker and speech synthesizer board that fits into a computer slot, or with a portable, battery-powered synthesizer that connects to the computer by a parallel or serial port.
Braillesurf 4, developed by Inserm Inova, is an internet browser that works with Windows 95, 98, NT, and 2000, and has English, French, and Spanish versions. It analyzes the web page's source code and represents the content in text form that can be displayed on a braille bar or spoken by a speech synthesizer.
This software provides print-to-braille and braille-to-print translations. There are versions for Windows, MS-DOS, and Apple MacIntosh.
EAI (Enhancing Internet Access) is a "specialized Web Browser, suitable for touchscreen systems, with fully integrated Web awareness, assessment and training modules."
"Using WinBraille, you can create your document in Word. The text is automatically formatted according to the original page format, or the user can select a custom Braille translation, or format. This information is then translated into Braille. Braille pages can be viewed on the screen prior to printing, in both text and Braille, or the Braille can be transmitted automatically to the embosser without the user seeing the Braille translation process." WinBraille works in windows environments including 98/ME, Windows NT/2000, & XP Pro/XP Home.
The Visio PC includes a 21 inch monitor, magnification software, and a reading camera.
MAGic 8.0 Screen Magnification with Speech
MAGic software allows screen magnification or speech independently or together. The keyboard echo reads aloud words or individual letters as they are typed. MAGic works with Windows 95, 98, Me, and XP.
LunarPlus Screen Magnifier with added speech
"LunarPlus Enhanced Screen Magnifier offers people with a visual impairment the same invaluable features as Lunar Screen Magnifier but with the added advantage of speech output. Any text on screen is read out so not only you can check for accuracy as you type in documents or emails but you can also hear information on menus and web pages."
The Magnifier is software that provides an "Area Screen Magnifier for Windows 3.x, 95, 98, NT, and Windows 2000. The software supports 2 times through 10 times magnification, may be sized as needed or positioned anywhere on screen, and has several features such as Auto-Position. . ."
Magnus Screen Enlarger (formerly Magnice)
Magnus software provides 2x to 16x magnification, font smoothing, and color inversion. It works with Windows 98, ME, 2000, or XP.
Level 1 provides 2x to 16x magnification. Level 2 provides synchronized magnification and screen reading. ZoomText works with Windows XP, ME, 2000, NT4, 98 and 95.There is also a version for DOS.
The Kurzweil 1000 is a system for scanning books and other printed material into a computer and then speaking it aloud through a synthesizer.
Cicero Text Reader is software that "effectively takes your computer and scanner and turns them into a reading machine for people with a visual impairment. Printed text documents are placed on the scanner and can then be translated into speech, Braille or simply held as a text document which can be adjusted, saved, edited and printed out."
This software set allows books and other material that has been scanned to be translated into text, even if the words in the printed material has been embedded in graphics. The text can be pronounced aloud by a voice synthesizer that is included. It can create both MP3 and WAV sound formats as well .brf and .brl Grade II Braille formats.
This machine scans and translates text from books and other printed matter into speech.
This document reader includes a DEC talk Voice, an OCR reader, a flat bed scanner, a computer, and a screen reader.
This compact machine (19.3 x 12.8 x 3.5 inches) used a flat bed scanner, a text recognition program, and a speech synthesizer. Internal hard disk provides for considerable storage of text.
VERA is a stand-alone reading machine that "takes a picture of your printed material with its scanner and then reads the text in crisp, clear speech through an internal synthesizer."
Click-N-Type Virtual Keyboard version 2.01
Click-N-Type is free software that works with windows and DOS applications. It shows a virtual keyboard on the screen for those people who cannot type on a computer's physical keyboard.
This software "enables convenient operation of GUI environment by means of keyboard only (mouseless operation). With QPointer running, the keyboard starts functioning as an absolute and relative pointing device. . . . It allows operation of the whole computer without taking hands off the keyboard."
"KeyStrokes is written specifically for those of us who are not (or no longer) able to use a normal keyboard. KeyStrokes provides a fully functional on-screen keyboard that you can use to type with the mouse anywhere you would use a normal (hardware) keyboard (applications, dialog boxes, etc.). This virtual keyboard also allows you to shift/option/command/control click. KeyStrokes 2, is shareware. It runs on any Apple Macintosh and Power Macintosh with a PowerPC or 68020 processor or higher."
Dwell Clicker is a free utility for people who can move the mouse but have difficulty clicking the mouse buttons. "Dwelling is resting the mouse over one area of the screen for a specified time. The dwell click software allows you to perform left-click, right-click and double clicks, and even drag things around the screen."
"Dasher is a data entry interface incorporating language modelling and driven by continuous two-dimensional gestures, e.g. a mouse, a stylus, or eye-tracker. Tests have shown that, after an hour of practice, novice users reach a writing speed of about 20 words per minute while taking dictation. Experienced users achieve writing speeds of about 34 words per minute, compared with typical ten-finger keyboard typing of 40-60 words per minute. Although the interface is slower than a conventional keyboard, it is simple to use, and could be used on personal data assistants and by motion-impaired computer users. Dasher can readily be used to enter text from any alphabet."
PAC Mate Portable Braille Display
"This first-of-its-kind, truly portable display not only makes PAC Mate more accessible, but it also can be used with desktops and laptops. Featuring a low-cost, simple platform this 40-cell refreshable Braille unit adds the most manageable functionality available to any computer with a USB port. With a pair of three-way Whiz Wheels for rapid navigation and dual purpose cursor routing buttons, users can quickly and accurately obtain the information they need. The built-in VariBraille and programmable hot keys make the PAC Mate 40 Portable Braille Display a convenient extension to any Windows or Windows CE operating environment."
"Most blind people use a standard QUERTY keyboard when working with a computer. In a number of cases when it comes to editing Braille writing mathematics or music Braille for example using a Braille keyboard makes more sense. An ergonomically designed Braille keyboard like Braille In will ease your work even when working with long documents."
BigKeys LX and BigKeys Plus have keys that are 4 times as large as the typical keyboard. They work with both PCs and Macs.
"Designed by the C4-C5 quad who designed the UPPERTONE exercise machine for quads, the QuadTrac is assistive technology designed to make it simpler and easier for people with C4, and below, quadriplegia to use computers. It accomplishes this with a very simple, but extremely effective, idea - two large remote buttons that perform the same function as the buttons on the trackball."
According to its web site, the Magic Wand Keyboard "Needs No Strength—No Reach—No Dexterity. The Magic Wand Keyboard is a miniature computer keyboard, with a built-in mouse, which allows anyone with a disability who has limited or no hand/arm movement to fully access any IBM or Apple Macintosh computer. It is the only computer keyboard, and mouse, that requires no strength. This mini computer keyboard works with the touch of a wand (hand-held or mouthstick). It requires absolutely no force. Using only the slightest hand or head motion, the keyboard allows people with disabilities easy access to the Internet, e-mail, and all computer programs."
This assistive technology is a "full featured Macintosh computer that helps people with learning, communication, and computer access difficulties lead more independent and productive lives."
This assistive technology enables people to use their eyes to operate a computer, communicate, operate a telephone, etc. "Its users include people with ALS (MND), brain injuries, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injuries, spinal muscular atrophy, strokes and Werdnig-Hoffman syndrome."
"Tracer gives mouse control to people with Quadriplegia, CP, MD, MS, ALS, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and any other disability where you lack the hand control to use a standard mouse but retain good head movement. Tracer uses a small gyroscope to sense the user's motion. The gyroscope communicates wirelessly with the computer via an FCC Certified RF (radio frequency) connection, which solves all of the problems of the IR (Infrared) connection. . ."
"Mouse for Quadriplegics with all of the functions of a standard 5 button mouse wheel mouse."
"HeadMaster Plus is a head pointing system which provides full mouse control of computers to persons who cannot use their hands but who have good head control. Moving one's head moves the cursor on the screen. Activating the puff switch or other external switch makes selections. On-screen keyboards such as WiViK allow for word processing and other text entry."
"This hands free cursor control system is an assistive technology breakthrough for people with ALS, spinal cord injuries, and other people with disabilities who require a hands free mouse alternative. . . . The Smart-Nav AT Hands Free Mouse is a hardware and software bundle that comes with all the features normally seen on devices that cost five times as much, including: Real time head tracking, Built in dwell clicking, Switch clicking capability, On-screen virtual keyboard, Compatibility with all recent windows platforms, [and] Fully customizable software."
HeadMouse, a wireless head-pointing device, comes in versions for both desktop and portable computers, and for both Macs and PCs. A Sip and Puff Switch is also available.
NaturalPoint Head-Tracking Mouse Alternative
The Smart-Nav is a hands-free mouse alternative that connects to the computer through a USB port. "The ergonomic Smart-Nav™ provides precise cursor control through simple head movement allowing your hands to remain on your keyboard, or at your side."
Track IR allows operation of a computer via head movements. "The detector tracks a small silver dot stuck onto your forehead or glasses. As you move your head the mouse moves around the screen. We supply an adaptor that allows one or two switches to be connected to operate the mouse buttons. If you are unable to use switches then there is dwell-clicking software included that allows you to click on an area of the screen by resting the mouse pointer there for a short while. It also can be used to perform double clicks and right clicks. We also include WordWall, which is an on screen keyboard. The WordWall keyboards occupy part of your screen, and by resting the mouse pointer over keys you can type into other programs such as Word or Outlook."
Tracker 2000 "allows you to smoothly move the cursor on the computer simply by moving your head, regardless of your disability. Tracker 2000 sits on top of the computer and tracks a tiny reflective 'dot' worn on your forehead or glasses. When you move your head, Tracker 2000 elegantly converts that into computer mouse movement."
According to their web site, CameraMouse allows "hands-free operation of a computer using a video camera to track body movements, (head, nose, chin, finger or toe, for example) . The web camera converts those movements into mouse pointer movements on a computer screen. It works with all standard software and any PC compatible USB web camera. . . . No more wires, no more dots, no more infrared beams or head apparatus. . . . Beneficial for people with Cerebral Palsy. Multiple Sclerosis, Quadriplegia. Muscular Dystrophy, ALS, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or any disability where users have little or no control of their hands."
