Software
There is a wide range of software commercially available which can make a computer easier to use. These include:
- Windows Accessibility Options
- Visual Support Software
- Literacy Support Software
- Switch Accessible Software
- Voice Recognition Software
Windows Accessibility Options
You can use the standard Windows Accessibility Options in Windows XP or the customisation feature in Windows Vista to tune how the computer reacts when you use the keyboard, mouse or screen. For more information on how you can change these settings, you can review the skillsheets at the end of this page.
Visual Support Software
Screenreaders
Screen reading software assists visually impaired or blind computer users to access computer functions, by listening to rather than looking at screen content. They use synthesised speech to read what is on the screen. Those designed for visually impaired users and those with literacy difficulties use highlighting to show which word is currently being read. A limited, free version is included within Microsoft XP and Microsoft Vista (Narrator).
Examples are:
Screen Magnifiers
Screen magnification software programmes allows the user to increase the size of the text in a document, without increasing the size of the text printed out. It is aimed at users with impaired vision, and utilises whatever vision the user has to its maximum. The user may choose to magnify the entire screen, or may limit magnification to part of the screen. They often come with a document reader, whereby a synthetic voice speaks aloud the content of a text document.
A limited, free version is included within Microsoft XP and Microsoft Vista.
SuperNova screen magnifier and ZoomText screen magnifier
Literacy Support Software
Word Prediction
There are a variety of software packages which enhance the rate at which the user inputs text into the computer. These programmes attempt to predict the target word, based on the first letters typed by the user. Word prediction can be useful to support spelling, as well as to increase the rate of text produced, and more recent software versions also include a semantic prediction feature which attempts to predict not only on the basis of letters typed, but also on the basis of grammar or syntax used. So, for example, after the user has typed the word 'We', the word prediction feature will include in its list of predicted words: 'are', 'were', etc, but will not predict grammatically incorrect solutions such as 'is' or 'was'.
Many word prediction software also include a text reading feature with synthetic speech so that the user can re-check what he/she has written by having it read aloud.
Some examples include:
Co-Writer and Penfriend word prediction packages
Switch Accessible Software
Switch software is available in a variety of different levels: for very young children who need to learn about cause and effect, right up to advanced users in third level education or at work who need to produce extensive quantities of text.
On-screen keyboards which are switch accessible allow the user to type text using a keyboard on screen which is controlled via a switch connected to the computer via the serial or USB port. When the user hits his/her switch, each row of the on-screen keyboard is successively highlighted; the user then hits the switch again when the target row is highlighted, and again, when the target letter/word/keyboard function is highlighted. There are a wide range of scanning options to choose from in most switch accessible packages.
Many on-screen keyboards also allow the user to control the mouse functions via the switch. This means that the user can have full access to, and control of the computer via a single switch.
Some users will use more than one switch to control the PC. The number of switches used depends upon the number of switches which the user can easily access.
WindowsXP on-screen keyboard
EZ keys on-screen keyboard
Wivik on-screen keyboard
Voice Recognition Software
Voice recognition software packages are becoming more and more user- friendly and are now more commonly used in office environments, as well as by people who want an alternative method of inputting text, etc to the computer. Using a microphone, the user speaks in text, or commands the computer to carry out functions which would previously have been undertaken with the mouse. These might include: file management, printing, saving etc. The computer then interprets the spoken words, and either translates them into text on the screen, or carries out a function to control the computer. However, these are not a solution for everyone; the user needs to have consistent speech patterns, good literacy skills and computer skills. Given that most voice recognition systems are based on adult voices, they may be unsuitable for younger children.
A limited, free version is included within Microsoft Vista.
Dragon Naturally Speaking version 10
IBM Voice Type Simply Good Speaking
Accessibility Display Options in Windows XP
- AbilityNet Skillsheet: Windows XP Accessibility Options. (.pdf, 1.5Mb)
- AbilityNet Skillsheet: Accessibility in Windows 95/98/NT/ME. (.pdf, 247kb)
- AbilityNet Skillsheet: Accessibility in Windows Vista (.pdf, 1.1Mb)
