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Disabilities
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Software for the Visually
Impaired
The Kurzweil and Dragon NaturallySpeaking software products are
sophisticated tools to help visually and physically impaired persons,
and students with learning difficulties, use computers more
productively. They have the ability to remember an individual's
user characteristics.
The IBM Home Page Reader lets you
"hear" the Internet. Jaws for Windows is a screen
reading product for the visually impaired.
Zoom Text is screen magnifying software
pre-installed in the computer.
Kurzweil 1000
Kurzweil 1000 is a PC-based reading tool that
makes printed material accessible to people who are blind or have limited
vision. Kurzweil 1000 converts the printed word into speech.
You can scan in books, articles, bills, and advertisements—almost
anything that fits on a scanner. The system uses optical character
recognition (OCR) to create a version of the page that it then reads
aloud.
Kurzweil 3000
Kurzweil 3000 is a PC-based reading system
developed specifically for ease of use by students and teachers. In
particular, it is an ideal compensatory aid for individuals with reading
difficulties. This application allows the user to view a scanned
page on the computer screen while listening to the text being read
aloud. In addition, the Kurzweil 3000 provides study skills,
editing, and file management tools. The program scans and reads
pages from any book or document, and reads World Wide Web pages. It
speaks and highlights text simultaneously, providing auditory and visual
representation. It offers clear, natural-sounding synthetic speech
in a choice of reading voice personalities.
IBM Home Page Reader
The Home Page Reader is a spoken on-ramp to
the Information Highway for computer users who are blind or visually
impaired. This innovative product provides Web access by quickly,
easily, and efficiently speaking Web page information. HPR provides
a simple, easy-to-use interface for navigating and manipulating Web page
elements and utilizes the capabilities of IBM’s ViaVoice Outloud
text-to-speech synthesizer for speaking. Using the keyboard to
navigate, a person who is blind or who has a visual impairment can hear
the full range of Web page content provided in a logical, clear, and
understandable manner.
Dragon Naturally Speaking
Preferred Voice Recognition Software
This program enables users to talk to their
PC continuously and naturally, directly into virtually any Windows
application. It is a perfect tool for those who are unable to use a
keyboard. It permits users to dictate text without pauses between
words. Users simply talk in a natural manner and pace. The
spoken words immediately appear on the screen with every word spelled
correctly. The powerful text editing and formatting capabilities
allow users to bold, italicize, change the font, and more, by voice
command. It takes about 30 minutes to program for a new user (and a
little while longer to learn all the commands).
JAWS for Windows 3.7
JAWS (Job Access with Speech) provides speech technology
that works with your Windows operating system to provide access to today’s
popular software applications and the Internet. JAWS uses an
integrated voice synthesizer and the computer’s sound card to output the
content of the computer screen to speakers. You can work with JAWS
to hear e-mail programs, word processors, spreadsheets, and Web browsers.
Zoom
Text Xtra 7.0 Magnification and Screen Reading Software
Zoom Text seamlessly integrates magnification
and screen reading, providing easy access to all Windows programs.
Zoom Text delivers clear images, concise speech, and the highest level of
compatibility. It has 2x to 16x magnification with advanced
edge-smoothing, 8 different zoom windows for full or partial screen
enlargement, color filtering for improved contrast and readability, screen
reading that’s powerful yet easy-to-use that speaks all on-screen text,
including menus, dialog boxes, and controls, and has speech settings for
adjusting voice, rate, and pitch.
Single-Switch
Software
Many children with special
needs require software that is very simple to operate. The keyboard
has many buttons and can be overwhelming for a child. Single switch
software refers to a software program that requires pressing only one
switch to operate the software. The switch can be located on any one
of several input devices. Some examples include the button of a
joystick, a mouse click, the keyboard space bar, or for children with
limited motor skills, a big button connected to the computer with a
specially designed adapter. The Dunellen Library has a Big Yellow
Button from RJ Cooper. The Judy Lynn software is in 3.5 floppy disc
format. The Don Johnston software is on CD-Rom. Both sets of
products can be used in the Library or can be checked out to be used at
home.
Below are descriptions of our
single-switch software. Click here
to learn the availability of these software programs via our on-line
catalog: Use the browser's "BACK" button to return to this
page.
Judy
Lynn Software
Don
Johnston Software
Press to Play Speedy
Speedy is a young boy who has a wheelchair. The scene
involve him playing various games with his friends, including catching a
fish, traveling on the school bus, playing with his train set, moving
about in his wheelchair, playing with his puppy, and shooting hoops with a
basketball.
Press to Play Animals
The humorous scenes amuse children of all ages. Scenes
include: a monkey swinging on a vine, eggs hatching in a nest, a mother
bird returning to her nest, a mother feeding her young with a worm, a cat
investigating a garbage can, and a dog befriending a rabbit.
Press to Play Zoo
The three friends, including Speedy, visit the zoo where
they encounter a number of animals. A cheeky monkey blows them a
raspberry and a seal cavorts in his pool.
Press to Play Sport
Speedy and his pals have wheelchair races and other sports
related fun.
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