Sunday 20 November 2011

Accessibility software: programs to help the visually impaired and blind to use computers

“My computer is, to communication, what my guide dog is to mobility”
As part of my job I visit people with little or no sight and help them make their computers more accessible
The quote above is from one of my clients and sums up how computers can be so useful to people who have difficulty seeing.  Computers and the internet are ubiquitous these days so it is imperative that the blind are not left out. 
There are many programs that can help by manipulating what’s on the computer screen (such as changing contrast or enlarging it) or by speaking what’s being displayed. 
They use different methods of accessing and interacting with the computer, for those who may find the mouse, cursor and even the keyboard, difficult or impossible, with their level of vision.
The next few posts are a reproduction of information we give out to clients in four categories:
  • Screen magnifiers
  • Screen readers
  • Combination magnifiers/readers
  • Other assistive software
These are just a few examples of the many programs out there.  The prices shown are approximate, October 2011. All prices are excluding VAT. Those registered as sight impaired or severely sight impaired will not have to pay VAT on these products. Links to trial software that can be downloaded from the internet mean you can test the different products before you buy, to see if they suit your needs.
This information is intended as an introduction to the subject for blind and partially sighted people and their supporters. It is not intended as a complete list of all products and services available, nor should it be inferred that products and services mentioned in this information sheet are recommended or endorsed by Vision Web Sight.

Assistive Technology Software 1: Speech Software

Speech output or screen reading software provides access to on screen information through synthetic speech. The user navigates the computer via the keyboard and the current focus is announced. By its nature, screen readers give a narrow view of what is on the screen, for example a sighted user may glance at the clock to get the time; a screen reader user would need to know the keystroke to get that information. To fully utilise a screen reader therefore, the user must learn a wide range of operating system and screen reader specific keystrokes.
In general, you get what you pay for with screen readers. However, whether a home user needs the extensibility of a high end screen reader such as JAWS should be questioned when free alternatives exist.

Software listed:

  • Microsoft Windows operating system narrator – free
  • Apple operating system VoiceOver – free
  • NVDA (Non Visual Desktop Application) – free
  • Thunder – free
  • System access to go (web-based) – free
  • Windows Eyes - £595
  • Supernova reader - £595
  • JAWS – from £659 ex VAT

Microsoft Windows operating system Narrator - free

This is already available as part of Microsoft Windows

Pros:

  • Comes free as part of Windows
  • Possible to read under mouse curser

Cons:

  • Very basic
  • May not be able to read some internet pages or web based email

Apple operating system VoiceOver - free

This is already available as part of Apple operating systems

Pros:

  • Comes free as part of Apple computer operating system
  • Can be controlled with same gestures as Apple mobile devices using the trackpad

Cons:
  • Basic

NVDA (Non Visual Desktop Application) – free

Download full program from web site: http://www.nvda-project.org

Pros:

  • NVDA Fully featured free software
  • Open source - frequent updates and new features
  • Braille output
  • Support for over 20 languages
  • Ability to read text under the mouse pointer as it moves
  • Can be run on any Windows computer from USB drive with no installation
  • Optional audible indication of the mouse position
  • Online community for support and feedback

Cons:

  • eSpeak speech synthesizer sounds “inhuman” but his can be changed to a native Windows voice, or in addition, alternative voices can be purchased

Thunder – free

Web site: http://www.screenreader.net/

Pros:

  • Free
  • Made by not-for-profit Community Interest Company
  • · 5 language options
  • Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced Menu Levels
  • Can be run on any Windows computer from USB drive with no installation
  • Online community for support and feedback

Cons:

  • Occasional freezes and crashes reported
  • No PDF support
  • May not be able to read some internet pages or web based email

System Access To Go – free (web-based)

Run the program from the website:http://www.satogo.com/en/

Pros:

  • Free over the internet
  • Possible to use on any computer with an internet connection without admin rights
  • Braille output

Cons:

  • Needs internet access
  • Intended for use as temporary support
  • eSpeak speech synthesizer sounds “inhuman” but his can be changed to a native Windows voice, or in addition, alternative voices can be purchased

Windows Eyes – from £595 plus VAT

Web site: www.forcetenco.co.uk
Download trial version: http://www.gwmicro.com/Window-Eyes/Demo/

Pros:

  • Supports all standard Windows applications
  • Easily accessible configuration control panel
  • · Braille output
  • Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced Menu Levels
  • Ability to read text under the mouse pointer
  • Supports PDF Flash, and more

Cons:
  • Limited support in the UK

Supernova Reader – £595 plus VAT

Web site: http://www.yourdolphin.com/productdetail.asp?id=5&z=0
Download trial version: http://www.yourdolphin.com/tryit.asp?id=5

Pros:

  • Supports all standard Windows applications
  • User selectable range of hotkey shortcuts provide ease of use and requires minimal training
  • Customisable speed and volume of the voice and control of the level of detail and punctuation that is spoken
  • Multilingual
  • Braille output
  • EasyReader DAISY Player included
  • Discounted price for those registered sight impaired or dyslexic

Cons:

  • Price
  • Has some limitations with more complex tasks
  • Takes up a lot of memory which can slow down the computer

JAWS – from approx. £659 plus VAT

Web site including free trial version: http://www.freedomscientific.com/products/fs/jaws-product-page.asp

Pros:

  • Supports all standard Windows applications
  • Can be fully adapted with built-in customization tools
  • Talking installation
  • Performs well with complex Windows tasks
  • Choice of natural sounding voices
  • Multiple languages
  • Standard, Premium, Professional and multi-user versions
  • Braille output
  • Braille display support
  • USB memory stick version available for mobile use

Cons:

  • Price
  • Complex if using more advanced features

Other Assistive Technology information on VWS


The prices shown are approximate, November 2011. Links to trial software that can be downloaded from the internet mean you can test the different products before you buy, to see if they suit your needs.
This information is intended as an introduction to the subject for blind and partially sighted people and their supporters. It is not intended as a complete list of all products and services available, nor should it be inferred that products and services mentioned in this information is recommended or endorsed by Vision Web Sight.

Friday 11 November 2011

Disabled Go: is the place you’re going accessible?

Being disabled can make a person think twice before going anywhere.  Is it going to be accessible?  Am I going to be able to enjoy and take advantage of the facilities?  Is it worth me bothering?

Having this kind of information before visiting somewhere can be invaluable to help prepare you and avoid disappointment.  It can be all too easy to put off a trip because you’re unaware if it will be worth going if your disability is going to be a major disadvantage or you’re nervous how you’ll cope.

The web site Disabiled Go can help.  It is a online resource listing detailed information on the access to a wide range of places such as hotels, restaurants, education establishments, tourist attractions, libraries, hospitals, local services and more.  All venues are personally visited by the Disabled Go surveying team and lists information from facilities for the disabled to details of toilet facilities, or even the surface of the car parks.

Using an easy interface, the site covers all aspects of things that could be a problem for people with all kinds of disabilities and could help in making decisions on whether it’s worth visiting somewhere or even deciding to go somewhere you thought wouldn’t have been an option before.


Disability Go also lists jobs, has news of events and disability issues as well as a discussion forum.

The site doesn't cover everywhere but is growing and constantly being added to.

Link:
Visit Disabled Go by clicking here.

Sunday 6 November 2011

Action for Blind People on The Secret Millionaire

Some of the ways people can suffer from loss was highlighted on last week’s Secret Millionaire programme on Channel 4.

The show takes takes a millionaire from their luxury lifestyle  and sends them out undercover to find people making a difference  and which the millionaire can help in return with a donation.  This episode followed Edward Douglas-Miller, who tragically lost a daughter just after birth and had sight problems which he feared could lead to losing his sight.

One person was Bernie Reddington, who works in the same role as me at Action for Blind People in Norwich (Assistive Technology Coordinator).  Having lost her sight 17 years ago and two of her children inheriting the condition she has, she showed how she copes being totally blind and helping others in similar situations.

The programme also met a woman running a charity that helps bereaved parents and a man with motor neurones disease.  An emotional watch, available on Channel 4’s catch up web site 4oD:

The Secret Millionaire on 4oD

Friday 14 October 2011

Tablet computers used as Braille keyboards

Researchers at New Mexico University have developed a system that uses tablet computers, like the Apple iPad, as Braille keyboards.

Touchscreen tablets can present a problem for blind and visually impaired people when the normal on-screen keyboards are not tactile and can’t be seen. 

Tablets like the iPaad use speech software that feed back vocally what is under the users finger, meaning that you have to slide your finger around the screen until you find the right key.  Rather than the users fingers having to find the keys the research group has developed a system where the device works out where the users fingers are.  The combination of fingers determines the letter typed, in the same way a Braille typewriter would.

Though not yet commercially available the group hope to release the system which could be portable and help speed up typing, note taking and numerous other applications.

Link:
Read the BBC News story here.

Elderly who take a daily Aspirin could be twice as likely to develop age related sight loss

A European study has found that pensioners who take an Aspirin  everyday increase the risk of developing late stage age related Macular Degeneration (MD).  People who took the painkiller were shown to be twice as likely to suffer from MD as those who didn’t.  MD is the leading form of vision loss for the over 60’s

Many over 65’s with, or at risk of, heart disease take Asprin as an anti-coagulant to thin the blood but research by Dr Paulus de Jong at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience and Academic Medical Centre suggests that it could be unwise to recommend taking Aspirin for people showing signs of the eye condition.

The study doesn’t show why the drug exacerbates the eye condition, which examined the lifestyles of nearly 4,700 patients. It showed that roughly 2 out of every 100 people who didn’t take Aspirin developed wet form MD, the more severe form of the eye condition, whilst the figures jumped to about 4 per 100 with the patients who took the drug everyday.

It’s not thought that the drug causes MD, as it does not seem to effect early stage MD.  It seems only wet, not the more common dry form MD, is affected.

However, Dr Jong told the Reuters news agency “For people with cardiovascular disease who take aspirin to prevent the condition from worsening, the benefits of the drug outweigh the risks to visual health… A healthy eye with full visual capacities is of no use in a dead body.”

Link:
Reuters: “Daily asprin tied to risk of vision loss”

Friday 30 September 2011

Stem cell research could lead to the reversal of sight loss

It was announced last week that the first ever European trails using embryonic stem cells has been approved by regulators.  Moorfields Eye Hospital in London will start the trails on 12 patients with  Stargardts Disease, a form of macular degeneration, which causes sight loss at an early age.

The initial trails will take the form of injecting tiny amounts of retinal stem cells into the eye, initially to assess the safety of the procedure.  If this is successful it is hoped that higher doses will help regenerate the damaged retina and restore eyesight, effectively “curing” the disease.

In America, trails in safety of stem cell therapy for people with spinal injuries is already taking place.  Bone marrow transplants using stem cells and the growing of a new windpipe from the patient’s own stem cells have been successful in recent years.

Macular Degeneration (MD) is one of the biggest causes of sight loss (47% in the UK).  It’s thought that if everyone lived long enough, everyone would eventually develop some form of MD and become blind.  Stem cells can regenerate all forms of human tissue, so it is hoped that this treatment could help other forms of degenerative sight loss.

There is some controversy over the use of stem cells in medicine.  It is opposed by Pro-Life groups because the embryo is destroyed when the cells are harvested.

Links:

Wednesday 14 September 2011

Best of British - Channel 4 documentary follows 2012 Paralympics hopefuls

Tonight on Channel 4 a new three part documentary starts. "Best of British" follows hopefuls for the London 2012 Paralympics GB team.  The first programme follows three blind footballers, fighting to make the GB squad.

"The first film in the series follows Dave Clarke, Robin Wiliams and Owen Bainbridge from the British Blind Football squad.
As well as following the highs and lows of team selection and the squad's performance, the film also meets the players' families.
What's it like for the players to have sighted family members and children, and what is it like for those families to have blind sons, brothers and fathers?"
Owen Bainbridge is a good friend of mine and was one of my lodge mates during my time at the Royal National College for the Blind.  As the camera crew followed him in his daily life, they also interviewed me.  So you might alsao see me on the programme.  Fame at last!

Thursday 11 August 2011

The Blind Traveller

Sometimes the stories you hear in the news about blind people doing extraordinary things (such as running marathons, breaking blind land speed records or climbing mountains) can be intimidating when you’re experiencing sight loss.  Some of the things I hear about blind people doing, I wouldn’t have even attempted fully sighted! 

Not everyone is an adrenalin junky or wants to be a record breaker, or whatever, but just wants to live as normal a life as everyone else.  Sometimes their disability can make that seem like an heroic effort in itself and going into your shell is so easy.
However, these stories can also help people realise that a disability doesn’t have to prevent people from achieving their goals or even just doing the things they love.
As someone still getting used to getting around with deteriorating eyesight the story of “Tony the Traveller” is inspiring.

I met Tony Giles this week.  He was born with a genetic disease the eventually robbed him of all sight and has only 20% hearing without his hearing aids.  He also had a kidney transplant in 2008.   He was telling me how he’d not long returned from a solo trip to Argentina and Antarctica.  He has travelled the globe, visiting all 50 U.S. and all 10 Canadian states, crossed the Artic Circle and bungee jumped in New Zealand.

With the help of local guides and fellow travellers he befriends he has visited more countries, experienced more exotic locations and tasted more weird and wonderful local cuisines than most people will in a lifetime.  Tony is 33.

Tony has written a number of books, in the form of his travel diaries, also available in different accessible formats.  You can find out a lot more on his web site "Tony the Traveller" .

For anyone going through the life changing effects of losing their sight, stories like Tony’s can highlight the fact that things they may have thought would become impossible to do, are still out there to experience, even if it might just take a little more thought and effort in how to achieve them.

Quote from the Tony the Traveller web site about his book “Seeing the World My Way”:
“Seeing the World My Way follows Tony Giles’ journey of hedonism and thrill-seeking adventure as he travels across North America, Asia and Australasia. Full of drama, danger and discovery, this fascinating travel biography is a young blind man’s view of the world as he sets out to achieve his dream, dealing with disability whilst living life to the limit.
From bungee jumping in New Zealand to booze filled nights out in New Orleans, Seeing the World My Way is a no-holds-barred account that is certainly not for the faint hearted. Travel the world in a whole new way with Tony Giles’ frank, honest and exhilarating romp through one adrenaline-fuelled experience after another.”

Sunday 24 July 2011

"Let's make the web more accessible" - RNIB campaign

Online services on the internet can be tricky to navigate, even at the best of times.  For people with disabilities that use assisstive technology to access the web they can sometimes be impossible.

There are laws in the UK that mean shops and public places have too be made accessible to disabled people.  Household bills and government  correspondence be made available in various formats, such as braille, audio and large print.  A company wouldn't dream of creating, for example, one of their stores inaccessible to people in wheelchairs, just to follow a trend or incorporate certain design features.  So why is the web no following suit?

The Internet is becoming ubiquitous in everyday life, especially with the advent of mobile access to the world wide web.  Many online services, such as travel web booking sites and online shopping has concentrated to much on the look of their design and interactive content that they haven't taken into account accessibility, or alternative versions for the disabled.

The  RNIB "Online Services Project" in conjunction with "Fix the Web" is challenging the most popular and worst offenders with the aim of making them change their online services available to all.  They are encouraging people to report and sites that have caused people problems when trying to access with screen readers or magnifiction software.  They want to make the web's top 50 online services accessible to the blind and partially sighted.

If you know of an inaccessible web service and would like the RNIB to challenge the company or organisation into creating a more level playing field for all, visit the  RNIB "Online Services Project" page to find out more.

Tuesday 19 July 2011

Glastonbury with a white cane

Losing your sight is more than just losing your vision.  You also lose many other aspects of your life and have to cope with and come to terms with changes that don’t cross the mind of people who only focus on the fact that you’re going blind.

I have found that I’ve had to deal with a complete change in who I am.  I used to be a graphic designer, I used to drive a VW Campervan, I used to love all variety of films, I used to be an avid reader, watch a lot of football and play video games.

All of these, if not impossible, are now a lot more difficult.  It’s things like this that define who you, so when you find you can’t do them anymore you lose part of who you are.  You have to hold on to as much as you can and adapt the way you do things.

The first topic of conversation when seeing someone is invariably how my sight is or other vision related topics.  I’m as guilty of it as the next person because it has become the major factor in my life and everything I do.  I’m the severely visually impaired bloke, the blind guy, the one with the dodgy vision.

I was also the one who went to Glastonbury Festival every year and I was determined this wasn’t going to change, just because I’m losing my sight.

Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury is Europe's largest and longest running Music and Performing Arts festival.  I first attended in 1993 and haven’t missed one since 1999.  It’s something I do, my escape, my annual holiday.  The thought of missing it is upsetting. 

Last year the festival’s final headline act was Stevie Wonder.  He made a speech at the end of his set about how the world should be accessible to all.  It seemed deeply personal and I stood there, not knowing if it was my last festival because of my failing eyesight, with tears in my eyes.  When it came to the tickets for 2011’s event going on sale, all doubts of whether I should go or not went out of the window.  Somehow I would make it.

My friends all said help.  They would get me there and help me round, even though my condition had got worse since last year.

Getting there:
Once I’d secured my ticket I contacted the festival staff about getting a disabled pass.  This meant we’d be able to use the disabled car park, closer to the camping and if I wanted the disabled camping area too.  I decided against the latter, I’d be camping with my large group of friends with the rest of the 170,000 party goers.

With a Disabled Parking sticking in the windscreen of my friends car we were ushered to the disabled car park quickly and efficiently, parked up and in the queue for gates open.  Inevitably for Glastonbury, the heavens opened as we stood waiting to get our wristbands and information and this is where I have my only complaint about the festival’s disabled facilities.  It took forever to get the things we needed to get onto the main site.  We were queued outside in the rain for nearly three hours, with no cover.  People with various disabilities, including in wheelchairs, got soaked as the few staff did their best to reduce the queue of maybe 150 people. 

We then had to wait a long time for a minibus to ferry us to disabled camping. At least we hadn’t had to lug all our stuff across the huge main car parks.  It was a good service but did not take into account the numbers of people that were there for the opening of the festival. 

On site facilities:
As well as being given the festival wristband to get into the site, i was given a disabled camping and disabled facilities wristband and a code for the disabled toilets.  I was also given a pass for a carer, who would be able to accompany me when using the facilities, such as the viewing platforms, and this could be transferred to anyone I wanted to take with me.

The facilities at the festival for disabled people were a great help.  Getting around the huge site, which for the rest of the year is a working farm.  Viewing platforms at the main stages meant disabled people could watch the bands from a flat, slightly raised and less crowded position.

Next to each platform and dotted around festival were disabled portaloos.  The toilets at Glastonbiry are infamous and have an (unfair) bad reputation (they’re better than most large festivals). 

Having larger, cleaner and more accessible toilets is a great help as getting through the crowds and then having to queue as a disabled person is a lot more difficult.  Having a small combination lock padlock could have been a bit of a problem for the toilets without attendants but there was always someone with me to help.  The attendants at the viewing platforms were very friendly and helpful, as were almost everyone on site.  On seeing my white cane/wristband everyone was more than willing to give assistance, staff and punters alike.

Getting around:
it certainly helped that I know the massive site well and I was with a good crowd of friends, who were always willing to help (including putting my tent up, thanks guys!).  We made sure we camped near a path, with clear access (i.e. no guy ropes in the way).

Using my white long cane helped in a couple of ways.  It showed people of my disability and people would be happy to make room for me, to the extent that my group of friends started putting me up front when going anywhere because it acted liked the parting of the Red Sea !

Being a farm the ground is very uneven and rocky in places, making it treacherous at the best of times, when it rains it has an added hazard. it the wet slippery mud (and gloopy stickiness as it dries) it’s impossible to swipe the cane as you would on pavement, so where possible I had to tap (or sometimes just hover) the cane.  This made each step on the un-even ground hard work, not knowing whether it would be a dip, a rise or even a rock or other object.  By concentrating and being careful it wasn’t too bad but it was mentally as well as physically tiring and took a lot longer than normal.

It always takes loner than you think to get anywhere at Glastonbury, even more so with a disability.  I missed a lot of things I had wanted to see, mostly because of the time it would have taken to travel between stages.  The festival organisers have helped out a bit with this by having a few paths via the back stage areas between a few of the main arenas.

Overall:
I’m glad I decided to go, whatever my worries were.  I saw some great bands and comedians, friends I hadn’t seen since last year’s festival and the group of friends I always camp and have a great laugh with.

It’s a daunting place to sighted people so it could be overwhelming to someone with vision impairment. 

I missed a lot of the extra things that make the festival so special: the site art and decoration, the circus acts and street performers, the crazy people that go and all the weird and wonderful wackiness.  When going from stage to stage I had to concentrate on where I was going so missed all the stalls and all variety of colourful sights.  But the atmosphere and the brilliant music on offer (U2, Paul Simon, Queens of the Stone Age, Biffi Clyro,  Morrissey, The Kills, The Wombles! etc. etc. etc.!!!) and the invaluable help from Glastonbury Festivals Ltd and some special friends, made it all worthwhile.

And the next one will be my 20 year anniversary ! So I can’t miss that one.

Friday 15 July 2011

Image to voice text readers for the blind

I was given a demonstration yesterday at Devon in Sight of a brilliant piece of kit. The Optelec ClearReader+, a machine that takes a photo of a text document and in seconds reads it back to you. It is acurate, easy to use and relays the text in a very clear voice.

The unit is about the size of a thin, slightly taller car battery. An arm folds out with the camera on and by placing the document parallel and at a right angle (straight on or sideways) it can read an A4 size below it. I was shown it readin a printed document and a newspaper article. With the newspaper it managed to distinguish between the headline, that spanned four columns in a larger font and the copy's separate columns, very impressive.

How it deals with text on different coloured backgrounds and different typefaces, I don;t know but what I did see was 100% acurate, the potential uses are huge.

The controls are minimal and simple and it has a number of features, such as four languages, four voices, both male and female, the ability to record and portablity, with a claimed battery life of five hours continous use.

However, coming in at just under £2,000, for personal use it price strictive but for use in the workplace, this could be the answer for a lot of people with sight loss needing to read a variety of printed work.

iPhone alternative:
A much cheaper, though not quite as accurate alternative is an app for the iPhone. At on 59p the app "Image to Speech" from GP Imports Inc Software, utilies the iPhone camera to take a snap and interpret anything in the image it believes to be text and reads it back out loud. The results are very hit and miss.  Clear, large, well lit text works best but as a staring point this is a brilliant innovation.

Maybe later updates will improve it's accuracy but currently it is only really useful for reading signage or small amounts of text.

Like many apps that could be of great use to the blind and visually impaired, the developers have missed a trick and made the interface not completely compatible with VoiceOver, so some level of vision is needed (lining up the text in the camera viewfinder is obviously another issue). But apps such as this show the potential of platforms such as the iPhone being a tremendous tool for people with sight loss.

Links:
Optelec link: "ClearReader page
Image to Speech link: "Image to Speech" at iTunes

Thursday 14 July 2011

Devon in Sight - charity relaunch

The "Devon in Sight" charity celebrated it's relaunch and rebranding with the official opening of it's refurbished Resource Centre in Topsham, near Exeter. Formally known as Devon County Association for the Blind, it is based in the old Station House next to Topsham Station but covers the whole county, helping people with all forms of sight loss, whatever their age, sex or background.

The ceremony was well attended in the beautiful sunshine and the cutting of the ribbon was announced by the town cryer and performed by "Dad's Army" actor (and Topsham resident) Bill Pertwee. After speeches by Lady Devon and Martin Pallett, Director of Services for Devon in Sight the crowd were treated with refreshments and live music and shown around the new facilities by the friendly, helpful staff.

The Resource Centre is housed in the beautiful Station House, a Grade 2 listed building, which has been modernised inside to be larger and brighter than before, giving space to view assistive technology, useful household gadgets and computer equipment designed to aid those with sight loss. The impressive equipment on show can be tested hands on and advice given by staff in the centre and the charity is developing it's "Volunteer Visiting Service" as well as new centres in Torquay in Plymouth . It's also establishing new social and lesuir opportunities, countywide. They have doubled the times the centre is open each week so customers can visit throughout the day.

The charity is run by fundraising and a membership subscription costs just £12. If you would like to contact Devon in Sight for opening times, advice or to donate contact:

Devon in Sight
Station House
Holman Way
Topsham
Exeter
EX3 0EN

telephone: 01392 876666
email: enquiries@devoninsight.co.uk
web site: http://www.devonblind.org.uk/  (soon to be relaunched)


Registered charity number: 203044

Tuesday 12 July 2011

Making computers accessible - "My Web, My Way" from the BBC

With computers being such a large part of everyday life it is important that access is available for everyone, whatever their abilities.  The design and usability of a lot of programs and web sites still has a long way to go but it is improving.  More people are using assistive technology to access the web and computer programs so programmers and web designers need to keep them in mind if they want to reach as wide an audience as possible and be inclusive to the disabled.

Not so long ago the BBC redesigned their web site to make it easier to navigate with screen readers and their commitment to helping make the web and computing more accessible is shown in a number of brilliant online guides.

My Web, My Way
My Web, My Way
The  pages are a comprehensive guide to setting up and using computers if you have a number of disabilities from visual impairments and blindness to help for the hard of hearing and people who find using a mouse and keyboard difficult.

The site covers all sorts of help for people with sight problems, for all levels of IT knowledge, whether using Windows, Mac or Linus operating systems, including:
  • Changing backgrounds and colours
  • Changing fonts
  • Magnifying the screen
  • Making your computer read text aloud
  • An overview on screen readers
There are also links to accessibility news and more BBC pages on disability.  This really is one of the best sites I have found on the subject and you can't do much better than taking a look if your wanting to make your computer experience easier with a disability.  If you need to m make your computer more accessible then head over to the site by clicking this link My Web, My Way

Thursday 9 June 2011

Accessible Apple: part two -My Experience Using the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad

Hats off to Apple. They have set the bar for accessiblre computing dwith their range of products that have features for the bind and visually impaired as standard, with no extras or add-ons needed.

I am writing this post on my new iPad 2 using the built in VoiceOver feature, which is so easy to use and intuitive, you wonder why all computing can't be this easy.

After graduating from an iPod Touch (bought as a present to myself when I was no longer able to drive and had to sell my car) to the iPhone (thanks to some fine people at t-mobile and Orange) I eventually got myself an iPad 2 (with help from a grant from the amazing charity, the Elizebeth Finn Trust). All three devices work in a very similar way, so if you can use one you can use the others.

There is a lot of crossover between what each device can do. All have a iPod feature for playing music. Essentially the iPod Touch is an iPhone without the mobile phone/gps. It's a bit simplified to say so but the iPad uses much of the same fuctionality of the Touch but in a bigger format and a few more bells and whistles.


There is much sceptisism about how blind people can possibly use a touchscrren device with minimal physical buttons. All three devices only have on/off/sleep, volime/mute and home buttons; everything else is controlled by the touchscreen. But using them with VoiceOver is a breeze. By holding your finger over an item the device reads out in a clear voice what is below your finger. Using a few simple gestures.you can interact with whatever is on screen: selecting, typing, navigating around etc.

My experience of using the iDevices.
(i will refer to the iPad but these apply to the iPhone and Touch too, unless otherwiae stated)

Like most screen readers, VoiceOver can sometimes throw up some strange pronunciations of words, especially names or words that are spelt the same but said differently depending on context (such as read or live). Generally the voice is very impressive. All Apple apps are compatible with VoiceOver but the biggest problem is third party apps not always being accessible due to being visual and not set up to use with VoiceOver. Still, there are so many apps available to download that you won't fail to find something useful or accessible.

Navigation on the iPad is so much easier and quicker, thanks to the touchscreen. Whilst using a screenreader on a stadard computer you have to skip through each item in sequesnce, like a list, until you find what you need. On the iPad you can quickly find what you're after by touching the screen or scrolling to the right page. Once you've found it and it's been read out to you, with a quick sideways swipe on the screen you can skip to the next (or previous) item. Reading emails or messages, surfing the net or through e-books and apps is simplified and instinctive. Apple really have nailed user friendky interfaces that can be used with minimum fuss and staight out of the box (although accessible settings do need to be turned on).


Entering and editting text

I found the default settings for typing a little tricky. To type you need to hold a finger over the virtual keyboard until VoiceOver reads the letter you want. Then double tapping anywhere on the screen will input the last letter read out. Editting was even more difficult, having to double tap and hold a finger on the screen until a warning sound and then move the finger around until you find what you want to change or the pop up menu item you want to select. This is difficult enough on the smaller screens of the iPhone and Touch for sighted people, let alone soneone who can't see the screen.

However changing the typing and editting method really helped. Placing two fingers on screen and rotating them like a dial a number of options are available. Setting the typing mode to "touch typig" means that rather than the double tap, just holding your fingers over the letter and lifting off the screen will type in what you want (which is essentially how it works with VoiceOver off). Also the two finger rotation also accessees the edit mode, meaning you can select or jump between characters, words or line. This is also handy for checking spelling if VoiceOver reads back something you've typed strangly.


For a detailed list of VoiceOver features visit Apple's official guide by clicking here.



Accessible Apps

The third part for "accessible Apple" on this blog will have to be about useful and accessible apps I have discovered as I become more experienced using the iPad. If you know of any or even some you think need improvement on the accessible front, please add a comment below.

Just to get you started I'll mention a few here:

- Dragon Dictation: a speak to text app where you talk into your device and the app will type the text for you, which you can then copy and paste into messages, emails etc. This program speech recognition is excellent (i'm not sure how it handles regional
accents).
One issues I initially had with Dictation was that it would also type in the VoiceOver spoken commands until I found you can turn off VoiceOver quickly by double tapping the screen with three fingers, turning it back on by repeating the double tap when you're done). Triple tapping three fingrrs turns off the screen completely, saving battery power for totally blind people.

Google Voice Search/Dragon Search: these apps allow you to search the internet by speaking you request and the voice recodnition software deciphering what you want and displaying a list of results.

NOTE: for apps using voice recognition, on the iPod Touch you are recrequired to use the microphone on the headphones supplied, as the Touch doesn't have an internal microphone.

- Image To Speech: this app uses the camera to capture a picture and read back any text in the image. Though a bit hit and miss this app has amazing potential. Obviosly having some useful sight helps, so you know where you're pointing the camera. It stuggles if the font used isn't quite simple or the text isn't on a flat surface but results on large clear signs (for example) are quite impressive.


this blog post is a follow up to. accessible Apple - iPad and the iPhone for the visually impaired -click here to read

More to come.

Sunday 15 May 2011

Accessible computing and free screen reader

I've been away for a while for a couple of reasons.  One is becuase in one of those moments where I forgot I can't see properly, I accidentally spilt a drink over my laptop.  The second is because my vision had taken a downturn and am now having to use a screen reader to help me use my computer.

Screen readers are programs that use sound and a synthetic voice to read out what the computer is displaying and what the user is typing in and inputting into the computer, navigating around the screen with keyboard commands, allowing blind and VI people access to computers in a non-visual way.

Screen readers can be very expensive.  The market leader, JAWS, is around £800.  But I've been using a free screen reader called NVDA (Non Visual Desktop Access).  It has most of the features of the main paid for programs with the advantage of also being able to use the mouse, reading out to you what is below the cursor.  NVDA is an "open sourse" program, meaning that the code the program is written in is in the public domain and anybody can add to it and change the programming, so new features are being adding all the time, as programmers develop it.  Currently it is only available for computers rinning the Windows operating system.

Another advantage with NVDA is that there is a version which can be downloaded onto a USB pen drive/memory stick which can then be plugged into any computer rinning Windows and make the screen reader available without having to install it on that computer.  It can also work with Braille input/output devices.

Click here to visit the NVDA page and download to your computer or memory stick.


Making your computer and the web available to the disabled:

As well as screen readers there are a number of features to help make computer more accesible for blind, visually impaired, deaf or people who have difficulty reading.  By changing the size of text, the colours and contast of pages, using voice or magnification, computers should not be out of bounds for blind users.

Newer versions of Windows, Mac and Linex operating systems have these featues built in and the BBC have an excellent guide to setting them up on their "My Web My Way" pages (click here).  I can't improve on the exhaustive content, so head over there if you're struggling with accessing things on your computer or just need things to help life a little easier.

Blind Football League

Congratulations to Worcester for winning the Blind Football League yesterdau.  A special mention must be given to the Hereford team who came second despite missing one of theit tournaments.

The GB Blind football squad can still be seen taking on ex-pro footballers on the Channel 4 programme  "That Paralympics Show", available on 4OD online by clicking here.

Friday 1 April 2011

Ex-pros take on the England Blind Football team

As the England Blind Football team jet off to Turkey for an international tournament, Channel 4 is gearing up to screen four ex-England full national professionals play a match with the blind squad.

That Paralympics Show came to the Royal National College for the Blind, home of the England squad a couple of months ago to film the four players, including Andy Cole and Danny Murphy, training and competeting blind folded with current members of the Blind England set-up (including my college lodgemate, Owen Bainbridge).

You can see how impressed they were with the team and how they got on, on That Paralympics Show tomorrow (Saturday 2 April, 2011) at 1.25pm.  It will be available online on Channel 4's 4OD player for a limited time afterwards.

Click here to go to the That Paralympics web page.

Friday 18 March 2011

RNIB Charity Skydive

Ever thought about jumping out an aeroplane from about 2 miles up?  How about doing it to raise money for the UK's leading charity for blind and visually impaired people?

The RNIB is holding a Skydiving event on Saturday 4 June 2011 in Peterborough.  To experience the adrenaline rush of a lifetime participants only need to pay a £50 registration fee and raise at least £300 for the RNIB.  The jump will be in tadam with an instructor so no experience is needed and training will be given on the day.  A thrilling freefall for 5000 feet at nearly 120 miles per hour is followed by a peaceful 5 to 7 minute ride once the canopy is opened, where you can enjoy thre amazing scenary.  The experience of a lifetime.

Why the RNIB?:
Every day 100 people in the UK start losing their sight. RNIB gives people who have lost their sight vital support to help them find their lives again. Right now RNIB can only reach one in three of the people who need our help the most. Join Team RNIB and help us reach them all.
Quote from the RNIB  website

For full details and conditions visit the RNIB web site by clicking here.

Not your thing? You can get involved in one of the RNIB's other fundraising events by clicking here.

Friday 4 February 2011

Living with the blind

Strangely, one of the things I was most worried about when coming to the Royal National Collge for the Blind was being around blind and disabled people.  None of my friends or aquaintances have problems and I'm just as guilty as the rest of us of having reservations about being around people with disabilities. How would I react?  What would they think of me, still with useful vision (and what vision I had being pretty good at the time I started)?

When I initially visited the college on an open day and came for my pre-entry assessment, there were people walking around with white canes and guidedogs, obviously totally blind.  Would I be thought of as a fraud, being (as yet) not totally blind?

When I arrived at the college I was shown to my accomodation.  Rather than being in halls, as I had independent living skills, I would be living in a lodge, a prefab building with four bedrooms and lounge/kitchen/diner and two bathrooms.  Something like a holiday chalet.  I share it with two other guys, both totally blind.

One guy from Scotland, is about my age and has been blind from birth.  He has a guide dog and has lived and worked as a muscian for years.  We're both on the Music Technology course.  The other is 21, from Sunderland, who lost his sight at an early age.  He's doing sports therapy, plays blind football for Hereford and the national team and is a fitness freak.

I needn't have worried about living with blind people.  The college itself has students with all ranges of vision problems, highlighing just how many conditions and problems there are associated with the eyes.  It was so easy slipping into the routine of saying hello and announcing who you are when, walking to the right, holding doors, giving people a hand if they need it, making others aware you're there, whatever.  You realise that most people just get on with things and everybody helps each other out.  People laugh and joke about their disabilty, the stupid things that have happened because of it.  It's all quite easy.  The staff are very helpful and trained to deal with disabilty though half the time everyone just wants to get on with things their own way, as normally as possible.

I couldnt have asked for better lodgemates.  The lads I'm with are pro-active, get on with life and are fully independent.  I could have ended up in the halls of residence with no way of getting away from the partying youngsters and locking myself away in my room.  You can chose a bit of company or spend time in my room without being disturbed.  We have a great laugh. 

It's actually very inspiring seeing how they live life to the full, just get on with things and don't let their lack of vision get in the way.  Having been fully sighted I can understand how easy it could be just to give up and sit around depressed thinking that the days of enjoying things has gone.  These guys have shown me that if my sight does go completely then there are ways round the problem, different ways of enjoying things I've done as a sighted person.

We do the things together "normal" people do: argue about football, watch tv, go for a pint.  We have music wars, (trying to play music as loud as possible and tracks you love yourself but know the others will hate (just for fun - kids these days don't know a good tune when they hear one!).    It's great seeing how they do everyday things in life like preparing food, doing their washing or the dishes.  They go shopping and they travel to and from home independently by train. 

Sometimes they might ask me that I can see, such as how good looking someone off the TV looks or where they've put something.  Not because they have to but just to make things easier or quicker, or confirm some assumption they've made. At the same time, they check my Braille writing for mistakes or answer questions about how they do certain things without vision.  It's imteresting, as someone who has experienced the world cisually, how they experience and understand things, how they talk of things and express things in visual ways: watching TV, describing things as a certain colour and such like. 

The only difference with my new friends is that they have some degree of sight loss or no vision at all.  They still have opinions, different tastes, enjoy sport, entertainement, books.  Why shouldn't they?  (Shoud I say, why shouldn't WE?).  They've shown that they're not people with disability but with plenty of abilty.

Tuesday 18 January 2011

Creating a blog post in JAWS screen reader

I'm currently in an IT lecture at RNCB and using the JAW screen reader. THis program allows blind readers to navigate their way around a computer without the vision.  JAWS reads whatever is on screen and allows the user to find their way around the screen without using a mouse.

So I am writing this post without looking at screen, something very unnatural whilst I have some sight left but good training in case my vision continues to deteriorate.It takes a lot longer and can sometimes be very frustratingg for someone who is used to using computers with vision and correcting mistakes in typing can be awkward but screenreaders like JAWS opens up the world of computers to those who could otherwise not use a monitor screen and .mouse

Wednesday 5 January 2011

Learning Braille

Image of A D T and L in Braille
Yesterday was the anniversary of Louis  Braille's birth (b. 4 Jan 1809) and on my first day back at the RNCB I had my first Braille lesson.

Braille is the worldwide system used by blind and visually impaired people for reading and writing using raised dots signifying the alphabet and numbers.  Originally developed by Braille in 1821 as a replacement of a system of communiation devised for Napolionic troops so they could communicate silently and in the dark.  The original method developed by Charles Barbier was deemed to complex as it used a system of 12 dot which could not be feel by a finger all in one go.

The Royal National Institute for the Blind in France was approached and the teenage Louis Braille (blind himslef) created the system.  Braille letters are made up of raised dots within retangular cells, in a six dot positions (two rows of three).  The configuration of the raised dots and blank positions can be felt with a single finger, making it quick and easy to read and not confuse each letter.

You can read more about Braille and it's history and different form on the About website by clicking here.

So today I learnt how to position myself to make reading Braille easier, and how to read four letters, A, D, L and T.  Well, it's a start.  It wasn't too difficult as the configuration in those letters are very different.  It'll become more tricky as other letter and numbers are added.  I also learned how to type them using a Braille machine, similar to the old fashined typewriters but with three keys representing the appropriate dots, which imprint the page when depressed.

By the end of the course I will have a qualification in Level 1 Braille and possibly, depending how quick I pick it up, Level 2.  Levek 2 is more advanced, using a form of shorthand for certain letter sounds or words, such as CH or ST.  I'll keep you posted.

VWS - winner of 2010 Vision Impaired Blog Award


Top Vision Impaired BlogHappy New Year!

So it's 2011 and I'm back at the Royal National College for the Blind (and am back at the computer!).
Well it seems Vision Web Sight has been named one of the top 20 blogs for the vision impaired by Medical Assistant Schools

And nominations for 2011 are being taken now, so if you like VWS please click here to vote.
"This award highlights the very best blogs about being vision impaired on the internet as determined by the internet community. With the growing prominence of the internet in today's society, allowing for more people to have more access to information, the medical field is a very important niche. More and more people are trying to diagnose themselves, and although this tendency cannot be helped, the information they are using can definitely be ensured to be top notch. And so Medical Assistant Schools has provided the Top Blog Awards, not only to recognize those bloggers who are blogging with great content, but because we want to provide any information seeker with the best resources possible."
Quote from Medical Assistant Schools