Assistive technology software 3: Combined speech and magnification software

Combined speech and magnification software can benefit people with some useful vision who are able to use magnification. The additional speech support can take the strain from the eyes when reading longer text and for a back-up when reading is difficult.

• Lightning Plus with Speech £199
• Supernova Reader Magnifier £395
• ZoomText Magnifier Reader £495
• Supernova Access Suite £835

Easy to use and learn for simple computer use

• Azabat Write £30 + £20 for email
• Guide £495

iZoom £250 ex VAT

Buy from http://pamtrad.co.uk/izoom

Pros:

• 1.5x to 36x magnification
• Selection of zooming modes
• Colour enhancements
• Font smoothing
• Smart align to ensure that magnified text fits on the screen
• Zoom scroll bars to help to identify where you are on the page
• Curser and pointer enhancements
• Human sounding voices
• Dual monitor option

Cons:

• Adjustments can be slow
• Screen layout can be incorrect due to magnification
• Some pixilation at higher magnification
• Zoom scroll bars are red
• Can be slow to follow the focus
• Reading limited

Supernova reader magnifier £395 ex VAT

Buy from www.rnib.org.uk/shop
Also available from www.dolphinuk.co.uk

Pros:

• Up to 60x magnification
• Selection of zooming modes
• Colour enhancements
• Font smoothing
• Curser and pointer enhancements
• Reads or spells out any text on the screen
• Human sounding voices
• Multiple monitor support

Cons:

• Reading options can be limited compared to more complex screen readers
• Large software file which can use more computer memory

ZoomText magnifier reader £495 ex VAT

Buy from: www.rnib.org.uk/shop

Pros:

• 1.5x to 36x magnification
• Selection of zooming modes
• Colour enhancements
• Font smoothing with xfont technology so very clear even at high levels of magnification
• Smart align to ensure that magnified text fits on the screen
• Zoom scroll bars to help to identify where you are on the page
• Curser and pointer enhancements
• Dual monitor option
• Human sounding voices
• Reads or spells out any text on the screen
• Reliable and stable in various environments
• Web finder, lets you find links and controls in any web page for faster browsing

Cons:

• Reading options can limited compared to more complex screen readers

Supernova access suite £835 ex VAT

Buy from: www.rnib.org.uk/shop
Also available from www.dolphinuk.co.uk

Pros:

• Up to 60x magnification
• Selection of zooming modes
• Colour enhancements
• Font smoothing
• Curser and pointer enhancements
• Reads or spells out any text on the screen
• Human sounding voices
• Multiple monitor support
• Speech navigation keys which allow enable faster web browsing
• Verbosity schemes so you can control how much information you are given
• Supports Braille output and input

Cons:

• Large software file which can use more computer memory

Azabat Write £30 (£50 incl. email)

Buy from: www.rnib.org.uk/shop
Also available from www.dolphinuk.co.uk

Pros:

• Easy to use list operated system
• · Magnified text as well as speech
• Price

Cons:

• Unable to make changes to font
• Internet use is not supported

Guide £495 ex VAT

Buy from: www.rnib.org.uk/shop
Also available from www.dolphinuk.co.uk

Pros:

• Easy to use as you are guided step by step
• Human sounding voice
• Scan and read included
• Enables simple use of communication, entertainment, organization and internet
• Magnified text as well as speech

Cons:

• Can be restricting if you require more advanced functions
• Price

Other Assistive Technology information

• Screen reader software
• Screen magnifiers

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 is recommended or endorsed by Vision Web Sight.

Assistive technology software 2: Screen magnifiers

Screen magnification software enlarges the contents of the screen to make it easier to see. Magnification can pixelate text which makes it blocky and unclear. The more expensive software overcomes this by smoothing the fonts to make them clearer when enlarged.
There are various magnification styles. Some software has a limited choice of magnification style, while others provide a range. The styles available include a magnifying glass style zoom, magnifying the whole screen or just part of it, usually half screen vertically, horizontally or in a bar across the screen.
Other features such as colour and contrast options and cursor changes are available with some software and can help improve what you see on screen.

Software listed:

• Windows Magnifier - free
• Apple Zoom - free
• Lightning Express – free
• Desktop Zoom - free
• Magnifying Glass Pro - $25 USD
• ZoomText Express - £79.95
• Lightning Plus - £149
• MAGic - £175
• ZoomText Magnifier - £375
• SuperNova Magnifier - £354

Microsoft Windows operating system Magnifier - free

This is already available as part of Microsoft Windows

Pros:

• Built in accessibility feature (free with Windows)
• Simple
• Part or full screen magnification
• Windows 7 version has smoother text at high levels of magnification

Cons:

• No text smoothing so text pixelates (gets blocky) as magnification is increased
• Lack of colour modes

Apple operating system Zoom - free

This is already available as part of Apple operating systems

Pros:

• Built in accessibility feature (free with Apple computers and mobile devices)
• Gesture control, using the touchpad, on latest operating system

Cons:

• Still blocky at higher magnification
• Not possible to use at the same time as VoiceOver

Lightning Express – free (web-based)

Run the program from the web site: http://www.itzooms.com

Pros:

• Lens and full screen mode
• · Pre-set colour schemes
• Changeable cursor colours

Cons:

• Delivered over the internet so needs a web connection.
• Doesn’t automatically start on Windows start-up
• (Making a desktop shortcut with associated keyboard shortcut, helps to start the program without having to navigate to web page without magnification)

Desktop Zoom – free

Web site: http://users.telenet.be/littlegems/MySoft/DesktopZoom/Index.html
Download trial version: http://users.telenet.be/littlegems/MySoft/Index.html

Pros:

• Alternative zoom styles
• Magnifier follows the focus of what you are doing
• Shows the original screen with a transparency value between 0 and 100%
• Bigger mouse and/or a crosshair option

Cons:

• Limits magnification on the internet to three times.

Magnifying Glass Pro – approx. $25 USD

Web site with free trial download: http://www.workerscollection.com/wcollect/english/html/mg_pro.html

Pros:

• Modify contrast, smoothing, magnification glass size, shape and position
• Adjust screen position, such as fixed, under the cursor and angular
• Configurations can be saved
• Switch magnifier on and off by shaking the mouse

Cons:

• Does not magnify whole the screen
• Turns off Windows “Aero” desktop theme
• Does not turn off mouse cursor which can get in the way

ZoomText Express – approx. £79.95

Web site: http://www.aisquared.com/zoomtextexpress
Download trial version: http://www.aisquared.com/zoomtextexpress/more/download_zoomtextexpress_trial/

Pros:

• Gentle boost of magnification
• Can add a shade to white areas and reverse colours

Cons:

• Only zooms up to two times magnification
• Download only

Lightning Plus – approx. £149

Web site: http://www.clarosoftware.com/index.php?cPath=262
Download trial version: http://www.shareit.com/demoreg.html?productid=300077896

Pros:

• Portable, runs directly from a USB memory stick
• Lens, strip or full screen magnification or an area you choose
• Changeable colours and other visual properties
• Vertical or horizontal split screen
• Changeable colours and brightness

MAGic – approx. £175

Web site: http://www.freedomscientific.com/products/lv/magic-bl-product-page.asp
Download trial version: http://www.freedomscientific.com/downloads/demo/FS-demo-downloads.asp

Pros:

• Zooms up to 36 times magnification
• Font smoothing
• Colour and brightness setting
• More than five hours of basic training in accessible DAISY text and audio
• Fully compatible with JAWS screen reader

Cons:

• Font smoothing not as effective as ZoomText

ZoomText Magnifier – approx. £375

Web site:  http://www.aisquared.com/zoomtext
Download trial version: http://www.aisquared.com/zoomtext/more/download_zoomtext_trial/

Pros:

• Zooms between 1.2 and 32 times magnification
• Image smoothing
• 8 different zoom windows and full screen
• Separate adjustment of horizontal and vertical magnification
• Pre-set and custom colour schemes
• Cursor and pointer size and colour enhancements
• Text Finder
• Available as a USB version
• Configurations can be saved to load with separate applications

Cons:

• Price

Supernova Magnifier – approx. £354

Web site:   http://www.yourdolphin.com/productdetail.asp?id=3
Download trial version: http://www.yourdolphin.com/tryit.asp?id=3

Pros:

• Zooms between 1.25 and 36 times magnification
• Font smoothing and condensing
• Pointer and cursor enhancement and location
• Colour setting options

Cons:

• Price
• Can use a lot of computer memory

Other Assistive Technology fact sheets

• Screen reader software
• Combined magnifier and screen reader software

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 is recommended or endorsed by Vision Web Sight.

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

• Magnification software
• Combined magnifier and screen reader software

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.