According to a survey by the National Center for Health
Statistics, 1.4 million Americans have a severe visual impairment (defined as
being unable to read ordinary newsprint); half of this group is registered as
legally blind. Many of these individuals benefit from using computers, but
still more could be helped.
The IBM PS/2 and PC families of computers are valuable tools with uses in many
different environments - education, business, recreation and daily living
tasks. With continuing technological improvements in the microcomputer
industry, the number of current and potential users is rapidly increasing to
include people who are visually impaired. Special adaptive hardware and software
makes it possible.
HOW COMPUTERS HELP PERSONS WHO HAVE VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS
For persons with low vision, reading a standard computer screen or printed page
usually presents an obstacle. The following adaptations for enlarged output
(magnification) may help: magnification lenses for standard displays; larger
characters on standard displays; alternative displays with better or different
resolution and color; display devices or projectors; and for printed output,
larger characters and more readable fonts.
Audio output or computerized voice let’s a blind user read by hearing the
information on the computer screen. Screen reading software with speech
synthesizer devices help the user navigate the screen to hear what others see.
Braille is an output alternative for people who are blind. Two types of Braille
devices are Braille printers that produce embossed paper output and paperless
tactile displays that use retractable pins to form Braille characters. Software
programs perform the necessary translations to Braille files used by the Braille
devices.
Input adaptations are also used by the visually impaired to improve accuracy
and efficiency during data entry. The most frequently used device is the
keyboard. Modifications include home key indicators (dimples/dots or felt appliqués)
and key replacement (larger, more unique) for the often-used keys. Also, the
speech synthesizer allows audio output during data entry - providing immediate
feedback as the user unable to verify visually enters data.
Another technology with significant advancements in price/performance is
optical reader and character recognition software. Printed information is
presented through the combination of scanned character recognition to obtain
the information in a computer form (machine-readable) with alternate output (Braille
or synthetic speech) to read the data. There are many products for the IBM PS/2
that address productivity and usability for all users. A helpful tool for
people with vision impairments is the modem - and the software that allows,
through telephone lines, the exchange of machine-readable information, to
access data banks of information and electronic bulletin boards.
Other uses for telecommunication technology are found in daily living
activities. Computerized directory look-up and dialing simplify telephone
usage: and mailing, banking and shopping may be done at home.
Helpful products for keyboard entry include: abbreviation expansion/keyboard
macros, spelling checkers and online thesauruses. Online machine-readable
product documentation is preferred to printed material. Products developed
specifically for this special population is: --- Word processors with
synthesized speech output designed into the product's operation.
--- File readers to provide general-purpose voice output of machine-readable
files (other audio output aids.
--- Information handlers such as talking phone directories, talking calculators
and general file management products (other audio output aids).
--- Alternative to printed documentation of hardware and software manuals,
e.g., audiocassette, Braille or machine-readable formats.
In summary, technology and support are available for many blind and visually
impaired individuals. The challenge remains to increase the awareness of the
benefits that computer technology affords to all who might use it.
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