Visual Impairments
Audio Output
Screen Reading


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Many products provide synthesized speech and, in conjunction with software, produce audio output of information displayed on a computer screen. This screen-reading software allows the user to hear what is on the screen.

Functions are initiated with the standard keyboard or sometimes with an auxiliary keypad, allowing the user to "navigate" the displayed information, e.g., find a specific text string, read the previous lin, read the next owrd or read the current letter.

Programmable functions are sometimes provided to facilitate reading fixed positions on the screen (such as columnar data and windows of data, setting margins, placing markers, using dictionaries of abbreviations and using substitution tables for graphics, punctiuation and other sypecial characters.

Most screen-reading software works with more than one speech synthesizer. Compatibility vaies. Vendors should be consulted to ascertain configuration requirements and flexibility of synthesizers, emulation cards and compatible "standard" software.

ABLE-2 Product Family

The ABLE-s Product Family supports computer users with special needs in a systematic program in four parts: needs assessment, workstation family, focused training, life cycle support. Needs assessment focuses on on vision-impaired/blind. hearing-impaired/deaf and neuromuscular impairment or para/quadriplegic. Computer users with visual impairments are provided with optical character readers, voice sysnthesizers, screen readers, tactile output displays and Braille devices. The workstation family may be configured with voice input, mouse, foot pedal, jaystick and headpointer.
Automated Business Systems & Services Inc.
6715 Kenilworth ave.
Riverdale, MD 20737-9960
(301)454-8200

Artic Business Vision

Artic Business Vision is a speech processor for blind business computer users featuring true interactive speech with spread sheets. It is compatible with Lotus 1-2-3 and other packages and has a built-in calculator with 10 memories and voice scrollback of entries. It includes all the features of Artic Vision, may be used with an IBM PC AT or XT and runs with word processors, database managers and communication programs. An important feature is its ability to add speech automatically to spread sheet programs like Lotus 1-2-3 and VP-Planner. Cell data is automatically spoken - without the use of complicated key macros. row and column titles may be spoken. Talking menus and status functions complete this package.
Artic Technologies
55 Park St. - Suite 2
Troy, MI 48083-2753
(313)588-7370

Artic Vision

Artic Vision is a comprehensive software package that screen and keyboard output into speech. Two modes of operation permit most progrms to be spoken during operation. In the AP-Track mode, much speech output is automatic and follows the application. The Review mode, entered with a single keystroke, allows the screen to be read in a directed fashion. Ten windows, nine user-definable, are used to read portions of the screen. Automatic Speech Clearing allows movement about the screen using single keystrokes without listening to unwanted text. It is compatible with the SynPhonix 200 speech synthesizer. An IBM PC/XT with 256K memory and a single disk drive is the minimal suggested configuration.
Artic Technologies
55 Park St. - Suite 2
Troy, MI 48083-2753
(313)588-7370

BeSTspeech

This text to speech conversion facility is useful to persons who are blind and vision impaired and may be used by those with speeck, hearing and learing difficulties. BeSTspeech products are compatible with VBX archhitecture: computer-created synthetic speech can be delivered over many phone lines simultaneously by a single AT-PC platform running under OS/2. A one-line DOS version is available. All packages offer digital voice recording and phone management capabilities.
Berkely Speech Technologies Inc.
2409 Tlegraph Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94704
(415)841-5083

Digital Voice for Talking Database

This product adds speech to PC files; uses include personnel identification and security, multilingual training, assembly instructions and reminders, engineering notations, facilities description - many uses for any database.
Hy-Tek Manufacturing Company
Adaptive Systems Division 1980 Route 30
Sugar Grove, IL 60554
(312)466-7664

DoubleTalk PC

DoubleTalk PC has a dual-synthesizer design allowing it to talk for blind, learning disabled and visually impaired users. DoubleTalk allows the user to read and spell individual words or listen to paragraphs and sentences. An unlimited text-to-speech synthesizer translates text output from any program capable of printing to a printer into high=quality male voice.
R C Systems Inc.
121 West Winesap Road
Bothell, WA 98012
(206)672-6909

Enable Reader Speech System

The Enable system allows vision-impaired and blind individuals to use standard software through a variety of speech synthesizers.
PC-SIG Inc.
1030 D East Duane Ave.
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
(408)730-9291

Flipper

Fliper, a voice output screen access program, reads the IBM character set, works with mainframe access software, has intelligent cursor routing and searches the screen for underlines, unknown numbers and complex searches. Included are instructions in Braille, large print and on tape and disk. Flipper works with Accent, Artic, DECTalk, Votrax, Echo GP, and Sounding Board speech synthesizers.
Omnichron
1438 Oxford Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94709
(415)540-6455

Freedom 1

Interface is a transparent talking screen review program for the IBM PC and PS/s, Model 30. The tilde key used to switch from the applications (actual program) mode to the review (screen reading) mode. In review mode single keys execue commands, including character, word, line and whole screen reading; silent cursor movement; reverse reading; and placement and seeking of text markers. Escape brings the user back to the sapplications mode. The user can turn on a cursor=joining function to move the cursor to the point where reading stopped. Freedom 1 allows automatic joining of applications and review cursors and has an option to allow users to create interactive commands with single or limited keys. Speech output is produced with speech synthesizers. Contact the manufacturer about compatibility of systhesizers.
Interface Systems International
P.O.Box 20415
Portland, OR 97220
(503)256-3214

IBM Screen Reader

The IBM Screen Reader provides access for people who are blind or visually impaired to IBM's PS/2 family and selected members of the PC family. By using the screen reader's 18-key keypad, the user selects areas of the display to be spoken. In addition, the user can identify display areas tobe monitored and spoken automatically when cheanges occur. Screen Reader supports several commercially available text-to -speech synthesizers and is compatible with many popular PC and PS/2 applications including IBM's Display Write 4, Lotus 1-2-3 and dBase III Plus.
IBM Corporation
IBM Telemarketing Operations
3035 Center Green - Plaza 2
Boulder, CO 80301
(800)426-3388

JAWS (Job Access With Speech)

JAWS(Job Access With Speech) is a screen reading program that includes features such as dual cursors, built-in macros, windows and Lotus-style Pop-up menus. It works with all speech synthesizers and software.
Henter-Joyce Inc.
7901 4th St. N. - Suite 211
St. Petersburg, FL 33702
(813)576-5658

Keynote PC+

Keynote PC+ is a laptop portable computer with quality synthetic speech output. It comes with a word processing program and scientific calculator. With the KeyScreen screen review program, all DOS and IBM compatible text software is accessible.
Human Ware Inc.
6140 Horseshoe Bar Rd. - Suite P
Loomis, CA 95650
(800)722-3393 (916)652-7253

KeySpell

A spelling checker for use with the Keynote PC, it comes with a 50,000-word dictionary and allows user additions. This program will automatically offer alternative spellings and make editing changes associated with spelling corrections.
Human Ware Inc.
6140 Horseshoe Bar Rd. - Suite P
Loomis, CA 95650
(800)722-3393 (916)652-7253

PC Voice

PC Voice allows the user to hear what is written on the screen. Characters, words or lines are spoken at will and displayed in reverse video. PC Voice follows the system cursor and allows easy reading of columns and tables. It transforms the computer into a multiple sensory display. This program makes previously unusable software accessible to those with visual impairments. Function keys issue PC VOICE commands; the cursor keys move PC Voice about the screen. Even though PC Voice is installed as a permanently resident program, function and cursor keys are still free for other software porgrams.
ARTS Computer Products Inc.
121 Beach St - Suite 400
Boston, MA 02111-2501
(800)343-0095

Personal Vert

Personal Vert provides quick output to information on a computer screen. Its speech synthesizer is a half card of proprietary design which includes synchronized voice with the applications cursor on the screen and Turbo Keys for fast forward and reverse functions. Editing is fast because the speech and cursor are together. The monitoring system alerts the user to warning messages on the screen and automatically speaks changes anywhere on the screen. TeleSensory
455 North Bernardo Ave.
P.O. Box 7455
Mountain View, CA 94039-7455
(800)227-8418 (415)960-0920

PortTalk

PortTalk provides a universal speech interface to programming languages that output to LPT or COM ports and redirects it to the Text-to-Speech: 88 module. PortTalk echoes screen output generated by certain existing software or spreadsheets. PortTalk's online speech Control Menu is a window overlay that presents enable/disable controls for the volume, rate, pitch, filter, active ports, etc. Application software need not provide those control functions. PortTalk requires a SynPhonix 200 Speech Synthesizer (or other 8088 based SSi263 speech card.)
Artic Technologies
55 Park St. - Suite 2
Troy, MI 48083-2753
(313)588-7370

Prompt-Writer

Prompt-Writer, a word processing package with voice output, consisits of a KeyTronics 5151 keyboard and a Votrax speech synthesizer. Options are given in the menus, and actions such as cursor movement are executed with function keys (the KEyTronic board has 40) rather than control-key combinations. The cursor is moved around the text by paragraph, word or punctuation mark. The program has only one read-back key, and there are options as to what is read back when the key is pressed. Text may be read with or without punctuation. Pressing an "identify" key causes function keys to speak their function rather than execute it. "Audible windowing" allows the user to move back and forth between as many as four files at once.
Syn-Talk Systems and Services
70 Estero Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94127
(415)334-0586

PROVOX

PROVOX provides user control of voice output in both direct and review modes. The user may interrupt speech output to skip over portions of screen display, cause the repetition of previously spoken output, locate the cursor or read only highlighted areas. Other options include moving up or down the screen one line at a time and restricting voice output to a specified window. The user may specify whether silent characters such as return or space are spoken. PROVOX supports twelve voice synthesizers. A 30-minute demo package is available. Latest version (3.06) includes a disk-based tutorial feature for keyboard training and training on PROVOX commands.
Kansys Inc.
1016 Ohio St.
Lawrence, KS 66044
(913)843-0351

Screen Talker

Screen Talker, which requires Desqview from Quarterdeck Office Systems of Santa Monica, California, loads the special drivers developed by Rahman and then loads any of 27 popular programs that special drivers have been written for. The basic driver package supports MS_DOS< with 27 other applications modules available. Among those included are Lotus Development's 1-2-3, Manuscript and Freelance Plus; Ashton Tate's Dbase III PLUS, Sign Master, Chart Master and Diagram Master; as well as Pagemaker, Supercalc Plus, MS- Word, wrdstar 3.3, r.0,and 2000, Word Perfect and Cadkey 2.0 and 3.0. The reader indicates empty areas and thells the user when a line or graphic element is encountered, giving its coordinates and attributes.
Andromida Inc.
326 E. Mason Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301
(703)549-3214

SKERF-Pad

Where you touch is what you hear: the SKERF Pad is a screen reading device for blind persons. It uses a touch pad to represent the computer screen - allowing the user to point to any area of the touch pad for corresponding synthetic speech reading of the screen. Variations in loudness, pitch and other qualities of the synthesizer provide for enaunciation of bold print, underlining and other features of the text displayed on the screen.
Love Electronics
400 North Columbus - #42
Goldendale, WA 98620
(509) 773-5958

SLIM

SLIM (Synthetic Language Interface Module) is a fully-integrated speech output system for the IBM PC/XT. The user reads and edits text using standard application programs and does not have to switch between editing mode and review mode. SLIM does not use keystroke commands that could be used by the application program. Compatible with Lotus 1-2-3, dBase, WordPerfect and other programs, SLIM allows reading by line, word or character in a single keystroke without changing modes. The READ ALL feature permits reading an entire document. Pitch, rate and volume are controlled from the keyboard during speech output.
Syntha-Voice Computers Inc.
125 Gailmont Dr.
Hamilton, ON L8K 4B8
Canada
(800)25=63-4540 (416)578-0565

Small Talk

As portable as a calculator, Small Talk uses batteries or power to output data via voice, print or screen. Features include: Word-Talk, a talking owrd processing program; Calc-Talk, a scientific calculator program; alphanumeric keyboard; a 24-column-width printer; a microcassette drive for additional storage; an RS-232C interface connection; and a serial port.
TARMAC Inc.
71 North Market St.
Asheville, NC 28801
(800)222-8270 (704)254-6361

Soft Vert

The Soft Vert program works with any of 20 speech synthesizers to provide spoken output of the material on the screen. In edit mode, each letter can be spoken by a voice synthesizer as it is typed. In review mode, any sizer segment of text (character, word or line) may be read back by the synthesizer. The route command automatically brings the edit cursor to the location of the review cursor for making corrections. The sto command stops the review process within a few words. A speech rate up to 600 words per minute is possible.
TeleSensory
455 North Bernardo Ave.
P.O. Box 7455
Mountain View, CA 94039-7455
(800)227-8418 (415)960-0920

SpeakEasy

SpeakEasy is a general purpose 32-bit computer (Amiga 500) running a software package that turns it inot a speech synthesizer. It provides speech output for PCs or ASCII terminals.
Chip Orange
3227 Rain Valley Ct.
Tallahassee, FL 32308
(904)487-2680

SpeakSys

SpeakSys is a program for the IBM PC which allows Braille 'n Speak by Blazie to be the keyboard and the voice for the personal computer. The product connects to the serial port and allows the user to enter text into the computer using grade two Braille or computer Braille.
Blazie Engineering
109 E. Jarrettsville Road
Forest Hill, MD 21050
(410)893-9333

Speakwriter 2000

Speakwriter 2000 pairs an electronic typewriter with a basic speech synthesizer to provide an electronic typing system that talks.
HumanWare Inc.
6140 Horseshoe Bar Rd. - Suite P
Loomis, CA 95650
(800)722-3393 (916)652-7253

Speaqualizer

The Speaqualizer, a completely hardware-controller speech acces sytem for the IBM PCs, enables the user to hear data being displayed. The Speaqualizer consists of three components. The first is a full-sized card which is designed to fit in one of the compauter's expansion slots. The second component is a control box which houses the speaker, an earphone jack, and a 19-key keypad used to control the Speaqualizer. The third is an RS-232 cable which connects the card to the control box. Operating instructions are porvided in Braille and regular print.
American Printing House for the Blind
P.O. Box 6085
Louisville, KY 40206-0085
(502)895-2405

Speech Output for Screen Reading

These systems consist of hardware and software for speech output. Some versions 'lug into an internal slot - other versions are external, using a serial or parallel port. These systems may be used on a networked PC terminal and may be useful to persons with disabilities.
Nat. Institute for Rehabilitation Engineering
P.O. Drawer T
Hewitt, NJ 07421
(800)736-2216 (201)853-6585

Talking text Writer

As users type words or phrases, the computer reads back aloud what is on the screen. Users select whether they want the program to speak each letter after it is typed, each word or the whole screen. Both volume and rate are adjustable. A Comment Box feature allows for comments or instructions to be readand reread. A Dictionary box pronounces words aloud and reads definitions with a single key stroke.
Scholastic Inc.
P.O. Box 7502
Jefferson City, MO 65102
(800)325-6149

Verbal Operating System (and VOS Basic)

This product (formerly called the Enhanced PC Talking Program) is a screen display and keyboard-to-voice output program. The Verbal Operating System may be used to speak entire words or to speak letter by letter. Letters may be identified as upper or lower case if the user desires. It can speak or ignore punctuation and inform the user of row and column position of the cursor, as well as alert the user to colors and highlighting on the screen. All functions and commands can be user configured by programming unique sequences of keys to control functions. The voice function may be turned off, but control and escape keystrokes are still spoken as an aid. The voice synthesizer is Verbette Mark II. A speech synthesizer is required. VOS Basic is an inexpensive alternative for visually impaired users not needing all the features of VOS.
Computer Conversations Inc.
6297 Worthington Rd. SW
Alexandria, OH 43001
(614)924-2885

Verbal Star

Verbal Star is an easy-to-use, full-featured word processing program with synthesized speech output of screen information. Text can be spoken by letter as it is entered. Entered text can be read back by line or by section, for content or for detailed proofreading with spelling, punctuation and capitalization turned on. When a command key is pressed, the program tells what is happening. Verbal Star can be used with most voice synthesizers. It includes text formatiing options such s automatic indenting, margin and tab sets and line centering 64K memory is required.
Computer Conversations Inc.
6297 Worthington Rd. SW
Alexandria, OH 43001
(614)924-2885

Vert Plus

The Vert Plus package includes a high quality human sounding internal speech synthesizer, software, instruction materials, audio cassette, diskette and Braille. Vert Plus voice automatically tracks the computer cursor; this syncronization makes editing documents fast and easy. Vert Plus can automatically speak error messages or advise the user when changes occur; online help answers many questions, and there is a built-in personal dictionary.
TeleSensory
455 North Bernardo Ave.
P.O. Box 7455
Mountain View, CA 94039-7455
(800)227-8418 (415)960-0920

Vocal-Eyes

Vocal-Eyes provides access to available software - automatically reading information important to the user while ignoring the rest. Hotkeys are definable to user keystrokes; no macros are required. Sighted users may work along with Vocal-Eyes' visual representation. It requires 52K or RAM, but if loaded in expanded or extended memory, only 2K of RAM is used. Vocal-Eyes works with all major voice synthesizers.
GW Micro
310 Recquet Dr.
Fort Wayne, IN 46825
(219)483-3625

Voice-It

Voice-It adds voice to popular spreadsheet and word processing applications on IBM PCs and compatibles, turning spreadsheets and wordprocessing documents into talking documents (Lotus 1-2-3 and WordPerfect, e.g.). Audio messages may be recorded at any point of interest in a document - thus allowing talking presentations. In addition, Voic=It allows the ser to dictate letters as audio messages to be keyed later and provides audio help messages. Voice adapter hardware and optional speaker are available from Voice-It.
Voice-It Inc.
1001 Snowden Farm Rd.
Cllierville, TN 38017
(901) 853-4456




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