Software for the Visually Impaired

The Kurzweil and Dragon Naturally Speaking software products are sophisticated tools to help visually and physically impaired persons, and students with learning difficulties, use computers more productively. They have the ability to remember an individual’s user characteristics. The IBM Home Page Reader lets you “hear” the Internet. Jaws for Windows is a screen reading product for the visually impaired. Zoom Text is screen magnifying software pre-installed in the computer.

Kurzweil 1000	Kurzweil 1000 is a PC-based reading tool that makes printed material accessible to people who are blind or have limited vision.  Kurzweil 1000 converts the printed word into speech.  You can scan in books, articles, bills, and advertisements—almost anything that fits on a scanner.  The system uses optical character recognition (OCR) to create a version of the page that it then reads aloud.
Kurzweil 3000	Kurzweil 3000 is a PC-based reading system developed specifically for ease of use by students and teachers.  In particular, it is an ideal compensatory aid for individuals with reading difficulties.  This application allows the user to view a scanned page on the computer screen while listening to the text being read aloud.  In addition, the Kurzweil 3000 provides study skills, editing, and file management tools.  The program scans and reads pages from any book or document, and reads World Wide Web pages.  It speaks and highlights text simultaneously, providing auditory and visual representation.  It offers clear, natural-sounding synthetic speech in a choice of reading voice personalities.
IBM Home Page Reader	The Home Page Reader is a spoken on-ramp to the Information Highway for computer users who are blind or visually impaired.  This innovative product provides Web access by quickly, easily, and efficiently speaking Web page information.  HPR provides a simple, easy-to-use interface for navigating and manipulating Web page elements and utilizes the capabilities of IBM’s ViaVoice Outloud text-to-speech synthesizer for speaking.  Using the keyboard to navigate, a person who is blind or who has a visual impairment can hear the full range of Web page content provided in a logical, clear, and understandable manner.
Dragon Naturally Speaking Preferred Voice Recognition Software	This program enables users to talk to their PC continuously and naturally, directly into virtually any Windows application.  It is a perfect tool for those who are unable to use a keyboard.  It permits users to dictate text without pauses between words.  Users simply talk in a natural manner and pace.  The spoken words immediately appear on the screen with every word spelled correctly.  The powerful text editing and formatting capabilities allow users to bold, italicize, change the font, and more, by voice command.  It takes about 30 minutes to program for a new user (and a little while longer to learn all the commands).
JAWS for Windows 3.7	JAWS (Job Access with Speech) provides speech technology that works with your Windows operating system to provide access to today’s popular software applications and the Internet.  JAWS uses an integrated voice synthesizer and the computer’s sound card to output the content of the computer screen to speakers.  You can work with JAWS to hear e-mail programs, word processors, spreadsheets, and Web browsers.
Zoom Text Xtra 7.0 Magnification and Screen Reading Software	Zoom Text seamlessly integrates magnification and screen reading, providing easy access to all Windows programs. Zoom Text delivers clear images, concise speech, and the highest level of compatibility.  It has 2x to 16x magnification with advanced edge-smoothing, 8 different zoom windows for full or partial screen enlargement, color filtering for improved contrast and readability, screen reading that’s powerful yet easy-to-use that speaks all on-screen text, including menus, dialog boxes, and controls, and has speech settings for adjusting voice, rate, and pitch.

 

Single-Switch Software

Many children with special needs require software that is very simple to operate.  The keyboard has many buttons and can be overwhelming for a child.  Single switch software refers to a software program that requires pressing only one switch to operate the software.  The switch can be located on any one of several input devices.  Some examples include the button of a joystick, a mouse click, the keyboard space bar, or for children with limited motor skills, a big button connected to the computer with a specially designed adapter.  The Dunellen Library has a Big Yellow Button from RJ Cooper.  The Judy Lynn software is in 3.5 floppy disc format.  The Don Johnston software is on CD-Rom.  Both sets of products can be used in the Library or can be checked out to be used at home.

Below are descriptions of our single-switch software.  Click here to learn the availability of these software programs via our on-line catalog.

Judy Lynn Software	Cause and Effect	Cause and Effect Factory	Cause and Effect Carnival
	Introduction to Scanning	Visual Tracking	Switch Art
	Animated Toys	True Friends	Fundamental Concepts
	Visual Motor Skills	Cause and Effect Cinema
Don Johnston Software	Press to Play Speedy Speedy is a young boy who has a wheelchair. The scene involve him playing various games with his friends, including catching a fish, traveling on the school bus, playing with his train set, moving about in his wheelchair, playing with his puppy, and shooting hoops with a basketball. Press to Play Animals The humorous scenes amuse children of all ages. Scenes include: a monkey swinging on a vine, eggs hatching in a nest, a mother bird returning to her nest, a mother feeding her young with a worm, a cat investigating a garbage can, and a dog befriending a rabbit. Press to Play Zoo The three friends, including Speedy, visit the zoo where they encounter a number of animals.  A cheeky monkey blows them a raspberry and a seal cavorts in his pool. Press to Play Sport Speedy and his pals have wheelchair races and other sports related fun.