Vision Enhancement Tools & Techniques: Low Tech & High Tech solutions

Presented By Jeffrey D. Stark

Workshop presented At the CCB Halifax Conference on Low Cost Solutions For People Who Are Blind Or Have Low Vision

Section 1 – Built-In Accessibility

WINDOWS: CONFIGURATION CHANGES, TWEAKS, CHANGES AND FEATURES

 

Windows Customisation

1. Changing Resolution / Textsize
   

2. Contrast / Screen Appearance
   

3. Themes/Colors
   

4. Ctrl+MouseWheel
   

5. Internet Explorer Customisations
   

6. Filter Font Size
   

7. Filter Font Color
   

8. Custom Style
   

9. Built in magnification
   

   Works “OK” on Windows 8/10

10. Windows Sounds, Sound Schemes & Notifications
    

11. Word Draft Mode
    

12. Outlook “read all email as plain text” and setting font size
13. Internet Explorer > Tools > Internet Options > Accessibility
14. Keyboard Shortcuts to reduce refocusing of eyes caused by following the mouse
15. Animated Cursors
16. Mobile Version of WebSitesLess Busy – i.e. http://m.facebook.com
17. Force mobile view: http://bit.ly/1qSckn1

Free 3rd Party Apps & Add-ons

1. APHont– TTF font – http://www.aph.org/products/aphont/
   

2. Autosizer- http://www.southbaypc.com/autosizer/
   

3. FlashNote- http://softvoile.com/flashnote/
   

4. Miranda NG – http://www.miranda-ng.org/en/ (Large print google hangout / communicator / link compatible IM client – w/Speak plugin
   

 

Invert vs Themes (Example Of Invert Approach)

Invert vs Themes (Example Of Theme Approach)
 

Section 2 – Software

THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE:

 VISION ENHANCEMENT TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGY

 CHANGES AND FEATURES

 

Vision Enhancement Software

Generally 5 Levels of software tools

1. Screen Enhancements
   

2. Screen Magnification
   

3. Screen Magnification + Speech
   

4. Speech + Screen Magnification
   

5. Speech
   

 

Low Cost Alternatives To Commercial Magnifiers

 

1. Windows Tablet + Magnification
   

2. Mac OSX w/Invert or Larger Text
   

3. System Access  (Screen Reader + Magnifier)
   

 

Dolphin Super Nova Suite

 

• Offering a product at all levels including a Hybrid Screen-Reader/Screen-Magnifier
  

• 1 product to learn
  

• set of keyboard shortcuts
  

• Mouse functions
  

• Visual highlights
  

• Situation based and application based configurations
  

•  
  

 

Moving Magnification to the mouse

Document Readers

 

•Text Aloud

 

 

Talking Typing Tutor

Section 3 – Hardware

HARDWARE:

LOW TECH TO HIGH TECH

 

Vision Dictates Position

The Value Of A Monitor Arm

MONITOR ARMS &
ANTI-GLARE COVERS

Low-Tech Magnification

Magnifying Glasses:
Different Levels Of Magnification (Examples #1)

Magnifying Glasses:
Different Levels Of Magnification (Examples #2)

Magnifying Glasses:
Different Levels Of Magnification (Examples #3)

Magnifying Glasses: Different Levels Of Magnification + Lighting

Magnifying Glasses:
Variety Of Shapes

Magnifying Glasses:
Variety Of Shapes  (Examples #2)

Large Font Keyboard

CCTV

• Desk Version
  

• KVM
  

• OCR
  

•  
  

•Portable Versions

Cell phones and SmartPhones

• •IOS
  

  • Magnification
    

  • Inverting
    

  • VoiceOver
    

• Android
  

  • Magnification
    

  • Inverting
    

  • CyanogenMod: High Contrast Black Themes
    

  • Talkback