For any users who may read this blog that are blind or visually impaired, what are some of your biggest problems with assistive technology? This can be anything that helps you get through your daily life, to some actual technology, such as screen reading software, magnification software, etc. You name it.
Also, what is one piece of assistive technology that you flat out cannot live without?
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Activating Zoom on the Mac
Today, I would like to post on another built in utility on the Mac that is perfect for those users who are visually impaired, such as myself.
In a previous post, I wrote about screen reading software both for the Macintosh and Windows computers. This time, I would like to discuss screen magnification software, specifically that which is built in on the Mac's OS X. This program is called Zoom.
First of all, Zoom can be turned on by accessing System Preferences, and then clicking Universal Access. The program can be turned on or off by clicking the radio buttons, or by pressing command+option+8. There is also an options button on that screen that when clicked will allow the user to set the minimum and maximum zooming in ratio.
Those readers with a Mac, I would like you to go and activate Zoom, using my directions. Play around with it a bit. In what ways do you feel that this could be a useful tool in and out of the classroom for visually impaired or blind students?
Please feel free to comment below.
In a previous post, I wrote about screen reading software both for the Macintosh and Windows computers. This time, I would like to discuss screen magnification software, specifically that which is built in on the Mac's OS X. This program is called Zoom.
First of all, Zoom can be turned on by accessing System Preferences, and then clicking Universal Access. The program can be turned on or off by clicking the radio buttons, or by pressing command+option+8. There is also an options button on that screen that when clicked will allow the user to set the minimum and maximum zooming in ratio.
Those readers with a Mac, I would like you to go and activate Zoom, using my directions. Play around with it a bit. In what ways do you feel that this could be a useful tool in and out of the classroom for visually impaired or blind students?
Please feel free to comment below.
Apple Voiceover
First, I would like to begin this post with a definition, for those not familiar with assistive technology terminology. A screen reader is a piece of software that runs alongside the operating system. This software will read all of the text and turn it into speech. So, documents in Microsoft Word can be read this way, as well as most web pages on the internet.
For those familiar with Windows computers, it is well known that often the built in Windows screen reader is not adequate enough for most users who are blind or visually impaired. In order to solve this problem, the user must pay upwards of $500 for a screen reader called JAWS (Jobs Access With Speech) developed by Freedom Scientific.
There are other Windows screen reader software packages out there. Some of them are System Access and Windows Eyes.
However, for Macintosh users, there is a much better solution than buying an expensive program. OS X contains a built in screen reader called VoiceOver. The Apple site has a great selection of text and video based VoiceOver tutorials here.
VoiceOver can be enabled by going to the System Preferences, then clicking on Universal Access. Then, you will see a dialogue that has VoiceOver on top. This can be turned on by clicking the on and off radio buttons, or by holding down the Command, fn, and F5. If you are on a Mac, give it a try.
Are you a Mac user? If so, do you use VoiceOver, or some other program?
if you are already familiar, did this link help you in any way?
What about you Windows users? Which program do you use, and what are the benefits?
For those familiar with Windows computers, it is well known that often the built in Windows screen reader is not adequate enough for most users who are blind or visually impaired. In order to solve this problem, the user must pay upwards of $500 for a screen reader called JAWS (Jobs Access With Speech) developed by Freedom Scientific.
There are other Windows screen reader software packages out there. Some of them are System Access and Windows Eyes.
However, for Macintosh users, there is a much better solution than buying an expensive program. OS X contains a built in screen reader called VoiceOver. The Apple site has a great selection of text and video based VoiceOver tutorials here.
VoiceOver can be enabled by going to the System Preferences, then clicking on Universal Access. Then, you will see a dialogue that has VoiceOver on top. This can be turned on by clicking the on and off radio buttons, or by holding down the Command, fn, and F5. If you are on a Mac, give it a try.
Are you a Mac user? If so, do you use VoiceOver, or some other program?
if you are already familiar, did this link help you in any way?
What about you Windows users? Which program do you use, and what are the benefits?
Welcome!
This blog is to expose students and teachers to assistive technology that is available to students with special needs, particularly those with visual impairments.
Through the activities on this blog, you will experience using assistive technology on the Mac. For example, using Universal Access settings to enlarge the mouse, to learn how to zoom the screen and basic commands using Voice Over, which is the Mac's built in screen reader.
I will also link to relevant YouTube videos on the subject. You will also learn about Braille.
Have fun!
Through the activities on this blog, you will experience using assistive technology on the Mac. For example, using Universal Access settings to enlarge the mouse, to learn how to zoom the screen and basic commands using Voice Over, which is the Mac's built in screen reader.
I will also link to relevant YouTube videos on the subject. You will also learn about Braille.
Have fun!
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