Computers for the disabledComputers

Computers for the disabled
Computers have taken a dominant role in our society, meaning most
jobs now require access to computers and the Internet. But what happens if a person is blind, deaf or motor-disabled? They needn't worry. The latest assistive technology is designed to help them use computers and do their jobs in the office, learn at school, or interact with their families at home. In addition, new laws oblige companies to adapt the workplace to accommo- date disabled people. For example, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the UK's Disability Discrimination Act make it illegal for employers to discriminate against people with disabilities.

the first task in adding assistive technology to a computer is to determine the specific needs of the disabled worker in question. To work effectively, most bling users need to have their computers adapted with technologies such as Braille, mafnification, speech synthesis and Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

Modern Braille keyboards have Braille lettering on keyboard overlays, al- lowing the blind user to easily identify each key. For output, there are print- ers, called Braille embossers, that produce tactile Braille symbols on both sides of a page at high speed.

For someone with limited but usable vision, a screen magnifier may be appropriate. This type of software can enlarge text and images appearing on the screen by up to 16 times. In addition, they are now being developed with varios levels of speech output capabilities, and work with all applicaions including the Internet.

A speech synthesis system is used to read aloud the work on the computer. It has a speech synthesizer, which produces the audio output, and a screen reader – the program which reads aloud text and menus from word processors, databases and the Web.

OCR uses a flatbed scanner and specialized OCR software to read printed material and send the text to the computer. The PC can then produce a copy of the text in Braille, a magnified copy, or a version that can be read aloud by a speech synthesis system.

Deaf computer users can overcome many communication difficulties with the aid of visual alerts, electronic notetakers.

Visual alerts are indicators that alert the deaf user when they receive new mail or when there is a system error. So instead of hearing a sound, the user is alerted by a blinking menu bar or by a message on the screen. Electronic notetakers are devices which print out what is spoken in meetings or business presentetions, where lip-reading is not possible.

Motor-impaired workers unable to type on a standard keyboard can employ expanded or ergonomic keyboards, on-screen keyboards, adap- tive switches and voice recognition systems.

On-screen keyboards are software images of a keyboard that appear on the screen and may be activated with a trackball, touch screen, screen- pointing device, or eye movements. In an eyegaze system, the keys on the virtual keyboard are activated by the user's eyes when they pause on a key for two or three seconds.

Switches come in many shapes and sizes. They are operated by mus- cle movements or breath control. For example, a pneumatic switch – known as a sip and puff – allows someone with quadriplegia to control the PC by puffing and sipping air through a pneumatic tube.

Voice-recognition allows the computer to interpret into digitized text or instructions.

* A disabled person using a voice command-activated computer at the Center for the Handicapped in Seatle. He operates the system with a beadset microphone, muscle switches and joystick control.

* A blind student using an adapter keyboard, in the presence of his tutor. The beadphones and a screen reading program allow him to hear the text from the screen.

* Bob Love was born with no arms. He uses an overlay keyboard with his feet anf the computer and monitor on the floor. The key overlays give a much larger surface for each key.