Yext Eye Care Article
Assistive technology as it applies to computers is meant to help those with handicaps or disabilities. People with disabilities may find it difficult to operate a regulation computer and in some cases, they may even find it impossible. There are many companies creating products that help those with vision, hearing, and other impairments work on a computer.
Soundbytes is one such company. This company creates items meant for those with hearing problems and includes products for the computer as well as other products such as amplified cell phones and vibrating watches. They also offer specialty computer products that increase and amplify the sound waves coming from the computer to make the sounds easier to hear.
Another company with a similar slant is Enabling Devices. The purpose of this company is to offer a variety of different educational and assistive technology products for those with disabilities. They offer keyboards with oversized keys for those with vision problems, and other devices used to make the operation of a computer easier.
Speech recognition software is something else used for those with disabilities. These products are designed to make typing on a computer an easier feat to accomplish. The user speaks into a microphone and the words go directly onto the screen, no typing required. They first set up the system to recognize their own speech patterns and they can then use it instead of typing all their information with the keyboard. One of the best places to find this type of software is Nuance, which is the leading provider of Dragon Naturally Speaking Software. This is one of the best selling speech recognition software programs in the world. Another popular choice is E-Speaking, which is free to try.
Those with low vision or vision impairments will find it helpful to use a screen magnification program. These programs enhance the computer screen, making the words and images appear larger and making it easier for those with vision problems to see things clearly. Tandt-Consultancy provides a full list of the best screen magnification programs and products for those with vision problems. A free program similar to this is available from Iconico.
Touch screens are another assistive technology product meant to making using the computer easier. A simple touch of the screen causes the different programs to run, and the start and shutdown of the computer are also operated by touching the screen. Magic Touch is one of the leading manufacturers of computer touch screens and they have different versions available for children and those who are visually impaired. Technology for Education also has a few of these products available.
Those looking for a wide range of assistive technology products can also look to the Vi Guide website. This website lists several different types of products, including the manufacturers of those products and information on buying direct from the company or learning more about the products. The companies listed there sell products primarily designed for those with visual and hearing problems. This includes speech-to-text products, which allow the user to highlight different areas of a page and have the computer speak those words to the individual. The companies also sell many other different types of products in the assistive technology field. Microsoft also has some information available for those interested in assistive technology.
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