Enhancements for using the computer include alternative keyboard and mouse devices, replacing beeps with light signals for the deaf, screen magnifiers and text enlargers and systems that form tactile Braille letters from on-screen text. See screen reader, voice recognition, TDD/TTY and accessibility.
Specialized Keyboard
This membrane keyboard from IntelliTools provides a 24x24 cell matrix that can be custom programmed. This application uses an oversized keyboard for children with physical disabilities. (Image courtesy of IntelliTools, Inc., www.intellitools.com)
![]() | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- What Intel wants in health care
- The assistive technology and health care markets want lower prices, which Intel can deliver. Lower prices will expand the reach of aging in place technologies and readers for the dyslexic. by Dana Blankenhorn
- Blog posts 2009-11-12
- Might Google drop Chrome OS beta as a Windows 7 spoiler?
- It could also backfireand be lost in the Windows 7 hype and push?also anyboby that have 2 once of memory remember that nt vista was and in vista case is .... so a good kick in the ball by chrome os would be great ..... ...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-15
- Karmic Koala: That's One Seriously Fast Marsupial
- I'm having issues with VirtualBox . . .I'm having issues with VirtualBox: Even though it worked before, lately it's claiming that "VT-X/AMD-V hardware acceleration has been enabled, but is not operational" and not allowing me to run 64 bit Ubuntu :(.RE: Karmic Koala: That's One Seriously Fast MarsupialI had some...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-01
- Could One Laptop Per Child be a bad thing?
- Or roadsOr how about roads so farmers can get there goods to the markets cheaper? The one laptop per kid is such a scam. Why should kids get cheap laptops overs small business owners. Who would be more productive. Um track sales, write, write e-mail, do books. I am so...
- Discussion threads 2009-09-10
- Guest Assistive Services Based on HP iPAQ PDA
- Disney engineers have worked for years to make the magic of Disney come alive for guests with hearing and/or visual disabilities. They wanted to provide lightweight, durable, full-featured assistive device for guests with hearing and visual disabilities. The company collaborated with HP and Softeq Development Corporation to build DURATEQ assistive...
- Case studies 2009-01-01
- News to know: Apple; AMD; Metasploit; Yahoo; Open SUSE
- Notable headlines: Jason O'Grady: Wagering on WWDC 2008 TUAW: Rumor: Mac OS X 10.6 to debut at WWDC 08? News.com: Third-party iPhone applications to arrive Monday Tech Trader Daily: How Big Is The Potential Market For the Apple iPhone? ...
- Blog posts 2008-06-04
- Iraq War gives assistive technology a permanent boost
- Iraq War gives assistive technology a permanent boostIraqhasn't killed anyone. Jihadists killed them. And the number is higher than 4,000. That's just the current battle. The total count is significantly higher when you take in all American casualties in this war. 3,000 alone died in the attacks of 9/11.But all...
- Discussion threads 2008-06-03
- Iraq War gives assistive technology a permanent boost
- For years assistive technology has been a minor niche. (Pictured is Jonathan Kuniholm, from his story at the Microsoft Web site. Microsoft has long been the industry leader in assistive technology.) I know. I first proposed this as an assistive technology blog, but the editors here felt...
- Blog posts 2008-06-03
- Will computing save health care?
- Will computing save health care?Will Assistive Technology save IT?With Google or Microsoft wanting to buy into peoples' data, and house it at the most inexpensive location and not even considering local laws or identity theft (I mean, that's expensive), I don't see computing doing much help.After all, it's easy to...
- Discussion threads 2008-05-02
- News to know: Microhoo; Adobe; MacBook Air; OLPC; RIAA
- Notable headlines: Microsoft: We'll raise our bid for Yahoo, but can't make up our mind yet. Techmeme Jason O'Grady: Excess thermal paste causing high temps in MacBook Air Ryan Stewart: Adobe Open Screen Project Dan Farber: IBM...
- Blog posts 2008-05-01
- Can assistive technology save computing?
- Computing is becoming an old man's game. (Picture from the University of Buffalo. Go Bulls.) Last year just 8,000 people graduated with computing majors, nationwide, the lowest figure in years. Can assistive technology turn that around? Michael Buckley at the University of Buffalo thinks...
- Blog posts 2008-04-30
- Are Amazon and Apple on a digital content collision course?
- Are Amazon and Apple on a digital content collision course?This is a GOOD thingWhen it all comes unglued, they can blame each other.Don't waste your time, Apple.There's no doubt that Apple Jonathon Ivie could come up with a beautiful e-book reader, but it wouldn't sell any better than Amazon's...
- Discussion threads 2007-11-19
- Microsoft cements OpenXML standard with Daisy deal
- Microsoft cements OpenXML standard with Daisy dealMisleading titleThis has nothing to do with the file format -- this is just a plug-in for a particular software package. It would work exactly the same for RTF files.Well, aint that sweet of Microsoft?Sorta brings new meaning to "stealing from the blind",...
- Discussion threads 2007-11-14
- Microsoft cements OpenXML standard with Daisy deal
- Microsoft has cemented OpenXML as a standard by creating an open source plug-in for the Daisy Consortium enabling Word files to be used by the blind and those with severe dyslexia. Microsoft has long used its superior support for the assistive technology community to help maintain its...
- Blog posts 2007-11-14
- Microsoft and Daisy will make Word speak
- Microsoft is extending its lead in assistive technology alongside the Daisy Foundation. Microsoft will make a Daisy plug-in available on Sourceforge early next year which will read Word 2003 and 2007 files out-loud. The plug-in will act as a converter between the Open XML...
- Blog posts 2007-11-14
- For the blind the Web is one step forward, two steps back
- For the blind the Web is one step forward, two steps backIf there's a demand for......new assistive technologies, someone will hack them together--we don't need yet ever more of the intrusively heavy hand of government "allowing" or disallowing this or that. That is your proposal isn't it? That...
- Discussion threads 2007-08-29
- For the blind the Web is one step forward, two steps back
- Assistive technologies are helping more blind people access the Web, but the Web's latest technology continues to leave the blind behind.Odiogo, which converts blog posts into MP3 files, makes content accessible to blind users. As Brian Friedlander notes, Â blog owners still have to go through the process of creating the...
- Blog posts 2007-08-29
- Singapore innovating in assistive technology
- It's the kind of innovation we used to associate with the U.S., but if you're blind and want to live independently it may be a godsend.Label your stuff once, and read it when you need it.It's the TellMate, from a company called Gaishan Technologies. (That's their logo to the right.)...
- Blog posts 2007-08-16
- Comedy at the British Open Source Consortium
- Comedy at the British Open Source ConsortiumOnce again...[i]But does it offer the DRM guarantees that content companies DEMAND?[/i]What content company John C? The BBC [b]IS[/b] the content company. The citizens have already [b]paid[/b] for the content the BBC wants to distribute online; they want the BBC to pick a solution...
- Discussion threads 2007-06-27
- OnScreen 1.78 (Windows)
- This is an Assistive Technology for the physically challenged version of IMG's world standard, commercial, My-T-Touch programmable 3D onscreen keyboards and macro utilities which include over 200 US / International layouts. It is designed to be used with both traditional and Assistive Technology pointing input devices. Written at the same...
- Software downloads 2007-06-04
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