Free
Computer Adaptations
by Jeni
Mundl
With commercial
software, you purchase the program before you install it. Unfortunately,
after trying it, you may find it’s not what
you anticipated and are unable to return it. Freeware and shareware
are different. This category of software is free to use, distribute
and try, though some programs may request a donation to continue
their work. They are normally not as robust as commercial software,
but they may provide a variety of functions beneficial to persons
with disabilities.
Software for
Visual Needs:
APHont, designed
for low vision, aims to enhance reading speed, comprehension and
comfort for large print readers. It features more evenly-spaced
letters, higher cross bars, wider letters, heavier letters, larger
opening, and larger punctuation. After confirming that the font
will be used for a person with a visual impairment, you can download
from www.aph.org/products/aphont.html
EzMagnifier magnifies a portion of the computer screen. It allows
you to choose the zooming factor and you can resize the magnified
portion to suit your needs. You can capture an image of the magnified
area and the program saves it in a program folder; if you save multiple
captures, the program will save them sequentially. www.ancientsoft.com/ezmagnifier.htm
Zoom is a screen
enlargement utility. It displays a floating window that shows an
enlarged view of the area around the cursor. Http://www3.sympatico.ca/paulscott/zoom.htm
Another Lens
displays a magnified view of the area of the mouse cursor. The
window contents can be locked and saved to a file or copied to
the clipboard for taking screenshots. There are additional options,
like crosshairs, resizing the window and hiding the caption bar
and/or main menu.
http://www.feldfunker.de/software.htm
Text-to-Speech
Programs:
Persons with
visual impairments and/or reading issues will find several options
to have the computer read to them. These are not as easy to utilize
as screen reading or voice output programs because they require
the user to copy information into the freeware program to be read.
The following have the ability to change the voices, increase or
decrease the speed of reading, alter the pitch and simplicity of
use.
Read Please and Read Words - www.readplease.com/english/downloads/#rw
Natural Voice Text-to-Speech Reader - www.naturalreaders.com/
Ultra Hal Text-to-Speech Reader - http://downloads-zdnet.com.com/Ultra-Hal-Text-to-Speech-Reader/3000-7239_2-10329180.html?tag=lst-0-2
Freeware for
Physical Enhancements:
PhraseExpress
manages frequently-used text phrases and pastes them into any Windows
application in a snap. It is ideal for letter templates, signatures,
addresses, internet chat phrases, and logging in to web accounts.
The phrases are clearly laid out in a taskbar icon, and new phrases
can be easily added via the Windows clipboard with a single mouse
click. www.phraseexpress.com
RemoteKeys replaces complicated keystroke combinations with simple
mouse clicks, so you can easily send commands and text modules to
any application. It offers 10 user profiles for each of the 250 buttons,
and these can be assigned by hand or macro recorder. Send text modules
into letters, words into HTML forms and password requesters, and
more. www.freewarehits.de/
Point-and-Click is a program for individuals who have problems clicking
the mouse. By dwelling over areas, the mouse is able to click, double-click,
right-click and drag. No buttons are required to operate a mouse.
www.polital.com/pnc/
Click and Type Virtual Keyboard is for individuals who are unable
to operate a standard keyboard. An on-screen keyboard appears on
the screen and by using head pointing or a mouse input device, the
operator is able to make selections to control the computer. www.lakefolks.org/cnt/
A second choice of a free on-screen keyboard is Rapid Keys - http://rapidkeys.netfirms.com/en/index.htm
Macintosh Freeware:
If
you are Macintosh user, there is one simple way of finding a
multitude of freeware and shareware software that will work for
you. Mac Shareware for People with Disabilities is a website dedicated
to providing solutions for computer access. It is designed for
different disabilities such as vision, physical, cognitive, and
hearing. www.specialink.com/mac.htm
Accessibility Options:
Since the release
of Windows 98, the control panel on the PC platform provides Accessibility
Options, which provides a variety of options for customizing accessibility
settings. For example, key repeat can be turned off or slowed for
individuals to stop accidental keystrokes. Other options allow
for a communication device to be connected to a computer through
serial keys. Windows XP includes wizards for customizing settings
for visual and hearing issues, and it has a free on-screen keyboard,
magnifier, and voice recognition program.
The Macintosh
offers similar customization for the keyboard, mouse, and visual
display options. Access these options through the control panel,
located by clicking the Apple icon on top of the screen in Mac
OS9. In Mac OSX, use “Universal Access” in
the systems preferences pane.
Conclusion:
In
all aspects, the number of adaptations available is expanding
quickly. The cost of commercial software is decreasing in price
while increasing in capabilities and features. Freeware and shareware
may be a good starting point for simple accommodations, but you
may need to investigate other software choices. Many manufacturers
provide a 30-day trial download to allow for the individual to
evaluate the benefits of using their products.
There are many downloads worth investigating for purposes not discussed
above, such as software programs for leisure and computer maintenance.
If your computer is acting up, chances are there is a freeware or
shareware for you. As a final note, always make sure downloads are
free of viruses and spyware. There are a variety of programs, such
as Norton AntiVirus, that will scan the software before downloading.
