introduction to assistive technology

Introduction to Assistive Technology for ICT

Expanding Horizons Through ICT

What is Assistive Technology?

Any technology that helps people with disabilities to perform a function or activity that they wouldn’t be able to perform otherwise.


Types of Assistive Technologies we will discuss today

•AT for Physical Disabilities

•AT for Sensory Disabilities (Vision and

Hearing)

•AT for Learning Difficulties

Expanding Horizons through ICT The promise

Plan for the session•Introduction to computer accessibility•Physical Disabilities:

•Keyboard alternatives/adaptations•Mouse alternatives/adaptations

•Sensory Disabilities: •Altering the computer output

•Learning Difficulties : •Basic tools and techniques


Assistive Technologies for Access to ICT

•Rapidly growing area of AT•Opportunities for independent living•Communication•Tele-learning•Potential for flexible employment•Entertainment


Computer Components

•Processor•Memory•Memory Storage Devices•Input devices•Output devices


Operating systems

•Windows•Mac•Linux•Others (e.g. text based operating system, simplified systems)


Common Applications•Communication

•Internet•Messaging (SMS, Chat, Email)•Voice/Video (mobile comms, VOIP)

•Word-processing •Media Creation/Management•Office Applications•Leisure

•E-books•Games•Online Shopping etc…


Computer Access Strategies


Computer Access Strategies

•Workstation positioning/ergonomics•Adaptations & Alternatives to the standard keyboard/mouse•Adaptations & Alternatives to the standard monitor/output•Performance enhancement


Computer Access Tools

•Operating System Accessibility Tools•Accessibility Software

•Access software•Performance enhancement•Educational software

•Accessibility Hardware•Alternative access devices•Adaptations


Workstation positioning and ergonomics

Important to establish optimum position for access

Factors:Visual ergonomicsAccess method ergonomics


Visual Ergonomics

•Relate position of screen to client•Consider use of external keyboard/monitor •Consider visual requirements of access method – does the client need to see this and the screen simultaneously


Access Method Ergonomics

Avoid:•Repetitive Strain Injury•Abnormal Tone•Associated movements•Startle reflex•Intention tremor / ataxia


Keyboard Adaptations and Alternatives


Keyboard Adaptations : Stabilize Control

•Key guards•Wrist rests•Keyboard Positioning


Keyboard Adaptations: Extend Control

Hand pointers, dowels, sticksHead pointers, headwandMouthstick


Keyboard adaptations: Change Layout

•Dvorak•Right handed Dvorak•Left handed Dvorak•Chubon •Alphabetic•Frequency of use (scanning)


Alternative Keyboard Arrangements

Dvorak1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 [ ]‘ , . p y f g c r l / = \ a o e u i d h t n s -; q j k x b m w v z

Left hand Dvorak= - / p f m l j 4 3 2 1 ; q b y u r s o . 6 5k c d t h e a z 8 7‘ x g v w n i , 0 9

Right Hand Dvorak1 2 3 4 j l m f p / - =5 6 q . o r s u y b ;7 8 z a e h t d c k9 0 x , i n w v g ‘

Chubon for one pointer‘ [ ] 3 2 1 v u p 6 7 8 = \

- 4 q m i t s c k z 9 :5 j g n r e h b y x 0

/ ‘ f o a d l w


Keyboard Adaptations: Operating System Changes

•Sticky keys, key latch•Adjust key repeat rate•Slow keys, delayed acceptance•Filter keys, Bounce keys•Toggle keys•Alternative keyboard layouts



Keyboard Settings:Start - > Control PanelKeyboard



•Repeat DelayFirst time before repeats character

•Repeat RateTime between characters



Accessibility OptionsStart->Control PanelAccessibility Options



StickyKeysLock control keys on

FilterKeysIgnore repeated presses

ToggleKeysSounds for control keys


Group Work

Operating System Changes: Keyboard Adaptations


Alternatives to the Standard Keyboard

•Alternative keyboards•Speech Recognition•Onscreen keyboard•General Input Device Emulating Interfaces (GIDEIs)•Serial Keys•Coded access (i.e., Morse Code)


Alternative Keyboards

•Mini Keyboards•Expanded Keyboards•Chording keyboards•Touch Screen•AAC/Other devices•Morse Code•Serial Keys


Alternative Keyboards – Windows On Screen Keyboard

Start ->Programs-> Accessories-> Accessibility Options


Alternative Keyboards – On Screen

Mouse Access

Switch access


Alternatives to Keyboards – On Screen

Dasher


Alternatives to Keyboards - Speech Recognition

•Ideal for dictation style tasks•Requires consistent/clear speech•Requires visual monitoring•Not for all environments•Cognitively demanding•Requires training•Best used in conjunction with other methods


Mouse Alternatives and Adaptations


Mouse Adaptations: Operating System Changes

Start ->Control Panel->Mouse



Mouse Driver AdjustmentsTracking SpeedClick Speed

TrailsRadar

Cursor Size



MouseKeysStart ->Control PanelAccessibility Options‘Mouse’ Tab

Control the mouse using the number pad arrows


Mouse Adaptations: Keyboard Equivalents

Allow control of computer through keyboardPossible to use most aspects of computer without mouseSome ‘global’ shortcuts (e.g. Ctrl+C)

List of Windows shortcuts online

Some program specific shortcutsLook these up in the help file

Alt / Tab – allow you to access menus


Group Work

Operating System Accessibility Options: Mouse Adaptations


Mouse Alternatives

•Trackball•Joysticks•Touch Pad•Touch screen, touch window•Hands-free mouse, ultrasonic mice,

infrared reflective mice•Speech Recognition

‘MouseGrid’Control of Menus


Mouse Alternatives cont…

Head MouseScanningMorse CodeEye gazeIntegrated Devices


Eye Gaze

Direct SelectionExpensive‘Magic Touch’ effect

What you look at is what you get

Requires stable positioningSystems improving in this


Alternatives to Standard Clicking

Switches Hand switchFoot switch etc…

Timed Clicking - DwellKeyboard Clicking


Performance Enhancement


Computer Performance Enhancement

•Word Prediction/Word Completion•Abbreviation Expansion•Keyboard shortcuts•Macro Applications


Word Prediction/Completion

THE RE1 RENT2 REST3 REAL4 REALLY


Abbreviation Expansion

ASAP As soon as possible.HU? How are you doing?Can be done in Word


Keyboard Shortcuts

Lots of keyboard shortcutsEliminate the need for the mouse entirely!If used well, decrease the amount of switching between keyboard/mouse Save effort and time


Macros•Often-done tasks

Starting up certain programs (e.g. Internet)•‘Mouse-heavy’, or ‘Mouse Only’ tasks

Assign a key to click the centre of the screenAssign a key to open all your emails…

•Automate complex tasksSingle key to copy/paste

•Anything!


Altering the computer output


Sensory Disabilities - Vision

General ways to help someone with Visual Impairment:

• Appearance• Visual Themes• Color Contrast

• Magnification• Alternative senses of communication

• Audio• Tactile

- Same principles apply to provide computer access to people with Vision Impairment


• Changing the colour scheme can make the easier to read text and viewing images

• Color schemes can be fully customised for each user

• High Contrast color schemes tend to work best for people with low vision

Color Schemes

Sensory – Vision Impairment


• Up to a basic degree such scheme modifications can be done from within Windows

• There are various Assistive Technology software that provide more flexibility and allow us to do this to much greater extent

Color Schemes



Pointers



• Enlarging the contents of the screen greatly improves the usability of a computer for people with low vision

• Can be achieved by various means:

• Accessibility options within Windows • Magnification Software• Desktop CCTV Magnifiers• Handheld Video Magnifiers

Magnification



• A screen reader is a software that interprets what is being displayed on the screen and outputs it via the computer speakers

• Often used in conjunction with a Magnification software by people with low vision

• Often used in conjunction with a Braille Display by blind people

Screen Readers


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Application_software


Group Work

Operating System Accessibility Options:Appearance, Magnification, and Screen Reader



• Braille is a system in which characters (text & numbers) are represented by a combination of dots laid out in specific shapes• Braille display is an electro-mechanical device for displaying Braille characters, usually by means of raising dots through holes in a flat surface

Braille Display



• Portable Braille Notetakers

Portable Solutions for the Blind


• Daisy Book Readers• Solutions for Mobile Phones

• Talks & Zoom (Screen Reader & Magnifier) [Symbian OS]• Mobile Speak Gold (Screen Reader, Magnifier, Color Recognizer) [Symbian OS / Windows Mobile]• Oratio (Screen Reader) [Blackberry]• Eyes Free (Screen Reader, Modify Visual Layout) [Android Phones]• iPhone Accessibility Suite (Screen Reader, Magnifier, Color Contrast Modification) [iPhone]


Sensory – Hearing Impairment

General ways to help someone with Hearing Impairment:

• Visual Notifications• Flash screens• Sign Language

• Communicate information via Text• Auditory Amplification



• Some helpful options are available within WindowsStart >> Control Panel >> Ease of Access Control Panel >> Use text or visual alternatives for sounds



• Close Captioning Closed captioning displays an interpretation of the audio

portion of a video as it occurs, sometimes including non-speech elements.

Close Captioning solution examples• Dotsub (Online)• Magpie

• Deaf Blind Communication

•Voice to sign language


Learning Difficulties


Text is easier to create and edit than handwriting

Diary and organisational software available

Dictionaries, Thesaurus, Encyclopedias, online resources can improve written communication

“Get Round” Technology allows writer to concentrate on the message they want to get across rather than how to write it

Finding information in electronic documents easier than trawling through a book if you are struggling to read

How a computer can help


Spelling and punctuation can be left until writer has expressed most of their ideas. Specialised spellcheckers can help as standard utilities don’t always look at context (see ode to the spellchecker!)

Text manipulation and planning tools allow the structure to be decided later

The writer can forget that writing is difficult and concentrate on the needs of the reader

Student can be encouraged to write more

Encourages Speed


Clarity of image on screen More readable than handwritten text whilst working

Professional finish of printout Positive impact on motivation and self esteem

Clarity and Presentation


Physically easier to press a key than to form a letter

Some can struggle when remembering how to draw a letter – b-d-p-q – can be particular problems

Keyboard and Typing


Choice of keyboard

Uppercase helps with confusables such as b & d (B & D)

Lowercase keyboards available if struggling with capitals

ABC if QWERTY difficult or to reinforce alphabet learning

High contrast or larger letter stickers are available

Basic keyboards to minimise distraction

Keyboard and Typing


Evidence to say that people learn finger patterns rather than spelling of actual words

free Touch Typing Tutorwww.sense-lang.org/typing

Touch-Typing

http://www.sense-lang.org/typing


Fonts

This is an example of Times New Roman - 33pt

This is an example of Arial - 33pt

This is an example of Comic Sans – 33pt

This is an example of Verdana – 33pt


Line Spacing

Ctrl + 1 = Single spacing Ctrl + 5 = 1.5 spacing

Double Spacing can help – highlight the text and press Ctrl + 2 on the keyboard.


AutoCorrect

Corrects common errors automatically.

Capitalises first letter of a sentence and names of days, months etc.

Abbreviation Expansion


Changing the colour scheme within Windows can make the text easier to read

Schemes can be fully customised for each user

Colour Schemes


+=

Helps to identify errors in:-PunctuationSpelling errorsIncorrect wordsMissed wordsExtra words

Scanning and Text to Speech


Word Prediction

Penfriend


TextHelp Read and Write


Mind Mapping

• Inspiration • Mind Manager

• SparkSpace

•Freemind


Uses:

• People with limited or no hand skills

• People with Dyslexia

• Quick text entry for non-Touch Typists

• People with RSI

Voice Recognition


Advantages:•Spelling always correct•Quick to input text•Can be used hands-free

Disadvantages:•Steep learning curve (training recommended)•Requires ordered thinking skills•Needs consistent & fairly clear speech

Considerations:•Computer specifications


Case Studies