Assistive technology is specialist technology that enables someone with a disability to access information or mainstream technology independently. It's sometimes called "access technology" or "adaptive technology". If you're blind or partially sighted some examples of assistive technology could include:
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software added to a computer enabling you to write a letter or send an email.
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software added to a mobile phone helping you to make and receive calls.
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a magnifying device aiding you to read a newspaper.
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a braille device supporting you to shop online.
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a note taker or MP3 player designed to be used by someone with sight loss.
Below we'll explain more about some popular pieces of assistive technology for blind or partially sighted people.
Screen reader software
A screen reader takes information from a computer or mobile phone screen and speaks it with a synthetic voice or displays it on a refreshable braille display. This means you don't have to be able to see that computer or mobile phone screen to use it. A screen reader does much more than a text-to-speech application because it can relay more information, for instance, whether a link in a web page has been visited, whether a tick box is ticked or unticked, or if some text is underlined.
All computers and a growing number of mobile phones come with a screen reader. Apple's iPhone has what many blind people feel is the best built-in screen reader; the same screen reader is also in the iPod touch and iPad. The latest versions of Android contain a screen reader called TalkBack, which most people feel is not as good as VoiceOver, but catching up rapidly. For some older Nokia phones and Blackberry devices, you can download a screen reader to it to enable basic functions. There is no screen reader for a Windows phone.
VoiceOver is also found on Apple computers. It is extremely good for applications that come with the computer, but not so good for many of those that are added afterwards, and there is no alternative. On Windows computers the built-in screen reader is not as sophisticated as Apple's, but the popularity of Windows computers means there are alternatives that can be added and some of these will work well with additional software added to the computer.
The most popular commercial screen readers for Windows are JAWS, Window-Eyes and Supernova Screen Reader. If you're on a tight budget, System Access might fit the bill. There are even some free screen readers, such as NVDA, Thunder or System Access to Go. The free options lack a few advanced features and don't always have the best voices, but they are free! And although every screen reader includes at least one synthesised voice, you can buy these separately and add them to your screen reader. One recent example of good voices are those from IVONA, who even include a Welsh variant.
A low cost computer with NVDA pre-installed is now available from Computer Recyclers. This can be either a laptop or a desktop with Windows 7, and it includes IVONA voices and a collection of training resources from the internet. RNIB helped Computer Recyclers set up this offering, and can provide support through the Technical Support Squad for initial installation and familiarisation. For more information, please contact Computer Recyclers on 01443 434675.
For information about screen readers for mobile phones, see our Beginner's guide to mobile and smart phones.
Screen magnification software
A screen magnifier can magnify everything on a computer or mobile phone screen. This results in only part of the original screen image being visible, but a magnifier can follow the point of interest identified by the mouse or cursor, or finger on a touch screen device. This can be a useful addition or alternative to a larger screen. Computer screen magnifiers will usually include extra features such as the ability to change screen colours, enhance mouse pointers or cursors, and sometimes include reading features and basic screen reading functions.
The most popular commercial screen magnifiers for Windows computers are ZoomText, MAGic and Supernova Screen Magnifer. Any recent computer running Windows, Mac OS X or Linux (that's almost all of them) have a screen magnifier built into them. Built-in magnifiers will not enlarge your screen as much or as smoothly as the commercial products, but they may be all you need.
The iPhone, iPad and iPod touch include magnification and colour options. Other phones have far fewer options, although a number of phones now have large screens with "themes" that allow you to change the screen colours.
Reading machine
A reading machine uses a camera or scanner with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software to turn a printed document into electronic text which can be relayed to a screen in large print or read out by a screen reader - or both. A reading machine can be:
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Standalone - combines camera/scanner, OCR software, monitor and/or screen reader as one device. This is easier to use but less flexible for doing other things, for instance email or writing letters.
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Computer-based - a camera or scanner and OCR software can be added to your computer, which will already have a monitor and screen magnifier or screen reader. This may be more complicated to set up and use, but is cheaper and offers more flexibility.
The addition of cameras to many portable devices like phones now means these have the potential to become portable reading machines through the addition of an OCR app. These apps are cheap - some are even free - and they don't work as well as the computer-based systems, but they are cheaper and more portable.
Video Magnifier, or Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)
A CCTV is a magnifying aid that consists of a camera and monitor, although a TV or computer screen may be used in place of the monitor. The magnification level is much greater than for a hand magnifier, and often combines a choice of foreground and background colours. Available in desktop or portable variations, and some have a distance camera and thus may be used in a classroom, for instance.
The distinction between a reading machine and a video magnifier has reduced drastically over the last few years, with many units offering a combination of the two.
Once again, the addition of a camera to many portable devices means they can act as low-level CCTVs - they won't have the advanced features of the specialist equipment, but nor will they have the high price tag.
Refreshable braille display
A braille display is used in conjunction with a screen reader to output screen information in a tactile form. It consists of a number of cells which have eight pins which can be moved up and down to form braille characters. The top six pins for the braille characters, and the additional two pins are used to relay formatting or other information. Braille displays can be very useful if you are deaf-blind, or you deal with detailed information (e.g. as a lawyer needing to check a contract), and many people prefer braille as a reading format. Unfortunately, braille displays are very expensive.
Braille translation software and embosser
Braille translation software can be used to convert an electronic document such as one in Microsoft Word, into braille. The result can then be printed by an embosser, which is a printer that uses pins to indent the dots onto paper.
Notetaker
Some notetakers are specially designed for use by blind and partially sighted people. These have a QWERTY (standard type) or braille keyboard, but output speech rather than using a computer screen, and as a result are much smaller than mainstream laptops or netbooks, with shorter start-up times and much longer battery life. Some variations have a braille display as well. A notetaker will have a calendar and contact database, and most have email and internet capability.
In the last few years smartphones have evolved to include many of the features of specialist notetakers at a fraction of the cost, but some people will still prefer the specialist devices. In early 2013, an app called AccessNote became available for the iPhone. It's aimed specifically at blind users who want the facilities of a notetaker but already have an iPhone and don't want an expensive second device.
Voice recognition software
Voice recognition provides an alternative way to control or input information to a computer or mobile phone. You talk to the computer or phone and what you say is interpreted as commands or converted to electronic text.
While it started out as an assistive technology, voice recognition is now being marketed more as a productivity tool that anyone might benefit from. There are issues with using it alongside screen magnification or screen reader software on a computer, which means it should only be considered by someone with a physical problem with the keyboard. Software that links screen reading software and voice recognition software is available.
Voice recognition is becoming more widespread on mobile phones, and it will be interesting to see how this technology evolves.
Still need help?
We hope that our range of beginner's guides gave you the information you needed to get started with confidence.
But if you've read the guides and still need some help, you could try the following: