If you have difficulty using a computer because of your vision, there are a number of things you can do.
First, check out the accessibility options available within the operating system. You can use these to change the size and colour of things on the screen to make them easier to see, or perhaps even speak them so that you don't have to use the screen. These options come with the computer and are therefore free. All you need to do is find them and turn them on!
Second, if the options within the computer aren't enough, you can download free software that can magnify or speak the screen contents. This is an example of "access technology" or "assistive technology", which is software or hardware that gives better access to mainstream devices or information. Free asssitve technology is limited, but it may be enough to allow you to write documents, send and receive emails and surf the web. We've gathered some information on the more popular free assistive technology applications to help you decide if one of them may be what you need.
Third, if none of the free stuff works, there are a number of products you can buy. Paid-for software usually has more features and better support. Paid-for hardware includes changes to keyboards and monitors to improve their visibility, and braille displays as an alternitve to using a screen. These products range in price from a few pounds to many hundreds of pounds, and while some of it is aimed at home users, other products are aimed at professional users.
Windows is by far the most popular operating system in use throughout the world, and we thought it was worth highlighting an RNIB introduction to Windows 7, which also covers Windows Vista, and talks about how to use these systems in a non-visual way.
Mac OS X has had a big take-up by blind and partially sighted people in the last couple of years, prompted by the high level of accessibility they have out of the box. Here are some useful pointers to using the accessibility built into Mac OS X.
Need help with some of the terminology on this page? Start by reading our glossary of technology terms.