If you use the internet then this advert might have caught your eye.
"Skip the waiting. Forget the set-up. Leave the manuals behind. Go straight online to creating, sharing and enjoying because everything is faster and easier on a Chromebook."
What is a Chromebook?
The Chromebook is a laptop computer that hosts the Google Chrome web browser. Anything you want to access is available online and is stored in what is known as 'The Cloud'. The Cloud enables your files to be accessed from anywhere.
The suggested advantages of using a Chromebook as opposed to another laptop device are;
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speed
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simplicity
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security
The laptop opens up and is ready to use in just 8 seconds. You don't have to worry about updates; the Chromebook does them automatically.
Chromebooks also claim to be completely secure - no anti-virus or malware software is needed.
What can I use it for?
There are many web applications available for the device ranging from document creators to photo editors, games and more. These applications can be downloaded via the Chrome Web Store (Please note this link only works when using the Google chrome web browser).
For example:
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if you wish to listen to music you can do this through Pandora,
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if you wish to play a game you can choose from thousands of popular titles like Angry Birds
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if you need to create a document you can use Google Docs, Scratch Pad or Quick Note.
There is much variety available in the Chrome Web Store, so whatever task you want to use your Chromebook for, there is likely to be an application available.
Accessibility
I spent a little time using the Samsung version of the Chromebook recently and tested some of its accessibility features.
My first thoughts after opening the device were that the mouse cursor and text were far too small for me to see easily.
I found myself getting uncomfortably close to the monitor while I attempted to increase font/screen size and look for accessibility features.
ChromeVox
The Chromebook has a built-in screen reader called ChromeVox, which can be turned on by going to Settings, System and ticking a box next to where it says Accessibility; enable accessibility features.
Unfortunately, once I activated this feature I found it very difficult and somewhat irritating to understand. It wasn't very long until I turned off this feature and began to look for another accessible alternative.
Zoom
You are able to zoom into the browser content by:
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'Ctrl+' to increase size
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'Ctrl-' to decrease text size
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'Ctrl0' to return to the original text size
However, I couldn't find a way to change the size of the icons on the tool bar at the top of the screen, the size of the mouse cursor or the settings menu on the top right of the screen. .
When zooming into content I noticed the text did not automatically wrap around, and I couldn't use the mouse pad to navigate the screen from side to side as you can with other operating systems. I did discover I could use the four arrows to move around, but this is very slow, especially when I was zoomed in to a high percentage.
Magnification
The laptop does not have any inbuilt magnification software. However, I did stumble upon an option to increase the text size on the web content, but encountered immediate limitations with this.
The text was constantly over lapping and caused the content to be impossible to read, unless I zoomed in and out to find the right contrast between the different texts and layouts of different pages.
Applications
The Chromebook Web Application Store has a category dedicated to accessibility where you can download external applications for zooming, screen reading and more.
In order to download applications you need a Google account. I had to create an account using a different computer system because the Chromebook interface was so difficult for me to use.
When the device asks you if you wish to download a certain application it brings up text within a separate box. The size of text within the box is very small and I can't find a way to increase the size of it.
Conclusions
Overall, I did not enjoy my experience of using the Google Chromebook. I spent a great deal of time attempting to make the device accessible, only to achieve what other operating systems do without customisation and the use of external applications.
I found the basic concept of the device a little complex to understand, I would much prefer using a Macintosh or Microsoft product with an interface I know is accessible. I do however like its speed and reliability. The battery life is also a good selling point because it last for over 8 hours without being recharged.
Unfortunately, due to my experience with the device, I would not want to recommend this product to a person with a visual impairment. More information is available on the Google Chromebook and its features, and Google ChromeVox .
Got a suggestion?
We want to hear from you, our users. Which apps and websites should we be writing about on the TechKnowMore blog? Is there an app you can no longer live without? What website is at the top of your favourites list? Drop us an email on DigitalAccess@rnib.org.uk to let us know, and your favourite service could be featured in the very near future!