Technology

Using a computer with low vision – technology information sheet

Summary: This information sheet describes ways of accessing a computer if you have low vision. It looks at ways of enlarging the text on the screen using the operating system, screen magnification software and making use of large monitors and other adaptations.

• How can you magnify the computer screen?
• Magnifying the keyboard
• Case study - Lola
• Why choose a large monitor?
• What screen magnification software is available?
• Where can I buy screen magnification products?

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How can you magnify the computer screen?

A computer screen offers a display medium with the potential to alter the colour, contrast and brightness to suit individual preferences. It also offers extensive control over presentation of text size, style and colour. This enables the user to select the most comfortable colour background, text colour and typeface. The operating system of the computer also provides other opportunities for customisation.

Picture of someone using screen magnification on part of the computer screen

The mouse pointer, for example, can sometimes be difficult to see for someone with sight problems. There are however features within the operating system of a computer which enables the user to slow down the pointer, or add trails to its movement. If, after using the features that are available within the operating system the text on the screen still isn't accessible for the user, specialist software is available to enlarge the text, menus and icons on the screen.

Customising the operating system

There are several screen enhancement features integrated within Windows. These can be altered to improve visibility for partially sighted people. These features include pre-set high contrast colour schemes, larger standard fonts, modifying the screen resolution and improvements to the visibility of the mouse pointer and cursors. Some of these options can be modified using the control panel on your computer.

It is important to bear in mind that although some of these features for customising your screen may be helpful, they do not offer the same level of access as a magnification software package. There are still areas where font size and colour are fixed and any preferences will have no effect.

Enhancing the cursor

The mouse pointer can often be difficult to see, which provides additional difficulties. There are however utilities available which can customise the mouse pointer to the users preference. Options may include:

• larger pointers
• colour pointers
• interesting shapes or animated pointers
• mouse trails which leave multiple images on the screen to highlight the movement of the mouse
• a locator which gives a visual indicator of the position of the mouse
• features which can automatically move the mouse pointer on the screen to a default button.

Screen magnification software

Because screen magnification software increases the size of the image displayed on the screen, only a portion of the original screen image can be seen at one time. Normally, the screen magnification will automatically follow the focus of attention, so that the area around the cursor, mouse pointer or highlighted menu item is magnified. Moving the magnified window in order to view other parts of the original screen image is done by using the mouse. Some screen magnification programs now provide supportive speech output as well. The contents of Word documents, menu items and icons are usually spoken using the computer’s sound.

Other features that may be available in a magnification package include:

• Smoothing jagged edges of characters at higher magnifications
• Altering the colour of text, foreground and background
• Changing the size and appearance of the mouse pointer and cursors
• Using different sizes and shapes of magnified windows
• Continuously magnifying a particular area of the screen
• Customising which on-screen events are tracked by the magnified window, and which are not.

Please note that not all of these features may be available in the low cost products that are available on the market.

Incompatibilities can occur between a magnification system and a computer system. For example, the magnification system may be incompatible with your ‘graphics adaptor’ / video card, may not work with the computer’s operating system software, or may not work at the desired screen resolution. It is therefore important to check this with the supplier of the magnification system.

Other screen adaptations

Fresnel lens

Fresnel lenses are plastic sheets that can be placed in front of the computer screen, and offer small levels of magnification. However optical quality is poor compared with the sort of magnifiers commonly used to access print. The same magnifying effect may be achieved simply by moving closer to the computer monitor. It is important to try one out before buying, or agree with the supplier that you can return the item for a refund if it is not suitable.

Available from SW Retail and RNIB.
Approx £100

Anti-glare screen filters

Glare from a computer screen can be prevented by repositioning the screen so light from a window or from an overhead light does not reflect onto the screen. High quality anti-glare filters for computer screens may help, as long as the contrast or the brightness of the screen is not compromised. These are standard office items, but attention should be paid to the type and quality of filter if it is to be used by a partially sighted person.
Approx £45 - £100
Available from Computing Plus

Magnifying the keyboard

People with sight problems usually learn to touch type, which means that they will not have to see the characters on the keyboard in order to use the PC. However when learning your way around the keyboard, you may need some assistance initially.

Keytop stickers / keyboard glove

Keytop stickers are self-adhesive stickers, which can be stuck onto individual keys on the computer keyboard. The lettering on the stickers is large and printed in a bolded typeface with black lettering on a yellow background, white lettering on a black background or black lettering on a white background. Kid Glove is a large print flexible keyboard glove which fits over any make of keyboard and is available in the same colour options as the stickers.
Available from various suppliers including Dolphin Computer Access, RNIB and Keytools
Approx £7.50 to £29.00

Large print keyboards

There are two large print keyboards available. There is a standard size keyboard available with large print on the keys, which is 400% larger letters compared to standard keyboards. The keyboards are available in black letters with white or yellow background and white letters with black background.

BigKeys is a larger than standard keyboard with keys which are four times larger as the keyboard uses up extra space made by removing the keys that aren’t used very often. It is important to check that the keyboard shortcuts for using a particular screen magnification product can be accomplished on this keyboard. It is available as a QWERTY or ABC keyboard and with lowercase or uppercase lettering on the keys. It is available with black text on a white background, or coloured keys with black text.
Available from Keytools and RNIB
Approx £100

Case study - Lola

Lola is a self-employed freelance journalist, writing for local and national newspapers and magazines on a variety of topics including fashion and beauty. She carries out interviews, travelling widely to attend photo shoots and fashion events, liaising with photographers and designers and the editors of the publications which commission her work.

“I use my laptop computer for writing most of the time when I'm out and about, using a word processor with magnification software and a yellow on blue colour scheme which I can see very well. The magnification software also helps me to access the graphics package which I use to create articles and features for publication."

Why choose a large monitor?

A large monitor can be helpful for someone who wants to increase the size of the text on the screen to a fairly low level of magnification and also for those users of screen magnification software. A 17 inch monitor is increasingly becoming a standard size to purchase with a computer as the increased area on the screen provides more space for having multiple application windows open. Someone with a sight problem often finds a 17 inch, 19 inch, 21 inch and above helpful when using screen magnification software as enlarging the text on the computer screen does restrict the amount of viewable area on the screen. By using a larger monitor in conjunction with screen magnification, the viewable area on the screen is effectively increased.

Monitors use different types of technology including Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and Cathode Ray Tube (CRT).

• LCD monitors have less flicker compared with conventional monitors. This can be valuable for some partially sighted people if they find flicker on a conventional monitor unacceptable. LCD screens for use with desktop computers are more expensive than conventional monitors. TFT Flat screens usually give a larger viewing area and suffer less from reflection than curved screens.
• Conventional computer monitors use CRT technology similar to televisions. Conventional screens are heavy and take up more space than LCD monitors.

Monitors vary vastly in price depending on their size and if they are a CRT or LCD monitor. CRT monitors up to 19 inches are available for less than £100 and 19 inch TFT screens are available from about £300 from high street retailers.

What screen magnification software is available?

It is important when buying screen magnification software to try it first to see if it will work with the software that you need to use and to check if it has the features that you want. Suppliers can usually offer a demonstration version for you to try, or if you don’t have a PC at home, you may be able to try it out at a local voluntary IT centre or a suitable equipped library, college or UK Online centre.

Free and low cost screen magnification products

The following products are popular for home use as they are much cheaper than some other magnification software. However, they do not offer the number of features that the more expensive products include.

iZoom

iZoom magnifies from 1.5 to 16 times, change the display colours and has some speech support. It will run on Windows XP and requires lower screen resolutions and colour settings to work.

Free download from Issist

Bigshot

This program has been developed for users who have Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) or minor difficulty in seeing a computer screen. There are 20 levels of magnification from 1.05 – 2 times which will magnify part or the whole screen.
Available from Sight and Sound Technology
Approx £75

Magnus

Magnus magnifies from 2 to 16 times with font smoothing and colour inversion.
Available from various suppliers including Choice Technology
Approx £105

Screen magnification products

Lunar

Lunar can magnify 1.2 to 32 times and incorporates many features including full colour image smoothing, separate adjustment of horizontal and vertical magnification and pre-set or custom colour schemes are included.
Available from many suppliers including Dolphin Computer Access, Humanware and Optelec.
Approx £295

MAGic

MAGic can magnify the screen image from 2 to 16 times. Among the features available is a choice of mouse and cursor shapes and colours, together with customisable colour settings and font and graphic smoothing.
Available from various suppliers including Sight and Sound Technology and Professional Vision Services.
Approx £200 - £270

ProVision32

ProVision32 can magnify 2 to 8 times in increments of one and from 8 to 16 times in increments of two. Includes features such as automatic tracking, automatic scrolling, font smoothing and colour inversion.
Available from Professional Vision Services
Approx £595

ZoomText

ZoomText Magnifier magnifies the screen from 1.25 to 36 times. It incorporates many features including font smoothing, mouse and cursor enhancement and location and special colour settings options and a document reader. Zoomtext Reader/Magnifier has additional speech support.
Available from various suppliers including Sight and Sound Technology, RNIB and Visualeyes.
Approx £310 or Magnifier/Reader £430

Magnification and speech products

All of the following products, except Supernova, provide supportive speech output only. They will not provide the same level of speech support as a screen reader.

DUAL

DUAL is a combination of LookOUT, speech output and Magnus, screen magnification.
Available from Choice Technology

Approx £155

LunarPlus

LunarPlus is an enhanced version of Lunar, with the same magnification facilities but the addition of speech output. The facilities provided include a document reader which allows text in a document, menu or dialog to be spoken.
Available from Dolphin Computer Access
Approx £395

MAGic

MAGic has a speech output facility as well as magnification. Features include a document reader, letter or word typing echo and menu and dialogue boxes spoken. MAGic can be run with the JAWS screen reader to provide magnification and complete speech output.
Available from various suppliers including Sight and Sound Technology and Professional Vision Services.
Approx £205 - £350

ZoomText

ZoomText (Level 2) has a speech output facility as well as magnification. Features include a document reader and word echo.
Available from various suppliers including Sight and Sound Technology, RNIB and Visualeyes.
Approx £310 - £430

Supernova

Supernova combines all the features of Hal screen reading software with all the magnification features of Lunar screen magnification software. This is a full screen reading and magnification package with no features removed.
Available from various suppliers including Dolphin Computer Access, Humanware and Optelec.
Approx £835 - £1195

Where can I buy screen magnification products?

Read our list of suppliers contact details

This information sheet is intended as an introduction to the subject for blind and partially sighted people and their supporters. It is not intended as a complete list of all products and services available, nor should it be inferred that products and services mentioned in this information sheet are recommended or endorsed by RNIB.

Technology Information Service
Email: technology@rnib.org.uk
Web: http://www.rnib.org.uk/technology
Telephone: 0870 013 9555

Information sheet written June 2006

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Content author: technology@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 08/04/2008 18:38