This document is hosted on the Trace R&D Center Web site. Please visit our home page for the latest information about Designing a More Usable World - for All.
Sun Prairie Public Schools
509 Commercial Avenue
Sun Prairie, WI 53590
(608) 837-2541 (Ext. 2157)
email: mjklund@facstaff.wisc.edu
Mark Novak, BSEE, PE
Trace R&D Center
1500 Highland Avenue
Madison, WI 53705-2280
(608) 262-6966
email: info@trace.wisc.edu
A "Tool Box for Computer Access" or the toolkits, as we now call them, were
created to make it easier to find adaptive software and related technology for
individuals who may require it. Using the internet as a dissemination tool,
the toolkits are located at the following URL:
Typing the above address into your web browser (e.g., Netscape Navigator) will take you directly to the Trace R&D Center "Computer Access Program" web page. From there, the Software Toolkits are listed as item #2 and are organized for the various operating systems (e.g., DOS, Macintosh, Windows, Windows 95 and UNIX and Linux).
Most of the software in the toolkits is either freeware or shareware. Freeware is copyrighted software that you can use free of charge. The owner may dictate the terms under which the software can be distributed. However, most freeware authors encourage the wide distribution of their software.
Shareware is copyrighted user-supported software. That is, you can try the software for a specified period after which you must either pay the registration fee or stop using the software. The owner may dictate the terms under which the software can be distributed. Sometimes, registering shareware software may allow you to turn on disabled features or turn off annoying "reminder" type features. Also, registering the software often allows you to get the latest update or version of the software. Most of the shareware prices are very reasonable (e.g., $5.00 - $40.00).
The software toolkits currently contain more than eighty pieces of software and are categorized by their "function". Some of the main functions are Mouse Cursor Enhancers (Visual), Mouse Cursor Enhancers (Physical), Magnification, Abbreviation/Expansion, Word Completion/Prediction, Keyboard Audio Feedback, Voice Output, Voice Input, and On-Screen Keyboards.
The toolkits have software to assist the physically disabled by assisting in using the mouse through holding open menus, making selections with a dwell rather than a click, and using keyboard commands rather than mouse movements. The physically disabled can also use tools to enhance using the keyboard with abbreviation/expansion and word prediction as well as using on-screen keyboards and voice recognition. Those with visual disabilities will find tools to provide screen magnification, to add sound and voice output and to change the size and appearance of the cursor. Those persons with learning and cognitive disabilities can use tools that give keyboard feedback with sounds, talking keys that say each letter that is typed. They can also use text reading programs, abbreviation expansion, and word prediction.
When you find a piece of software on the web page that looks interesting, there should also be a brief description of the software explaining whether it is freeware or shareware. Associated with most of software programs in the toolkits are two "hyperlink" addresses. These addresses are usually underlined or made to appear as "bold font" by your web browser. By selecting the longer address, your web browser should take you to the source of the software, or the latest site at which we were able to locate the software. Or by selecting the shorter hyperlink address, you can download the software to your computer provided your browser is properly configured. The files on the web pages are stored in a compressed format to both save space and download-time. Therefore, once you have received the files, you may have to (again, depends upon your browser) either uncompress or unstuff the files. Once the files are uncompressed or unstuffed, most of them include a "readme" file which explains how to install or operate that particular program.
The next section illustrates a sample of the toolkit outline page as it appears on the web. Following the sample outline, is a sample from different sections of both the Macintosh and Windows toolkit web pages, showing the kind of on-line description associated with each program including the hyperlink addresses. Selecting programs from the toolkit outline page automatically takes you to the toolkit web page, where you can read the description and if interested, download the program.
Mouse Cursor Enhancers (Physical).
Magnification.
Abbreviation / Expansion.
Word Completion / Prediction.
Keyboard Audio Feedback.
Voice Output Applications.
Miscellaneous.
Color Master 1.2.1
ColorMaster is a screen depth switcher and a cursor colorizer. It works on any Mac equipped with at least a 68020. To use ColorMaster, drag it to your System Folder and Restart your Mac.
This works very well to add color to cursors, which can make it easier to see. It will work with Fat Cursors to add color to the enlarged Arrow and I-beam cursors. You must have a Mac with Color QuickDraw. (Shareware, $25.) See http://www.ecnet.net/users/gnorris/place.shtml
Fat Cursors 1.1
Fat Cursors is a System 7-compatible control panel that automatically enlarges the cursor (arrow and I-beam) to make it more visible. The program is especially useful for people with visual impairments and PowerBook users. See http://www2.apple.com/disability/shareware.html
Mouse Cursor Enhancers (Physical)
AutoMenus Pro 3.1.2
This program helps ease menu selections with several options. Menus will stay dropped down after just one click and users can also set options to have items in menus automatically activated after they are highlighted for a specific length of time. There is also a setting that extends the bottom of menus, so that the last items in the list are not accidentally activated. (Shareware, $15.) See http://www.sped.ukans.edu/~dlance/cheap.html
Voice Output Applications
Tex-Edit 2.7
This is a powerful, yet simple text editing program. It is useful for people with learning disabilities, since it will read back what one types in a MacIntalk or PlainTalk voice. The user has the option of having text highlighted by word or by paragraph as it is read. This highlighting feature, along with the ability to set the default voice and change its pitch, rate, and modulation, makes it more powerful than SimpleText. With the high-quality PlainTalk voices, this program transforms the Mac into an augmentative communication device. TypeIt4Me is a great companion to this program. The program can record and play sounds within documents and has color text capabilities. The biggest drawback is that it does not have spell-checking ability. (Shareware, $5.) See http://www.sped.ukans.edu/~dlance/cheap.html
Meta-Mouse 1.5
Meta-Mouse is a program for Microsoft Windows whose purpose is to improve the visibility of the mouse cursor. This is accomplished in several ways: (1) The cursor can be made to blink on and off; (2) the cursor can be made much larger, displaying either a large black arrow with a white border, a large white arrow with a black border, a large inverse-color arrow, or numerous others; (3) the cursor can be made to change its shape dynamically (see the "Ultra-High Visibility" option); and (4) the normally "white" part of the cursor can be changed to one of several other colors, including dynamic color cycling. (Shareware, $18 + S/H.) See http://www.infi.net/~thobbs/sharewar.html
Magnification
lens 2.0
Lens normally magnifies an area of the screen around the mouse pointer. It can alternately try to track the caret (the "text cursor") in text applications, if you enable Track Caret mode, or it can display a magnified fixed area of the screen, if you choose Freeze Location mode. (Shareware, $5.)
Abbreviation/Expansion
Shorthand 3.0
Shorthand is a typing productivity tool designed to work concurrently with a Windows word processor or text editor application. Just as a stenographer uses shorthand symbols to represent longer words or phrases, Shorthand allows you to represent words or phrases with a much shorter abbreviation or keyword. Instead of typing in the word or phrase, you type the shorter keyword and Shorthand will take care of inserting the longer word or phrase into your word processor. Shorthand is not limited to word processors. It works just as well with most Windows dialog boxes. Shorthand can be used to enter names, logins, passwords, and internet addresses directly into terminal windows. (Shareware, $25.) See http://www.sped.ukans.edu/~dlance/windows.html
Windows Alternative Mouse Pointers - Windows NT 4.0 or 95 only
Designed for both laptop and low vision users, the alternative mouse pointers bring back the ever popular and often requested Windows black pointer set (the standard Windows pointers colored black as opposed to white) and the new inverted pointers, in an effort to make the mouse pointer more visible.
The inverted set must be seen to be appreciated: They "invert" over the background. So, if your background is purple, your pointer is green; over a blue background, the pointer turns yellow; over red, cyan. Both styles, black and inverted, come in standard, large, and extra large sizes. See http://www.microsoft.com/kb/softlib/
End of samples...
This resource will only be as good as everyone makes it. If you
regularly use a software package that is freeware or shareware, please
let
us know about it so that we may add it to the software toolkit
collection.
The easiest way to do this is right at the top of each toolkit page. The
first selection at the top of each operating-specific toolkit page is
titled, "Submit Software or Toolkit Feedback". If you select this with
your
web browser, you will be presented with a form which you can fill in and
send (electronic mail) back to us. You can also contact us at the
addresses listed
above or contact the Trace R&D Center directly using
"info@trace.wisc.edu".
Please remember to register your shareware. Supporting the authors helps everyone. Happy web surfing :)
1 The above information was included as part of the 'A
"Tricks and Treats" Tool Box for Computer Access' presentation at the
1996 and 1997 Closing the Gap Conference.
This document is hosted on the Trace R&D Center Web site. Please visit our home page for the latest information about Designing a More Usable World - for All.