These links review the many ways that computers can sense human commands (input) and humans can sense computer actions (output). This includes a wide range of accessibility features for voice recognition for commands and dictation, the computer describing screen actions and reading text outloud, magnifying visual display and improving physical interaction.
This includes keyboard shortcuts in place of mouse input for a wide range of useful features.
XP
Vista
7
The curb cut is perhaps the most visible and concrete example of an accessibility feature. The cut into a sidewalk curb that makes wheel chair access possible also improves access for kids on bicycles, parents with strollers, the soft drink delivery people and so on. The point is that features that benefit those who must work harder with certain types of accessibility issues for vision, hearing and motion have a way of benefiting everyone. Computer operating systems provide a wide range of curb cuts that provides many beneficial options. Most of these features are activated from the system preferences or control panels of computer operating systems. In addition to the Web sites of computer vendors noted below, searching YouTube for these features will reveal many l video clip demonstrations.
A detailed review of accessibility solutions is available on the Apple Web site.
One quick way to introduce the accessibility features is through the screen magnification approaches, of particular use to teachers using projection screens and needing to accent some area of the screen. To use the Mouse, hold down the control key, then use the scroll button on the mouse to magnify areas of the screen. There are 3 major patterns for doing this whose settings can be found and changed by clicking Mouse (version 10.6) or Keyboard and Mouse ( version 10.5) in the System Preferences. To use only the keyboard, hold down the Option and Command keys with one hand and use to other hand to tap the plus sign key (+) or the minus (-) to magnify or shrink the screen display.
A An overview of accessibility solutions and a more detailed view of accessibility solutions is available for both Windows Vista and Windows 7. A separate set of pages reviews Windows XP accessibility options.
One quick way to introduce the accessibility features is through the screen magnification approaches, of particular use to teachers using projection screens and needing to accent some area of the screen. Though the Magnifier application has been around since Windows XP, screen zoom finally was enabled in Windows 7, but not in earlier versions. Hold down the "Windows" key then use the "+" key to zoom in and the "-" key to zoom out. Perhaps the next step will be to incorporate the Mac option of also using the scroll wheel in the mouse to zoom in and out.
Version 1.0 February 15, 2010 | Page author: Houghton