New Horizons Un-Limited Inc.

Guide

Adaptive Technology

Access Technology - A Review of Computer Adaptive Technology

The purpose of this guide is to provide information for people with disabilities who are 18 to 59 years of age, and does not necessarily offer information specifically for the elderly.

New Horizons Un-limited assumes no responsibility in guaranteeing the services, programs or conditions as described. If you are interested in a resource listed below, call or contact the resource to verify the current situation. Evaluate information and make your own decisions when using this review.

Access Technology - A Review of Computer Adaptive Technology

This guide, written by New Horizons Un-Limited staff, reviews computer access solutions by locating and reviewing computer hardware, software and related technologies designed for the specific needs of people with disabilities. Our vision is to bring about awareness within the community of the benefits technologies have to offer them and increase the number of people with disabilities accessing technologies.

The following adaptive computer equipment is used by various computer training centers for people with disabilities.

Trackballs

• System Requirements
  · Windows 95 and up
  · CD-ROM drive (for free MouseWare software installation)
  · USB or PS/2 port
  
  

• System Requirements
  · Supports Logitech mice under Windows 95, 98, NT 4.0, XP, 2000, 98ME, 98SE
  
  
• Note for serial Mouse Users in Windows XP: MouseWare 9.51 does not support serial pointing devices under Windows XP. A Logitech mouse connected to the serial port will function with native drivers, but it will not be displayed in the MouseWare control center and you will not be able to program the buttons
  
  
• Note for C-Series mice users: C-Series mice ar not supported under Windows XP and Windows 2000 when connected to the serial port. C-Series devices can be identified by the following model numbers(M/N), located on the bottom of the device: T-CA1, C7, Ca, CC, and CE. Please note the CA and the CE are combination devices and will function on the PSW/2 port.
  
  
  
  

• System Requirements
  · PC-Windows 98, Me, 2000 or XP with USB port
  · PC-Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, 2000 or XP with PS/2 compatible mouse port
  
  

• System Requirements
  · PC-Windows 98, Me, 2000 or XP with USB port
  · PC-Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, 2000 or XP with PS/2 compatible mouse port
  
  
  

• System Requirements
  · USB port or PS/2 compatible mouse port
  · Require no additional software
  
  

Joysticks

• System Requirements
  · USB port or PS/2 compatible mouse port, will auto-detect to either version dependent on the host computer.
  · Requires no additional software
  
  

Touch screens

• System Requirements
  · Windows 98/95, DOS, NT, Windows 3x, 2k, ME, XP
  · Macintosh and Amiga, Serial, USB
  
  

• System Requirements
  · Windows 98/95, DOS, NT, 2000, ME
  · Macintosh and Amiga, Linux, XP
  · 1 Port Keyboard and Mouse
  · Serial, USB or ADB

Screen Maginifier, Screen Readers

• System Requirements
  · Pentium or higher processor
  · 32 MB memory (64MB for NT, 2000 and XP systems)
  · PC-Windows 95, 98, Me, NT4, 2000 or XP
  
  
  

• System Requirements
  · Pentium or higher processor
  · 32 MB memory (64MB for NT, 2000 and XP systems)
  · PC-Windows 95, 98, Me, NT4, 2000 or XP
  · Windows sound card
  
  

• System Requirements
  · Pentium 200, 16meg, RAM, 20 megs disk space
  · PC-Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000 or XP
  · Not available for Mac/Unix/Palm/Windows CE/Windows 3.1
  · Windows sound card

Head Pointers

• System Requirements:
  · 166MHZ 16M RAM

Speech Recognition Software

Speech Recognition Software Programs are not necessarily used in computer training lab settings as it takes time for the user to learn the program and the program to recognize the individual voice. Training the program to understand nuances in an individual's pronunciation takes too much time in the lab setting. These programs are best used on the personal computer. Speech Recognition Programs often cost more and require larger RAM, faster processors and hard drive space. When using speech recognition programs, get a high quality headset and plug it into the sound card in the back of the computer rather than in the microphone jack on the front.

Conversay Voice Surfer

This speech recognition software can be used for surfing the Internet for Internet Explorer only. Conversay no longer manufactures the program or supports it, however, they are offering what they have to people with disabilities. Contact them for more Conversay works only with Internet Explorer to surf the Internet, using your voice. Conversay cannot write e-mail. You may want to add or have someone you know add several favorite URL’s to your favorites list on your Internet Explorer program before beginning. It is easier to choose from an established list than to voice spell all the letters of a URL. Conversay will number links that are written in html (computer format). It does not read other types of files, so it will not be able to read all the many types of files on the Internet.
The speech engine of Conversay recognizes all words in context and is speaker independent so you will not have to train the engine to recognize your voice. You will need to train yourself on how to use the program and what to say. There is a list of commands that are easily accessed to remind you of what you can say. When spelling a word, there is a list available to spell in military alphabet. If you make a mistake, use the term “backspace” to delete what you said. The initial launch of Internet Explorer and the “on” button for Conversay are not voice commands and will require the use of a mouse or keyboard so you may need assistance to get this software open for use.

• System Requirements
  · Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher(free download available at Microsoft
  · Intel Pentium or Pro 200 MHz processor or higher
  · 32 MB memory (64MB for recommended)
  · 15 MB available disk space
  · Microsoft-Windows 98, Me, and 2000
  · Sound card, speakers, and external microphone
  · CD-Rom drive (required for installation)
  
  
  
  
  

Scan Soft Dragon Naturally Speaking Preferred 8 or 9 by Nuance Communications

Speech recognition software that can be used for dictating, editing, surfing the Internet, creating letters and e-mails, but also can control applications. Dragon is pretty comprehensive, but is limited to Windows application. The application will learn dialog quickly or can analyze your style of writing to learn your speech quickly. Headset with microphone is included. Connect microphone to external microphone port rather than internal. Dragon Naturally Speaking is a popular speech recognition software. For more information contact Nuance Communications, Inc. from the link above.

• System Requirements For Preferred 8
  · Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or higher (free download available at Microsoft
  · Intel Pentium III / 500 MHz processor or higher
  · 256 MB memory (64MB for recommended)
  · 500 MB free hard disk space
  · Microsoft-Windows XP (SPI or higher) Home and Professional, Millennium, 2000 (SP4 or higher)
  · Creative Sound Blaster sound card
  · CD-Rom drive (required for installation)
  · Noise-canceling headset microphone (included)
  · Speakers (required for playback of recorded speech and text-to-speech features)
  · A Web connection for activation
  
  
  
  
  

• System Requirements For Preferred 9
  · Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or higher (free download available at Microsoft
  · Intel Pentium M or 4 / 1GHz processor or higher
  · 512 MB RAM
  · 1 GB free hard disk space
  · Microsoft-Windows XP (SPI or higher) Home and Professional, 2000 (SP4 or higher)
  · Creative Labs Sound Blaster sound card
  · CD-Rom drive (required for installation)
  · Noise-canceling headset microphone (included)
  · Speakers (required for playback of recorded speech and text-to-speech features)
  · A Web connection for activation
  
  
  
  
  

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