Assistive Technology
What is Assistive Technology?
Assistive Technology refers to the various software and hardware options that assist to address a range of disabilities, such as vision, learning and mobility impairments.
If you require assistive technology for your studies you may be assessed by a Disability Services Officer as being eligible to access the Assistive Technology Labs. These labs provide students with access to assistive software and hardware (including the necessary core programs such as Word and Excel, printing facilities and Internet access). Please contact a Disability Services Officer to discuss your requirements and eligibility.
Note: the Assistive Technology Lab is not available for use as a 'study room' or 'computer lab', and can only be accessed by students who have been assessed as eligible to receive assistive technology.
Software Available
Dragon Naturally Speaking Professional 10
Dragon Naturally Speaking is a voice recognition program useful for students with physical disabilities, learning impairments or anyone who would prefer to enter text by voice rather than using a keyboard. Dragon Naturally Speaking converts speech into text and allows the user to control most of the functions of standard applications (such as Internet Explorer and MS Word) using a set of intuitive voice commands. Training is very simple and you can begin using the program within a matter of minutes. As roaming profiles for Dragon Naturally Speaking are enabled within the lab you will be able to access your settings from any workstation.
Availability: all windows workstations.
Product website: http://www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking/
Key features include:
- Create custom voice commands and macros to automate repetitive tasks
- Dictate into hand-held devices for automatic transcription when you sync with your PC
- Smart Formatting lets you specify how to format dates, measurements, acronyms or any word to meet your requirements
- Launch or switch applications, save or print documents, and more
- Navigate the desktop by Voice using menu commands for all standard Windows-based applications
- Increase your accuracy when completing specific tasks by using optional spelling, numbers, commands only, and dictation only modes
- Control Mouse by Voice: Use multiple methods - including commands like "move mouse upper left" - to work hands-free
- Work on Web by Voice: Search the Web, access information, and navigate web pages by speaking URLs and links
- Multiple Correction Methods. Select and correct a misrecognised word - using voice, mouse, or keyboard - without going into a correction window, and the software will learn from your correction
JAWS 10
Screen reading software for students with low vision or blindness. JAWS uses a speech synthesizer and the computers sound card to read aloud information on the screen. JAWS includes a comprehensive list of keystrokes that gives users access to a wide range information, software applications and the internet.
Availability: all windows workstations.
Product website: http://www.freedomscientific.com/products/fs/jaws-product-page.asp
Kurzweil 3000
Kurzweil 3000 is a tiered, scanning, reading and study skills package that supports users with print disabilities and other learning disabilities such as dyslexia. K3000 employs multi-sensory learning technology to enhance reading comprehension. It includes optical character recognition (OCR) technology for scanning hard copy or electronic documents such as PDF files. Scanned text can be magnified and read aloud via text-to-speech in a variety of natural sounding voices. K3000 features a word processor that can ‘talk-as-you-type’ and a range of study skills tools including a recursive dictionary, a spelling checker, word prediction, phoneme support and annotation capabilities. K3000 is available on workstations with attached scanners.
Availability: scanner attached workstations.
Product website: http://www.kurzweiledu.com/kurz3000.aspx
Key features include:
- Access to any curriculum: The software can access virtually any information, whether printed, electronic, or on the Web
- Increased Reading Fluency: Kurzweil 3000 provides auditory and visual feedback (text to speech) designed to improve reading speed and comprehension
- Study Skills: With its robust study skills tools, Kurzweil 3000 facilitates active reading including: highlighting, text circle tools, annotations, Bookmarks, Voice Notes and Extract in order to create outlines, study guides, or word lists – all things that can improve their reading comprehension and retention
- Decoding Support: Kurzweil reads the words aloud in clear, human-like, synthetic speech, while a patented dual highlighting feature adds visual reinforcement. For students who have difficulty physically accessing curriculum materials, Kurzweil 3000 provides a digital means of engaging with text and can support students who use alternative methods for accessing the computer
- Writing and Self-Editing Tools: As you type, the software speaks each letter or word, so they can quickly recognize and correct spelling mistakes. The 'Check Spelling As You Type' feature underlines misspelled words in red. The audible spell checker and customizable word prediction further assist students with creating and modifying reports, essays and papers without teacher intervention
ZoomText 9 Screen Magnifier and Reader
For students with low vision, ZoomText is an easy to use screen magnification and screen reading program that enlarges the computer display. Students can customise the magnification level and alter the appearance of their display using a variety of flexible settings.
Availability: all workstations.
Product website: http://www.aisquared.com/
Key features include:
- Magnification up to 32x
- Variety of color and focus enhancements
- Screen reading in a variety of customizable, natural sounding voices
- ZoomText's reading tools, including AppReader and DocReader, allow you to create and read documents in the latest releases of Acrobat and Reader
Kurzweil 1000
Kurzweil 1000 is a software package which enables a visually impaired user to gain access to both electronic and printed material by speaking aloud text which has been scanned or copied.
Availability: scanner attached workstations.
Product website: http://www.kurzweiledu.com/kurz1000.aspx
Key features include:
- Study skills tools: Add bookmarks, text notes, and annotations; skim, summarize, and create outlines for your work, and have your documents open to the last position read. Professionals and students find Kurzweil 1000's comprehensive time-saving study tools extremely useful. Access to eighteen bilingual dictionaries
Audible text editor, built-in dictionaries, thesaurus, and spell checker - Online Information Search and Retrieval: Access to information from a variety of sources, including e-books, magazines, encyclopedias, and the Merriam-Webster medical dictionary. Based on your criteria, Kurzweil 1000 will search select Internet repositories such as Bookshare.org, NLS Web Braille, AccessWorld, Talking Newspaper Association of the United Kingdom, NFB Publications, the Columbia Encyclopedia and Wikipedia (in multiple languages), and present you with your download choices. DAISY Format Support
- DAISY support: Kurzweil 1000 opens, reads, edits and saves text-only DAISY files, including original tables, bookmarks, links and notes. You'll also have DAISY Type 2 file support for audible document navigation. Read Files Away From Home and Burn CDs
- Support for various file types: Any file type that you can print through an application installed on your computer can be opened with Kurzweil 1000 (including PDF), which greatly expands your reading choices
MindManager
A mind-mapping program for Windows or Mac that integrates with Microsoft Office programs such as Word, Outlook and Powerpoint.
Availability: all workstations.
Product website: http://www.mindjet.com/products/mindmanager/default.aspx
Key features include:
- Hyperlinks, Attachments & Notes: Include other sources of information from Documents, Folders, Web Content or Maps. When working with Microsoft Office, you can view and edit files directly within MindManager
- Integrated Web Services: Insert dynamic data, images and search results from common Web applications like Google, Yahoo, eBay and more
- Powerful Search: Search through your maps and all attached documents with ease
- Multi-map view and search: Navigate quickly with thumbnail views of linked maps. Search linked maps for key words and information
- Visual elements: Focus your ideas and tasks with a broad selection of icons and text markers. Easily format lines, topics & text to provide more clarity
- Topic sorting: Sort topics by alphanumeric order, alphabetic only, on task completion percentage, or task priority
- Power select/filter: See only the data you need to see by defining your own selection criteria
- Automated Task Management: Automatic summation of task, start dates, end dates and level of completion
- Seamless Microsoft Office Integration
- Embedded Web Browser: View Web pages and PDF documents without leaving your MindManager map
- Review mode: Track, accept, and reject topic changes made by team members or co-workers
- Mindjet Player: Share your maps with everyone in dynamic Adobe PDF or Adobe Flash format. Easily embed Flash maps in websites and blogs
Freemind
A freeware mind-mapping program that runs on any platform.
Availability: all workstations.
Product website: http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
Co:Writer SOLO
Word prediction software that works alongside standard word processors. Includes read-out-loud technology.
Product website: http://www.donjohnston.com/products/cowriter/index.html
Hardware Available
Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)
The SmartView and myReader devices provide high quality customisable document magnification for students with vision impairment. The myReader CCTV can ‘capture’ up to 10 pages for later reading and allows the text to be rearranged onscreen to suit the user’s preferences.
SARA (Scan and Read Appliance)
SARA makes printed documents available to low vision users or the blind using optical character recognition (OCR) technology to scan text and then read it aloud in a variety of voices and languages.
Locations & Access
The Assistive Technology Labs are located on Camperdown Campus at the Fisher Library (Level 4, Room 456 ) and at Cumberland Campus on the ground floor of the Health Sciences Library. Entry to these labs is granted by Disability Services and requires computer and swipe-card authorisation. Computer access is granted by ICT following a request from Disability Services. Swipe-card access is authorised by Security Services after a request from Disability Services. Please contact a Disability Services Officer for more information.
Training
Assistive Technology training and support is provided by the Assistive Technology Team at ICT. After you have been assessed as being eligible to use the assistive technology facilities, a Disability Services officer will send a referral to the assistive technology team who will meet with you to review your technology options and training needs. Tuition is then made available at Camperdown and Cumberland Campus by appointment.
It is anticipated that most students needing to use the JAWS screen reader for their studies will have already received their basic level training before enrolment. Students who are new to screen reading technology may have their tuition handled by an external organisation (such as Vision Australia). University staff can assist students competent in basic level JAWS with additional tuition in accessing electronic resources and the Universities wider information systems.
Contact
For general enquiries regarding the Assistive Technology services at the University, please contact the Assistive Technology Specialist at ICT:
Jason Markou
Assistive Technology Specialist, ICT