Discussion Topic
Windows 7 & Accessibility
Posted on 10/26/09, 08:42 am
If any of you are considering a new computer with Windows 7 you maybe interested in hearing what the basic built in accessibility functions are and if they have improved from Windows XP and Vista Editions.
In Windows 7 they have worked on enhancing the On-screen Keyboard and the Magnifier.
The On-screen Keyboard has been improved in the following areas:
• Improvements in the look and feel
• Keyboard is now resizeable
• For Tablet PC users the On-screen keyboard is accessible via proper touchscreen technology (on compatible machines) so you can press directly on keyboard with fingers.
• For regular laptop/desktop PC the on-screen keyboard is also compatible with scanning programs for switch users, it also allows you to hover over keys without selecting immediately, to give people with disabilities more time to line cursor up on right key
• Both versions include basic text prediction to help people enter words more quickly. (type first few letters and it will finish it for you).
Windows Touch
When you use Windows 7 with a touch-screen PC, you can access everything on the screen with your fingers. This might work for some people but note if you are a one finger typist etc, some actions require multi-touch gestures.
For example to zoom in place 2 fingers on screen and spread them apart (as if opening scissors).
To right click a file touch it with one finger whilst tapping the screen with a second finger.
Windows Touch features will only be available in Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate editions of Windows 7.
To see a Demo of Windows Touch click below:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us...
(you may need to install plug-ins to view video)
The Magnifier feature has been improved in the following areas:
• Full-screen and Lens Mode
• Full-screen increases the size of everything on the screen at once - As you move the mouse or keyboard focus around the middle of the screen, the view stays still then if you move towards the edge, the Magnifier scrolls the view to keep up
• Lens mode allows you to zoom in on just one particular thing – the lens centers on the mouse pointer allowing you to use it like a virtual magnifying glass
• The lens is resizeable so you can make it as wide as the document but short allowing you to magnify one line at a time as you read.
It also features a Narrator which can read on-screen text to you and describe some events (like error messages). With Audio Description you can hear a narration of what is happening in a video.
Windows 7 also features an improved version of Speech Recognition that works with more programs. Instead of using the keyboard you can tell your computer what to do. Start an e-mail by speaking the recipients name, surf the web or dictate your documents. It doesnt mention anywhere how clear your speech has to be for it to be able to recognise it, so this may not be any help for Ataxians whose speech is more badly affected.
It also features the standard accessibility features such as Mouse keys, sticky keys, filter keys, visible alerts on-screen etc.
For more detailed information click below:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us...
They appear to trying to make the standard computer a little more accessible and for people with milder difficulties it may offer you more help without having to buy extra specialized programs that may cost a few hundred pounds.
In Windows 7 they have worked on enhancing the On-screen Keyboard and the Magnifier.
The On-screen Keyboard has been improved in the following areas:
• Improvements in the look and feel
• Keyboard is now resizeable
• For Tablet PC users the On-screen keyboard is accessible via proper touchscreen technology (on compatible machines) so you can press directly on keyboard with fingers.
• For regular laptop/desktop PC the on-screen keyboard is also compatible with scanning programs for switch users, it also allows you to hover over keys without selecting immediately, to give people with disabilities more time to line cursor up on right key
• Both versions include basic text prediction to help people enter words more quickly. (type first few letters and it will finish it for you).
Windows Touch
When you use Windows 7 with a touch-screen PC, you can access everything on the screen with your fingers. This might work for some people but note if you are a one finger typist etc, some actions require multi-touch gestures.
For example to zoom in place 2 fingers on screen and spread them apart (as if opening scissors).
To right click a file touch it with one finger whilst tapping the screen with a second finger.
Windows Touch features will only be available in Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate editions of Windows 7.
To see a Demo of Windows Touch click below:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us...
(you may need to install plug-ins to view video)
The Magnifier feature has been improved in the following areas:
• Full-screen and Lens Mode
• Full-screen increases the size of everything on the screen at once - As you move the mouse or keyboard focus around the middle of the screen, the view stays still then if you move towards the edge, the Magnifier scrolls the view to keep up
• Lens mode allows you to zoom in on just one particular thing – the lens centers on the mouse pointer allowing you to use it like a virtual magnifying glass
• The lens is resizeable so you can make it as wide as the document but short allowing you to magnify one line at a time as you read.
It also features a Narrator which can read on-screen text to you and describe some events (like error messages). With Audio Description you can hear a narration of what is happening in a video.
Windows 7 also features an improved version of Speech Recognition that works with more programs. Instead of using the keyboard you can tell your computer what to do. Start an e-mail by speaking the recipients name, surf the web or dictate your documents. It doesnt mention anywhere how clear your speech has to be for it to be able to recognise it, so this may not be any help for Ataxians whose speech is more badly affected.
It also features the standard accessibility features such as Mouse keys, sticky keys, filter keys, visible alerts on-screen etc.
For more detailed information click below:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us...
They appear to trying to make the standard computer a little more accessible and for people with milder difficulties it may offer you more help without having to buy extra specialized programs that may cost a few hundred pounds.
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Reply #1 10/26/09 8:45am
just ignore the a?c bits it cos the original document had bullet points and it does it also with some punctuation marks
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For People who have severe speech difficulties and use AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) such as signing, symbol books, or Electronic devices such as Lightwriters, Dynavox etc.
