Technology has played a huge role in the life of persons living with visual impairment, today, especially in Nigeria persons with visual impairment can live an independent life with the help of assistive technology which is now available to them. Some of these assistive technology helps the individual in reading, writing and performing other day to day activities. Here we will be looking at some of the assistive technology briefly.
1. Screen Readers:
- Screen readers are software applications that allow blind or visually impaired users to read the text that is displayed on the computer screen with a speech synthesizer or braille display.
Example of this screen reader is
JAWS it means Job Access With Speech, this screen reader is produce by freedom scientific.
NVDA it means Non Visual Desktop Access and was produced by Michael curran in 2006.
2. Screen Magnification:
Screen magnification software allows users to enlarge text and images on the computer screen. This is very helpful especially to persons with low vision.
3. Refreshable Braille Displays:
Refreshable Braille displays are devices that allow blind users to read text through a series of raised dots. this is one of independent way a blind can read without needing any assistance from anybody.
4.Voice Recognition Software:
Voice recognition software allows blind users to control their computers using speech commands.
5. Optical Character Recognition:
Optical character recognition (OCR) software can scan printed document and convert them into a digital format that can be read by a screen reader. Example of the OCR are OPEN BOOK AND ABBYY FINE READER.
6. Braille Notetakers:
Braille notetakers are portable devices that allow blind users to take notes, read and write emails, and keep track of appointments.
7. Electronic Magnifiers:
Electronic magnifiers are devices that allow users to magnify text and images on the computer screen. It also help the user view images and read books, this is very helpful to persons with low vision.
8. Audio Books:
Audio books are digital versions of printed books that can be listened to through a computer or special audio player. This audio books are very important to students, their text books and note books can easily be convertered into an audio book.
9. Text-To-Speech Software:
Text-to-speech software converts text into spoken words, allowing blind users to listen to the content of a document. This mostly help the blind especially in phone operation.example: speech services by google.
10. Talking Calculators:
Talking calculators are devices that allow blind users to perform mathematical calculations by speaking commands into a microphone . this device helps the blind to do simple mathematical calculations.