Software

REACH Interface Author 3.0 (Price List)

• Downloadable 30 Day Demo (link also leads to some other useful demos)
• Package for building customizable keyboards and other interface elements
• Keyboard restricts what options or letters are available based on what the software "thinks" will be pressed next.  Less options means less decisions to make and lower possibility of accidentally hitting the wrong key.  Predictions are adaptive and based partially on user history.
• Includes some tools for augmented communication
• Comes with many predefined keyboards and tools
• Can be used by anyone who can move a mouse pointer and even has a mode for typing using binary push switches.
• Supports Dwell Mode where buttons that the cursor is over for a long enough period of time are automatically pressed.  This allows users who have difficulties clicking to still use a REACH interface.
• Microsoft Windows also includes a simple on-screen keyboard.

Speaking Dynamically Pro

• Turns any computer into an augmented communication device
• A set of card-like elements called boards are displayed.  Some boards have commonly used words on them like "yes", "no", "hello", etc. Other boards are empty and can be typed into.  Whatever word or phrase is written on a board is spoken by a computer-generated voice if the board is clicked on.
• Supports a scan mode, where boards are traversed hierarchically and selected using only a binary input device.  For example, if there is a set of columns, each containing some boards, the first column will be highlighted initially, and after a short period of time the next column will be highlighted.  All columns are scanned through like this automatically without any kind of user interaction.  If the user clicks at any time during this scanning, the highlighted column at that time is selected and then the boards in the selected column are scanned through similarly.  The user can then click on the board they want spoken when it is highlighted.
• E-triloquist is a similar product that also includes the ability to organize phrases into categories.

Screen Magnifiers

• BigShot Screen Magnifier -- Download Free 30 Day Demo
• Microsoft Windows also includes a simple screen magnifier utility

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Assistive Technology

• These provide a similar function to the screen magnifiers except they're purpose is to magnify real-world objects (like newspapers, for instance).
• The example presented was that of a closed-circuit camera looking at a document on a desk.  On the same desk there is a computer monitor with half the monitor displaying a computer desktop and the other half showing a magnified version of the document being imaged by the camera.
• Read more about CCTV at the Visually Impaired Resource Guide

Voice Recognition

• Enable control of a computer with voice commands.  This includes everything from saying which application you want to open to saying the words you want typed into a word processor.
• Some examples of voice recognition software include:
  • Dragon NaturallySpeaking -- Numerous versions of this product exist for different markets.  The introductory versions are about $60 or less whereas the versions for professionals like lawyers and doctors cost approximately $1000.
  • IBM ViaVoice -- Similar package to NaturallySpeaking but less expensive.  The base price for the high-end version is less than $200 and vocabulary upgrades for medicine and law can be purchases separately for less than $140.

Screen and Text Readers

There are many screen and text readers out there.  Here's a list of a few of them with some comments.

• JAWS (approx. $1000) -- JAWS is the most popular screen reader, despite it's high price.  It supports speech and Braille output.
• Dolphin's Hal ($700) and Supernova ($1000) -- Hal is a screen reader that supports output to speech and Braille.  Supernova combines the features of Hal with screen magnification.  Download timed demos for Hal and Supernova.
• ReadPlease ( FREE!) -- Simple utility that reads text pasted into a window.
• Write:OutLoud (pricing at end of page) -- A word processor that reads everything that is typed.  Besides speaking, Write:OutLoud uses sound cues to convey messages to the user.  For instance, if a word is misspelled, Write:OutLoud will beep after the word is typed.
• IBM Home Page Reader -- A web page reader.
• Microsoft Windows also includes a screen reader.

Scan and Read Software

• Probably the most popular products in this group are the Kurzweil 1000 and 3000 packages.
• The Kurzweil 1000 (approx. $1000) is geared towards people with visual impairments.  It is capable of scanning any kind of document, extracting text from the scans, and reading the text with a human-like voice.  It also has facilities for storing and indexing scanned data for easy search and retrieval, as well as other features like the ability to control voice speed and pitch.
• The Kurzweil 3000 is geared towards people with learning disabilities.  The base version only reads digital documents (approx. $245) and more sophisticated versions also scan documents like the Kurzweil 1000 (approx. $2000 including scanner).  It also includes the ability to mark important concepts in the text, create outlines and build customized tests for students with learning difficulties.  The Kurzweil 3000 software can also be bought in an educational bundle which contains nine copies of the read only version and one copy of the read/scan version for a price of approximately $3000.
• The scan and read version of the Kurzweil 3000 is also likely to be useful for people with visual impairments (although the Kurzweil Educational Systems website specifically advertises it as a product for people with learning disabilities).
• Download trial versions of the Kurzweil 1000 (windows only) and the Kurzweil 3000 (Windows, Macintosh)

Sign Language Tools

• iCommunicator (approx.$3500 - $4000, includes wireless microphones) -- iCommunicator converts spoken words into text using the Dragon NaturallySpeaking engine and then converts this text into sign language that is displayed to the user.  It can also directly convert text to sign language.
• SigningAvatar.com SigningAvatar is a technology for generating animated 3D human-like characters that sign text. The avatars visually express emotion as they sign and therefore connect well with users. Signing Avatar has been incorporated into educational products like Reading Power, a product designed to combat English literacy deficiencies among people who are deaf.  This is needed because American Sign Language (ASL) is in fact a different language from spoken English (not the same language expressed in a different way), and therefore it can be difficult for some people who are deaf to learn to read and write in English.

Big Cursors, Icons, etc.

• Images above from Rabe's Big Cursors
• Particularly useful for the visually impaired.
• Makes it a lot easier to find the cursor or icons.  On the other hand, it can be difficult to select smaller icons when the cursor is so large.  Also, large cursors are more likely to cover smaller icons or buttons that are useful to the user.
• In most cases these are either options that can be enabled in your operating system or freely available, downloadable add-ons.