SCREEN READERS 

Computer Screen Readers are programs that channel information about what is in focus on the computer screen

(eg an icon, words of text, a menu item) to either a Speech Synthesiser or a Braille Display or both.

Optek Systems can provide and support the Jaws Screen Reader, Virgo, and shortly Cobra from Baum.

Special "scripts" have been written for most of the popular Windows applications to fine-tune the way JAWS provides information in speech or Braille feedback - for example Status Line information in MS WORD, cell references in MS Excel, email programmes and many others.

A great deal of work has gone into making JAWS work exceptionally well with Internet Explorer allowing the Blind user to reformat complex Web pages into a columnar layout that is easier to read, and see a list of Hyperlinks that is easy to navigate.

For more information about JAWS, check out the JAWS website at Freedom Scientific

This allows the Blind computer user to navigate through Folders, Windows, Menus and Dialogue Boxes in a highly structured way, at every stage having "context" information summarised. This means that, for example, in a Dialogue box, the VIRGO user always knows at a glance how many buttons and edit boxes there are, and can step between layers at the touch of a Braille key.

For more information about VIRGO, and Cobra check out the BAUM website
 

Lightning is a Screen Magnifier that enlarges icons text pictures etc., on the computer screen, and now with the combination of magnification and speech, computer users with a vision impairment get the best of both worlds, on a memory stick that can travel with them from computer to computer, home to the Library, from classroom to classroom, and still at a Low Affordable Price!!