Assistive Technology

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Assistive Technology

• Andy McMahon
• IT Disability Support Specialist

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Contents

• What is assistive technology ?
• Who is likely to use assistive technology ?
• Who uses assistive technology at UoD ?
• Types of assistive technology hands on session

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What is Assistive technology ?

• Assistive technology in an
• IT context is hardware or software,
• designed to aide a person who finds operating a
  computer difficult, or even impossible.
• Assistive technology enables individuals to work
  
• more independently.

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Who is likely to use assistive technology ?

• Microsoft Research
• The main goal of this study was to identify the
  number of individuals who could potentially
  benefit from the use of accessible technology.
  The study was designed to identify individuals
  who have physical or cognitive difficulties or
  impairments that restrict their performance of
  daily tasks and determine who could most likely
  benefit from using accessible technology.
• Source http//www.microsoft.com/enable/research/de
  fault.aspx

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Who is likely to use assistive technology(2) ?

• Figure 1 Incidence of Difficulties and
  Likelihood to Benefit from the Use of Accessible
  Technology

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Who uses Assistive technology at UoD ?

• Students
• Staff
• Visitors

Every User group
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Types of assistive technology ?

• Hardware
• Software

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Hardware

• Keyboards
• http//www.keytools-ergonomics.co.uk/keyboards/def
  ault.asp
• Braille Displays
• Mice
• http//www.keytools-ergonomics.co.uk/mice/
• Scanners
• http//www.dabs.co.uk
• CCTV Magnifiers
• http//www.sightandsound.co.uk/pages/cctv.htm

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Software (1) Desktop setting

• Desktop setting Microsoft theme
• User Groups
• Dyslexic Users, reduce vision, reduced motor
  control ,

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Software (2) Read Write

• Language support software Read Write 7
• Read Write is a discreet, integrated solution
  for any users literacy needs, offering
  outstanding literacy support to all.
• It has been designed to help improve reading
  writing skills, with features such as speech
  feedback, phonetic spell checking, word
  prediction homophone support to cover every
  aspect of the learning spectrum.
• User Groups
• Dyslexic Users, Users who first language is not
  English, Tired users, Proof Readers

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Software (3) Mind Genius

• Organisation memory support software
  -MindGenius
• MindGenius makes excellent use of Mind Mapping
  techniques
• User Groups
• Dyslexic Users, Short term memory problems,
  Planning and organisation difficulties, Planner
  Project planners

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Software (4) Voice input

• Voice Input software / Voice recognition software
  
• Enables individuals who can not type to speak to
  the computer to control the PCs functions and to
  produce written work.
• User Groups
• Motor control difficulties , Dyslexic students

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Software (5) Supernova

• Blind and low vision assistive technology. -
  SuperNova
• Magnification, speech, Braille - or all three.
  You choose! The award-winning Supernova gives
  people with a visual impairment the freedom to
  access Windows in the way that suits them best.
• User Groups
• Blind, Low vision, reduce to vision,
  accessibility/usability professionals

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Questions

• ?

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Resources

• Web page will have up to date information
• http//www.dundee.ac.uk/ICS/disability/

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How Can You Contact Me ?

• IT Helpdesk
• E-mail
• Disit_at_dundee.ac.uk, (quickest method)
• a.z.mcmahon_at_dundee.ac.uk
• Telephone
• Call 01382 348787
• web
• http//www.dundee.ac.uk/ICS/disability/