Accessibility Products for Microsoft Windows, Windows NT, and Windows 95

From:

Optelec U.S. Inc., P.O. Box 729, 6 Lyberty Way, Westford, MA 01886

Fax:

508-692-6073

System:

Windows 95, Windows 3.x

Demo:

Downloadable from their Web site or available free by mail.

From:

Dolphin Computer Access Limited, P.O. Box 83, Worcester WR3 8TU England

Fax:

+44-1905-754559

Internet:

https://www.dolphinaccess.com

Price:

Two models: $465 Windows 95; $360 SVGA Windows 3.x

Notes:

Supports up to 16x magnification in SVGA & Windows 95. All features are accessible from the Control Panel or via hot keys. It intelligently "tracks" and magnifies dialog boxes, Windows controls, menus, highlight bars, pointers, and cursors. Available in both versions: Split Screen Mode magnifies anything from a single line to the whole screen; Line View Mode reviews the screen as a single scrolling line; customization of color schemes, mouse pointers and cursors. Available in Windows 95 version only: font smoothing in any True Type font. Windows NT version available summer 1998, price $845.

Product:

MAGic and MAGic NT

Phone:

800-336-5658 or 813-803-8000

Internet:

https://www.hj.com

Email:

info@hj.com

Price:

MAGic: $349; MAGic for Windows NT: $995.00

Notes:

Screen magnification software for MS-DOS, Windows, and Windows NT. MAGic magnifies up to 20x in Windows (12x MS-DOS). Supports SVGA, 256 color display resolutions. Additional features include smooth panning, color contrast, attribute tracking, hot key remapping and advanced settings.

Product:

MagniPORT

Phone:

800-828-2600 or 508-879-9000

BBS:

508-875-8009

Internet:

https://www.handiware.com

Price:

$19

Notes:

Pop-up screen magnification window. Enlarges screen image up to 10x in Windows and Windows NT. Tracks mouse movements. Supports all display resolutions.

Product:

MAGNUM 95

Phone:

248-588-7370

Email:

Info@artictech.com

System:

Windows 95

Demo:

Free demo version downloadable from Web site or by mail.

From:

Artic Technologies, 55 Park St., Troy, MI 48083

Fax:

248-588-2650

Internet:

https:// www.artictech.com

Price:

$395

Notes:

Up to 32x magnification, full color, and graphics support. Designed to work interactively with Artic's screen access software, WinVision.

Product:

9FX Series and Imagine 128

Phone:

617-674-0009

Cost:

$149 to $1499

From:

Syntha-voice Computers Inc., 304 - 800 Queenston Rd.,
Stoney Creek, ON L8G 1A7 Canada

905-662-0565 (General Inquiries, Main Number)

BBS:

905-662-0569

Email:

help@synthavoice.on.ca

Price:

Panorama: $495; Powerama: $695

Notes:

PANORAMA allows typing, editing, and navigation of the cursor or mouse to be automatically tracked in user-definable large print. POWERAMA additionally allows these same functions to be spoken through any of 40 speech synthesizers. Both models magnify MS-DOS text up to 12x, graphics up to 16x. No magnification limitation in Windows. Smooth scrolling; character smoothing. Designed for IBM 80-386 based systems or better, with MS-DOS 3.3 or later. Originally released July 1992; current version is 1.32.

Product:

ProVision32

Phone:

604-984-4099

Email:

Compuserve 72604,367 or 72604.367@compuserve.com

System:

Windows NT 3.51/4.0

Demo:

Available for $25, mailing and handling included. (Express extra.)

From:

IMG Inc., 21550 Oxnard St., Suite 300, Woodland Hills, CA 91367

Fax:

818-346-3973

Email:

Info@imgpresents.com

Price:

$29.95

Notes:

Provides adjustable 2x - 10x area magnification in any Windows environment. It requires no special hardware or enlarged fonts and works with all text and graphics applications. Multiple magnifier configurations are supported. Also includes "cursor locator" crosshair settings for users who have difficulty locating or tracking the cursor on the screen. The Magnifier works with any pointing device.

Product:

Super Vista and Vista PCI

Phone:

800-804-8004 or 408-616-8700

Internet:

https://www.telesensory.com

Price:

$2495 for either

From:

Ai Squared, P.O. Box 669, Manchester Center, VT 05255-0669

Fax:

802-362-1670

Internet:

https://www.aisquared.com

Price:

ZoomText Xtra Level 1 (screen magnification only): $395
ZoomText Xtra Level 2 (screen magnification & screen reading): $595
ZoomText for DOS $395 ($200 with purchase of ZoomText Xtra)

Notes:

ZoomText Xtra is a family of low-vision software that features a fully integrated screen magnifier and screen reader, along with a specialized module for document reading. Magnifies from 1x to 16x in full- and partial-screen zoom windows, with advanced edge-smoothing, color filtering and cursor enhancements. Speaks all Windows components, echoes typing and reads multi-page documents. Intelligent tracking of all screen activity including support for Microsoft Active Accessibility™. Supports 16, 256 and high color display drivers and any resolution. Integrated text-to-speech works with any Windows 95 sound card. Also supports all SSIL synthesizers. ZoomText for DOS magnifies from 2x to 16x in full- and partial-screen zoom windows. Three smooth fonts, 16 selectable colors, advanced tracking, smooth panning and pop-up menus. Supports 80 column text and standard VGA graphics display modes.

From:

MicroTalk, 721 Olive St., Texarkana, TX 75501

Fax:

903-792-4150

Internet:

https://www.screenaccess.com

Language:

English

Demo:

A free demo copy is available via their BBS or Web site.

From:

Frank Audiodata, P.O. Box 1161, Kriegsstr. 13-15, D-68790 Oberhausen-Rhsn.

Fax:

+49-721-5579

Internet:

https://www.audiodata.de

Language:

Many languages available

Notes:

Blindows Professional, is an extension to the Audiodata Speech and Braille output systems for Microsoft Windows 3.11 applications. Blindows takes the extreme complexity of graphical relationships in the Windows environment and makes them clear even for blind users through clearly structured presentation using (optional combinations of) speech, sound, and Braille. The user maintains a clear of idea of the two-dimensional structure of the screen, by using the acoustic cues and intuitive feedback provided by the TASO system. A tactile renditions of text information via the Braille display can be augmented by listening to a synthetic-speech translation. An optional simultaneous enlarged-character text and graphics display is also integrated. As a sighted user can access programs through overlapping windows, Blindows provides blind users access two ways: in work mode, Blindows provides access within the limits of the currently open windows, eliminating confusing information from other applications; in heuristic mode, it allows the user to roam across all open windows, providing a direct impression of all activities.

Product:

DRACULAwin, DRACULAnet and DRACULAvox

Phone:

+33-01-53-72-85-00

Email:

Boutique@eurobraille.fr

System:

Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows NT 5.0

Price:

DRACULAwin / DRACULAnet 95 = $1290; DRACULAvox: $790.00

From:

Dolphin Computer Access Limited, P.O. Box 83, Worcester WR3 8TU England

Fax:

+44-1905-754559

Internet:

https://www.dolphinaccess.com

Price:

Windows 95 version: $465; Windows NT version: $845

Notes:

Uses Dolphin's own off-screen model. Hal's "Layout Analyzer" automatically associates any text label/description with its appropriate control in dialog boxes, so it doesn't need complex configuration files for each Windows application. Hal for Windows 95 works with any speech synthesizer which has SSIL (Speech Synthesizer Interface Library) or SAM (Synthesizer Access Manager) support. Hal for Windows NT supports any Dolphin serial synthesizer. Easy adjustment of speech settings using a simple control panel. Interactive Navigation Mode. Version 2 now available includes object labeling, support for Microsoft Office 97 and Internet Explorer 4, document read facility, and supplementary Braille display support for the Alva Delphi and Tieman Combibraille. Support for the Telesensory PowerBraille and others will be implemented during Spring/Summer 1998.

Product:

JAWS for Windows (JFW)

Phone:

800-336-5658 or 813-803-8000

Internet:

https://www.hj.com

Email:

info@hj.com

Language:

Many languages available (worldwide distribution)

Demo:

JFW Timed Evaluation (60 days) with all materials: $39.95.

From:

ALVA Access Group, 5801 Christie Ave., Ste. 475, Emeryville, CA 94608

TTY:

510-923-6286

Email:

osw@aagi.com

System:

Windows 3.x, Windows 95

Demo:

Available free by downloading from Web site, or request from dealers or via email.

From:

Biolink Computer R&D Ltd., Suite 305, 140 W. 15th St.,
North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 1R6, Canada

Fax:

604-985-8493

Internet:

https://biz.bctel.net/biolink

Language:

English, Dutch, French, German, Spanish, Polish and Swedish.

Demo:

Windows 95 version available via download from Web site; Windows NT version available for $25, mailing and handling included. (Express extra)

From:

IBM (Special Needs Systems Department)

TTY:

800-426-4833

Internet:

https://www.austin.ibm.com/pspinfo/snshome/html

Price:

$600 software only; $700 with external keypad

From:

Telesensory Corp., 520 Almanor Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086-3533

Fax:

408-616-8753

Email:

info@telesensory.com

System:

Windows 95, Windows 3.x

Demo:

Available free by mail.

From:

Syntha-voice Computers Inc., 304 - 800 Queenston Rd.,
Stoney Creek, ON L8G 1A7 Canada

905-662-0565 (General Inquiries, Main Number)

BBS:

905-662-0569

Email:

help@synthavoice.on.ca

Price:

$695

Notes:

Screen review program for the blind or deaf-blind. Works on all of the above operating systems with a single set of commands. Supports more than 40 speech synthesizers and more than 20 models of Braille displays. Designed for IBM 80-386 based systems or better, with MS-DOS 3.3 or later. Compatible with VGA video cards or better. System must have 4 MB of RAM, minimum. Requires Sound Blaster with TEXT ASSIST, hardware speech synthesizer, or Braille display. Originally released July 1992; current version is 2.41. Windows 95 version supports Microsoft Active Accessibility™.

Product:

VIRGO 2

Phone:

+49 6223 49090

Internet:

https://www.baum.de

System:

Windows 95, Windows 3.x

Price:

DM 4,750.-

Notes:

The VIRGO screen review software provides a user-defined, either hierarchical-logical or topological (screen oriented) access to Windows. Compatible with PC-based Braille lines via the optional VIRGO-Link package, and supporting SSIL speech output. User friendly package includes information lines, path function, synchronization of speech output, support of Drag & Drop, sorting options, and bookmarkers. Content of Braille display can be shown on the screen, for cooperation with sighted users. Supports most graphic adapters/resolutions (VGA, SVGA, Hires). Under Windows 95 it offers extended functionality such as an interactive user configuration and improved user friendliness through optimal multimedia capabilities. It is 16- and 32-bit compatible, supports MS-SAPI, and uses Visual Basic and VB for Applications as its macro languages. Data interchange through DDE and OLE Automation; all applications supporting macro and OLE Automation can be made VIRGO aware.

Product:

VISIOBRAILLE

Phone:

+33 1 44 70 32 00

Email:

handialog@handialog.com

From:

Medialog, 12th St., DIAB Building (Olivetti), MKALLES, Lebanon

Fax:

+961 1 282 499

System:

Windows 95, Windows 3.1x; Windows NT 4.0 available first quarter 1998

Price:

$1200 (Windows 3.1x, Windows 95); $1800 (Windows NT)

Notes:

A screenreader with optional speech synthesis (English & French). Supports Visiobraille terminal and most popular OEM Braille terminals. Standard PC keyboard with customization utility and online Help.

Product:

Visions FWD (Visions for Windows & DOS)

Phone:

248-588-7370

Email:

Info@artictech.com

System:

Windows 95 and MS-DOS

Demo:

Free 30-day demo version (call or request from Web site).

From:

F.H. Papenmeier GmbH & Co. KG, Reha Div., P.O. Box 16 20, D-58211 Schwerte, Germany

Fax:

+49-2304-946-246

System:

Windows 3.x; a Windows 95 version to be released mid 1996

Demo:

Demo is available free of charge.

From:

GW Micro, Inc., 725 Airport North Office Park, Fort Wayne, IN 46825

Fax:

(219) 489-2608

BBS:

(219) 489-5281

Email:

support@gwmicro.com

Price:

$595

Notes:

Window-Eyes is a flexible and configurable Windows-based screen reader. The design philosophies of the Vocal-Eyes screen reader for MS-DOS have been integrated as a base for Window-Eyes, and Vocal-Eyes users will appreciate the consistent user interface. Window-Eyes supports many speech synthesizers and is compatible with a variety of MS-DOS-based screen readers. It does not require any special screen or keyboard device driver. Windows 95 version supports Microsoft Active Accessibility™.

Product:

Windows Master

Phone:

410-893-9333

Price:

$495

Notes:

Allows you to control the PC using your personal digital assistant products from Blazie Engineering. Works with Braille Lite for speech and Braille access, or Braille 'n' Speak or Type 'n' Speak for voice access.

Product:

WINKLiNE

Phone:

508-226-0447

System:

Windows; Windows 95

Demo:

Available for $5 or downloadable from their Web site and many information systems.

From:

Artic Technologies, 55 Park St., Troy, MI 48083

Fax:

248-588-5260

Internet:

https://www.artictech.com

Price:

$595

Notes:

Provides Windows 95 access via a wide variety of speech synthesizers and/or refreshable Braille displays. Easy, intuitive, use right out of the box–no need for customization or macros. Extensive interaction built in for Microsoft Office 97, full support for Microsoft Active Accessibility™, Web-Pilot for Internet Explorer 3.0 & 4.01 provides true Internet access. Comes with full documentation and cassette tapes.

From:

OMS Development, 610-B Forest Ave., Wilmette, IL 60091

Fax:

847-251-5793

Price:

$120

Notes:

Eek! can be used in click mode and can be customized for specific applications.

Product:

HandiKEY and HandiKey Deluxe

Phone:

800-828-2600 or 508-879-9000

BBS:

508-875-8009

Internet:

https://www.handiware.com

Price:

HandiKEY $395.00; HandiKEY Deluxe $495.00

Notes:

On-screen keyboard which also includes word prediction, sticky keys and text to speech output. HandiKEY can be used in direct select mode with a mouse, joystick or trackball or in manual or automatic scanning mode. Also supports three or five switch interface. The Deluxe version includes HandiCHAT augmentative communication software.

Product:

Mouse Keys

Phone:

510-656-0911

System:

Windows 3.x; Windows 95 version is under development

Price:

$395

From:

IMG Inc., 21550 Oxnard St., Suite 300, Woodland Hills, CA 91367

Fax:

818-346-3973

Email:

Info@imgpresents.com

Price:

$99.95

Notes:

Onscreen virtual keyboards with word prediction, My-T-Soft AT is an advanced version of My-T-Mouse, optimized for the Assistive Technology user. It features 25 U.S. and International onscreen keyboards, programmable macro buttons and panels (for keystroke and text macros), integral word prediction (both alphabetically and by most often used) with editable dictionary, voice key feedback, show and hide keys, keypress dwell timer, and pop-up calculator, all in 12 selectable sizes. My-T-Soft AT works with any pointing device: mouse, pen, glidepad, touchscreen, trackball, headmouse, or IR/wireless.

Product:

SAW (Switch Access to Windows 3)

Phone:

+44-18865 63508

Email:

Acecent@dircon.co.uk

Price:

$150 (Runtime) $500 (Designer)

Notes:

Provides access to Windows using switch, mouse, trackerball and optical pointers through on-screen "selection sets," grids of icons, letters or words which, when selected, carry out a full range of internal or external commands. Pre-designed selection sets for some popular applications are available, along with sets for CD-ROMs and text accelerators. A version for Windows 95 will be available in December 1996.

Product:

ScreenDoors II

Phone:

800-661-8406 or 403 450-8926

Email:

Davidh@madenta.com

System:

Windows 3.x, Windows 95 and NT

Language:

Supports every Windows language except Japanese

Notes:

ScreenDoors II is a powerful on-screen keyboard and word prediction program. It allows users using alternative mice or switch to have full functional keyboard access to Windows. Features include next word prediction, customizable dictionaries, resizable keyboard, and custom color combinations, built in dwell selection and scanning. 16 and 32 bit versions.

Product:

SofType

Phone:

972-606-8740

Email:

sales@orin.com

System:

Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0

Demo:

Downloadable from Web site or call to request a floppy

From:

Prentke Romich Company, 1022 Heyl Rd., Wooster, OH 44691

Fax:

330-263-4829

Internet:

https://www.prentrom.com

Language:

Shipping product includes 18 international keyboards

Notes:

Compatible with all Windows 3.1 and 16-bit Windows 95 applications, WiViK2REP works in either click or dwell mode. An on-screen keyboard with word completion and word prediction, the latter can be extended from any text file. Totally configurable, including buttons for macros, and works with non-Windows-based applications when displayed in a window. Displays up to 400 keys per page, up to 50 pages of keys (limited by memory), and any key can have up to 750 key-strokes. Macro language is very similar to WordBasic. WiViK2 Scan is designed for people who can only access a switch. Text entry and mouse operation can be achieved using up to five switches; a variety of scanning methods are supported. WiViK2 Rep features are included.

From:

Dragon Systems®, Inc., 320 Nevada St., Newton, MA 02160

Fax:

617-527-0372

Internet:

https://www.dragonsys.com

System:

Windows 95, Windows NT, Windows 3.1x

Price:

$99 and higher for different configurations

Notes:

DragonDictate for Windows is a large-vocabulary dictation system that lets one use most Windows-based applications entirely by voice. Compatible with many popular multimedia sound cards, end-users can control the mouse, dictate text and enter data, and navigate quickly within Windows commands and controls without touching the keyboard. DragonDictate for Windows quickly adapts to the user's voice, vocabulary, and environment to achieve an accuracy rate of over 95%. A high-quality, noise-canceling microphone is included.

Product:

IBM VoiceType Application Factory

Phone:

800-TALK2ME for information; 800-342-6672 to order

Notes:

A high-accuracy speech recognition toolkit. It is a command-and-control utility supporting up to 1,000-word vocabulary. Comes with microphone and uses a SoundBlaster-compatible adaptor. Can be used on a laptop.

Product:

IBM VoiceType Dictation for Windows

Phone:

800-TALK2ME for information; 800-342-6672 to order

Price:

$999; $1,099 if for laptop; 30-day money-back guarantee if purchased directly from IBM

From:

Command Corp. Inc., 3761 Venture Dr., Duluth, GA 30136

Fax:

770-813-0113

BBS:

URL: https://www.comandcorp.com/incube _welcome.html

Demo:

Downloadable from their Web site. This is a locked version of the actual program, which can be unlocked into the full version by calling Command Corp. and paying for In Cube.

From:

Kurzweil Applied Intelligence, Inc., 411 Waverly Oaks Rd., Waltham, MA 02154

Fax:

617-893-6525

Internet:

https://www.kurz-ai.com -ai.com

Price:

$695

From:

Verbex Voice Systems, Inc., 275 Raritan Center Parkway, Edison, NJ 08837

Fax:

732-225-7764

Language:

English; Japanese and German versions also available.

Notes:

Verbex provides speaker-independent, continuous speech recognition solutions for Windows users. Listen 3.0 for Windows isn't intended for dictation applications, but allows users to navigate, command and control Windows applications with normal conversational speech. No training is needed for most North American voices. It comes with robust speech interfaces for over 30 of the most popular Windows applications and automatically generates speech interfaces for virtually any other Windows app. User-friendly Command Editor allows easy customization of voice commands.

Product:

VoiceServer for Windows

Phone:

+44-171-454 1224

Email:

100113.2672@compuserve.com

Price:

£249

From:

Cylogic, 348 W. Olympic Place, Suite 9., Seattle, WA 98119

Fax:

206-282-2616

System:

Windows 3.x; a Windows 95 version is planned that won't be dependent on Windows Sound System; Sound System is no longer available from Microsoft

Demo:

Available free by mail; assumes user has Windows Sound System

From:

Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6393

BBS:

425-936-6735

TTY:

800-892-5234

Price:

Available at no charge by mail; download from our Web site or other download services.

From:

Aurora Systems, Inc., Box 43005, 4739 Willingdon Ave., Burnaby, B.C., V5G-3H0, Canada

Fax:

604-291-6310

Internet:

https://www.djtech.com/aurora

Price:

$195-$490; $195 upgrade from Aurora for MS-DOS

Notes:

Word prediction with 100,000+ word vocabulary, grammatical rules and spelling assistance for augmentative communication and learning disabilities. Now includes Aurora Realvoice speech output on most Windows supported sound cards. Aurora Talk makes conversation easy. Aurora Echo makes any Windows word processor a Talking Word Processor. Can be used with a single finger or headstick with included keyboard and mouse controls. One minor feature does not work under Windows 95.

Product:

Dvorak Keyboard Layouts

Phone:

800-426-9400 (Microsoft Sales Information Center)

TTY:

800-892-5234

System:

Windows 95, Windows NT 3.5, Windows 3.x (Already included with Windows NT 3.51 and later.)

Notes:

Microsoft distributes three Dvorak keyboard layouts that make the most frequently typed characters on a keyboard more accessible to people who have difficulty using the standard "QWERTY" layout. No special equipment is needed in order to use these features. A layout for people who type with two hands is included with each operating system; consult the online help about keyboard layouts for installation instructions. Two additional layouts for people who type with only one hand are distributed as Microsoft Application Note GA0650 and available as a file called GA0650.EXE on many download services.

Product:

HandiWORD and HandiWORD International

Phone:

800-828-2600 or 508-879-9000

BBS:

508-875-8009

Internet:

https://www.handiware.com

Language:

International version supplies foreign language dictionaries

Demo:

Via Internet (FTP), BBS, or Mail

From:

Microsystems Software, Inc., 600 Worcester Rd., Framingham, MA 01701

Fax:

508-879-1069

Email:

hware@microsys.com

System:

Windows 3.x, Windows 95, MS-DOS

Notes

Sticky key utility. Allows serial depression of Control, Shift, and Alt keys. Adjusts key repeat rate. Includes SeeBEEP visual beep utility.

Product:

IntelliTalk for Windows

Phone:

415-382-5959

Email:

info@intellitools.com

System:

Windows 3.x, Windows 95

Demo:

Available. 60-day money-back guarantee.

From:

Prentke Romich Company, 1022 Heyl Rd., Wooster, OH 44691

Fax:

330-263-4829

Internet:

https://www.prentrom.com

Price:

$250

From:

Madenta, Inc., 3022 Calgary Trail South, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6J 6V4

Fax:

403-988-6182

Internet:

https://www.madenta.com

Price:

$295

Demo:

Phone or email for demo version. Also available for download at https://www.madenta.com.

From:

Dolphin Computer Access Limited, P.O. Box 83, Worcester WR3 8TU England

Fax:

+44-1905-754559

Internet:

https://www.dolphinaccess.com

Price:

$635

From:

Origin Instruments Corp., 854 Greenview Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75050

Fax:

972-606-8741

Internet:

https://www.orin.com

Price:

$95.00

Notes:

Utility for generating mouse click functions throughout the Windows environment using "dwell" (AutoClick™) selection techniques. Right single clicks, double clicks, and drag operations are all possible. Pausing and restarting the AutoClick™ feature is accomplished by dwelling on an on/off button.

Product:

HandiPHONE

Phone:

800-828-2600 or 508-879-9000

BBS:

508-875-8009

Internet

https://www.handiware.com

Price:

Windows 3.x/Windows 95: $295; MS-DOS: $595

Notes:

Hands-free access to the telephone. PopDIAL software stores up to 10,000 names / 30,000 phone numbers allowing the user to dial out, receive calls, and access voice mail systems, paging, call transfer, call waiting, and other popular services. Complete system includes a specially-modified modem, a hands-free speakerphone or headset, and cables.

Product:

Joystick-To-Mouse

Phone:

800-889-0987

Internet:

https://www.imgpresents.com

System:

Windows 3.x; Windows 95

Demo:

Downloadable from Web site

From:

Arkenstone, Inc., 555 Oakmead Parkway, Sunnyvale, CA 94086

Fax:

408-328-8484

Email:

info@arkenstone.org

System:

Windows 3.1x, Windows 95

Demo:

Call 800 number for the dealer nearest you

From:

Madenta, Inc., 3022 Calgary Trail South, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6J 6V4

Fax:

403-988-6182

Internet:

https://www.madenta.com

Price:

$2495

Demo:

Phone or email for demo version. Also available for download at https://www.madenta.com.

From:

Microsystems Software, Inc., 600 Worcester Rd., Framingham, MA 01701

Fax:

508-879-1069

Email:

hware@microsys.com

System:

Windows 3.x, Windows 95, MS-DOS

Demo:

Via Internet (FTP), BBS or Mail

From:

Bilbo Innovations, Inc., 1290 Oakmead Parkway #118, Sunnyvale, CA 94086

Fax:

408-736-6083

Internet:

https://www.bilbo.com

Price:

$99.00

Notes:

Three programmable foot switches that emulate keystrokes and mouse clicks. The initial setup provides for taking over the Alt, Shift, and Control keys, but the pedals can be custom-programmed for any other keys, macros, or mouse button clicks. For persons with limited hand capabilities, RSI, one-handed and blind touch-typists.

Product:

VisAbility

Phone:

802-362-3612

Email:

zoomtext@aisquared.com

System:

MS-DOS (PIF included to run from Windows)

Demo:

Available free by mail or download from their Web site.

From:

Prentke Romich Company, 1022 Heyl Rd., Wooster, OH 44691

Fax:

330-263-4829

Internet:

https://www.prentrom.com

Price:

$200

From:

Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6393

Internet:

https://www.microsoft.com/enable/

TTY:

800-892-5234

Notes:

New helpful features included in areas of the Control Panel other than Accessibility Options:

• Display The user interface is customizable. Sizes and colors of window titles, scroll bars, borders, menu text, icons, and other elements are adjustable by the user.

• Mouse The mouse pointer can now be resized to normal, large, or extra-large. Customizing pointer color or adding animation also increase the pointer's visibility.

• Keyboard Having to repeat keys by holding them down can be a problem for users with impaired dexterity. With RepeatKeys settings, users adjust or disable the repeat feature.

• Password, User Profiles Users of the same machine can now use their log-ins and passwords to set preferences and desktop settings, including accessibility features.

• Chat Up to eight people can hold a "conversation" by typing on their networked computers, a handy alternative to telephones in work environments that include people who are deaf or hard of hearing. (The Chat feature is only available on CD-ROM, and is found in the Accessories folder.)

System improvements to Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 that are useful for people with disabilities include:

• High-contrast schemes and mode make it easier to see screen objects. (High-contrast mode available in Windows 95 only.)

• SerialKeys allows the user to control the personal computer using adaptive equipment such as alternative keyboards or augmentative communication devices that connect to the personal computer's serial port. (Found under Accessibility Options.)

• Windows 95's Plug and Play architecture inherently supports multiple cooperating pointing devices, allowing the addition of such devices without the need to replace or disable the mouse.

• Automatic Reset returns a system to its default configuration after a specified idle time.

• In Windows 95, the status of major accessibility features can be displayed on the taskbar or in a floating window. The indicator provides a clear visual signal of which features are active and provides feedback on the keys and mouse buttons currently being "held down" by StickyKeys and MouseKeys features.

From:

Trace R&D Center, S-151 Waisman Center, 1500 Highland Ave.,
Madison, WI 53705-2280

Fax:

608-262-8848

Email:

info@trace.wisc.edu

System:

Any system with a CD-ROM

Notes:

Check out the Trace R&D Center's new "Cooperative Electronic Library" on their Web site for a vast amount on assistive technology. The CO-NET CD (officially the Cooperative Electronic Library on Disability) provides a database of more than 22,000 products and other information for people with disabilities. It is issued twice a year. Also included is a second CD called A Taste of the Web, which is a collection of disability-related Web sites housed on a CD-ROM. Trace R&D also produces a resource guide that describes products that help people with disabilities use computers. The book, titled Trace ResourceBook, provides descriptions and photographs of about 2,000 products.

Contact:

National Information System (NIS)

Phone:

803-777-1782

Notes:

Computers and other assistive devices can help persons with disabilities to overcome a variety of barriers. For general information and recommendations on how computers can help specific people, you should consult a trained evaluator. For information about locating programs or services in your area that may be able to help you, please contact the NIS.