Readers and Writers for Text
Readers and Writers for Text
With the advances in technology, reading (by Screen Readers and others) and writers of text has become dominant options for persons with blindness and visual impairment that could potentially challenge the supremacy of the Braille literacy.
About this page
This page discusses everything about Textual documents for blindness and low vision. It is structured as follows:
Screen Readers and Magnifiers: There are numerous screen readers available for the most popular operating systems such as Windows, Mac, and Linux and their prices range from free to over 1,000 dollars. We take a look at different options in Screen Magnification Software, Screen Reading Software, PC Software, OCR Software, Digital Smart Pens and Scanners.
Large Print: Large printed books are gaining popularity for the users with low vision. We discuss what is large printing and Large Printing in India.
Audiobook Narrators: With the boom of audiobooks, narrators or voice over artist for book reading has become a vibrant profession and passion.
Accessible Formats: Braille, Large Print, Audio and Digital Text: People with blindness or visual impairment rely heavily on accessibility. We explore Commonly used Accessible Formats and present a Comparative View of Formats.
Making Accessible Webpages: ARIA Authoring Practices: One area where electronic accessibility is severely lacking, are webpages. It is important learn and practice what are needed for an accessible webpage and check Accessible Site Samples.
Screen Magnifier Features
Enlarges text, icons, other graphics up to 20X or more.
Enlarges and enhances everything on screen
Enlarges the words typed
Keeps focus on typed characters, keyboard commands, or mouse movement
Enlarges and enhances mouse and text cursors
Sharpens edges, increase contrast, and change color combinations
Splits computer screen – magnification and perspective
Customizable for vision acuity
Screen Reader Features
Reads out a screen loud
Default computer access
Customizable TTS for voice
Uses AI to speak-out screen changes as you type
Keyboard shortcuts to selectively read text elements
Announces keystrokes and describes icons, and graphics
Special mouse navigation and click / double click keys
Provide refreshable braille display in place of speech
Listen to documents such as Text, Word, HTML, PDF, or RTF
Screen Readers and Magnifiers
The two main computer accessibility tools are screen magnifiers and screen readers. If you have little to no usable vision you will be best served with screen reading software, which reads aloud all of the text and text-based elements displayed on a computer screen. If you have some usable sight, you might find screen magnification software, which enlarges the information displayed on a computer screen, helpful on its own or used in concert with a screen reader.
Screen Magnification Software
The most basic task of screen magnification software is to magnify the screen.:
A screen magnifier enlarges text, icons, and other graphics up to 20 times or more.
While typing a document (say, e-mail) with a screen magnifier, enlarges the words you type (easier to read). As you type characters, issue keyboard commands, or move your mouse, a magnified screen view will keep up with what you are doing and where you are focused on the screen.
A screen magnifier enlarges and enhances mouse and text cursors to make them easier to see and track.
It sharpens edges, increase contrast, and change color combinations to make things easier to see.
It gives users many options to customize what to magnify and what to highlight or sharpen based on their vision acuity.
Screen Reading Software
Screen readers speak letters, words, numbers, punctuation, and elements aloud, sending the voice output to your computer speakers or connected headphones.
A screen reader is the default computer access method for people who are unable to see the computer screen.
Even users with partial sight will want to learn about, and most likely use, screen readers.
Pairing a screen reader with a screen magnifier will enable you to spend more time using your computer with minimal eye strain.
Screen readers use one of a growing number of computer voices, also called text-to-speech (TTS) engines, to speak text. The voices are customizable, giving you the ability to set volume, pitch, tone, and speed.
As you enter data, click links, or issue other commands, the computer screen changes. So screen readers use a bit of artificial intelligence to determine what information you may wish to hear at any given time.
Full-feature screen readers include dozens of screen reader keyboard shortcuts that will read highlighted text, characters, words, paragraphs, and any number of other text elements.
Screen readers can announce each keystroke as you press it, decode and describe icons, and even describe certain graphic images.
Screen readers also include special mouse navigation keys that allow you to manipulate the mouse pointer, moving it wherever on the screen you like, and to press other keys to perform a mouse click or double click.
If you are learning to read and write braille, most screen readers offer an additional useful option. Instead of having your screen read out loud, you can obtain a refreshable braille display and use your screen reader without audible speech.
Sources:
Assistive Technology for People with Visual Loss, Delhi Journal of Ophthalmology, 2020
Screen Readers and Screen Magnifiers: An Introduction to Computer Accessibility Software, American Foundation for the Blind
10 Best Screen Readers for Blind People (5 of these are FREE!)
Further Reading:
Screen Magnifiers, American Foundation for the Blind
Screen Readers, American Foundation for the Blind
Screen Magnification, Perkins - School for the Blind eLearning
Screen Reader for Low Vision Students?, Perkins - School for the Blind eLearning
Introduction to Screen Magnifiers
In this video, Emma Urquhart, an Accessibility Consultant at Atos, talks about Screen Magnification Tools.
Screen readers and screen magnification - Getting interested in technology
People with sight problems discuss the accessibility features that make getting online more accessible. Chapter 1 of RNIB's
A Comparison of Three Screen Readers: JAWS, NVDA, and Voiceover
In this video, Caitlyn from Challenge Solutions compares the top three screen readers: JAWS, NVDA, and Voiceover.
PC Software
NVDA, Nonvisual Desktop Access, Screen Reader allows vision impaired people to interact with the Windows and applications like Firefox and Chrome, email clients, chat software, music players, and Word & Excel.
Supports 50 languages and used in over 150 countries.
Uses the eSpeak speech synthesizer and SAPI 4 and SAPI 5 synthesizers.
It is free and open source
WebAnywhere is a web-based screen reader for the web. It requires no special software to be installed on the client machine and, therefore, enables blind people to access the web from any computer they happen to have access to that has a sound card.
It is free
Magnifying Glass (Windows)
Magnifying Glass is a free and flexible screen zooming utility. You can magnify any portions of the screen under your mouse. It is useful for designers, engineers, visually impaired users. It has various and unique set of features and many visual options. You can apply various settings by right clicking on its icon.
It is free
Serotek System Access (Windows)
This downloadable and complete screen reader can be used even outside your browser, thus making it one of the quickest ways of getting a screen reader up and running on your system.
It is free and open source
Serotek offers extended versions for a fee.
It provides screen access to Windows, as well as applications, including MS Word, Outlook, IE, Outlook Express, Adobe Reader, and Skype. It can be installed on two computers.
MAGic® Screen Magnification Software
MAGic is a screen magnification and screen reading solution from Freedom Scientific for low vision computer users. MAGic can help you work more efficiently with business applications, documents, email, navigating the Internet, and engaging in social networking. MAGic delivers smooth, crisp letters, even at the highest magnification levels.
MAGic magnifies the computer screen from 1.1 to 36 times its normal size to suit the comfort level of the user having Low Vision to enable him/ her to operate the computer independently and also to give training in computers to those with low vision/ partial sight.
It has in-built color enhancements which eliminate glare and increases contrast reducing eye fatigue
It also has mouse enhancements which makes finding & tracking the mouse easily
Has a cursor enhancement which helps to locate the cursor with colorization
It has in-built human voice which reads through the documents, e-mail & web pages
Easy to Learn - comes with large-print user guide and more than five hours of basic training in accessible DAISY text and audio.
Available in 2 options – With Speech and Without Speech
JAWS®
JAWS, Job Access With Speech, from Freedom Scientific provides speech and Braille output on PC. Allows to navigate the Internet, write a document, read an email and create presentations
Features
Works with MS Office, IE, Firefox, etc.
Two multilingual Text-to-Speech synthesizers: Eloquence and Vocalizer Expressive
Talking installation
Built-in free DAISY and Player and full set of DAISY -formatted basic training books
Supports Windows® 8.1 and Windows 10, including touch screens and gestures, and support for MathML
Professional Add-ons
OCR feature provides access to the text of PDF documents
Compatible with MAGic screen magnification software, and OpenBook, scanning and reading program
How I Use Screen Reading And Magnification
(Voice Over - Talk Back)
In this video I show my 3 step process for using a smartphone and computer. I demo 3 tap magnification and Talk Back on an Android and discuss how it's slimier on iOS.
Thunder Screenreader (Windows)
Free screen reader for Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 3 or later, including Windows 7 and 8. It is not open-source, but it is free for individuals and organizations.
Distributed with the WebbIE set of programs, which provides a text web-browser, a podcatcher, an RSS news reader and other tools.
It is free
ORCA (Linux)
ORCA is a Linux based screen reader for the GNOME desktop. Recently it has been included with the Ubuntu installation CD, and with a couple of initial key presses it allows blind people to have audible interaction during the installation process.
Works with OpenOffice, Firefox, the Java platform and other applications.
It is free and open source
One Loupe (Windows)
Simple and easy to use, the small Magnifier is always ready when you need it to view all fine details, even the small print in the I-Net to decipher.
Features
Dual or multiple monitors support
Magnification modes: Normal, realtime, realtime + mouse (working mode)
Fullscreen magnification
It is free
ChromeVox (Chrome)
Google ChromeVox is a Google Chrome screen reader extension for visually impaired users.
It is free
ZoomText® (Windows, Mac)
Freedom Scientific offers ZoomText and Fusion, the leading computer access solutions for the visually-impaired.
A screen magnification system
Features
1x to 36x magnification
eight zoom window types
color, brightness and contrast controls
visible pointers and cursors
Dual Monitor Support and application-specific settings
Screen magnification system integrated with basic screen reading capabilities.
Features (over Magnifier)
Application-specific settings
Human-sounding reading voices
Program, typing and mouse echo options
Automatic document reading
Screen magnification and screen reading software that provides the features and benefits of ZoomText Magnifier/Reader, plus JAWS - a complete screen reader.
COBRA (Windows)
Provides access to information on a computer for people who are visually impaired and converts information from the screen into speech, braille or magnified form
Available in three versions:
COBRA Zoom: Large print magnification and speech output
COBRA Braille: Speech output and support for 70+ braille displays
COBRA Pro: Includes all
Screen reader and magnification software program that can be installed on a computer for blind, low-vision, and seniors to allow users to access to the most-used functions of their computers.
Speakup (Linux)
Screen reader for the Linux operating system. Allows users to interact with applications and the GNU/Linux operating system with audible feedback from the console using a speech synthesizer and to navigate around the screen using typical screen review functions such as “say word,” “say line,” “announce cursor position,” and more. Licensed under the GPL, the GNU General Public License.
It is free and open source
Spoken Web (IE)
Spoken-Web is a Web portal, managing a wide range of online data-intensive content like news updates, weather, travel and business articles for computer users who are blind or visually impaired. The site provides a simple, easy-to-use interface for navigating between the different sections and articles. Using the keyboard to navigate, a person who is blind or who has a visual impairment can hear the full range of an article content provided in a logical, clear, and understandable manner.
It is free
Glassbrick - Screen Magnifier (Windows)
Glassbrick allows you to change the colors of screen to enhance readability. It’s customizable, lightweight, fast and efficient.
Features
Full-screen Magnification
Zoom - Scale and Speed
Track - Cursor or focus
Color - Change for readability
Reading Mode
Cursor Keys
Dual Monitor Support
It is free
GuideConnect is designed for people with sight loss:
Simple step-by-step menus walk and talk you through every task
Text and icons as big as you need
Friendly voices patiently guide you at a pace that suits you
Use the remote control, touch, mouse or keyboard – or add text with your voice
Dolphin Screen Reader
Speech and braille access for Windows Screen Reader provides a fast, robust and reliable solution
SuperNova Magnifier has crystal-clear magnification that enables you to easily browse websites, email your contacts and read printed letters.
SuperNova Magnifier can enlarge and enhance everything on screen. Choose high-contrast colors, large mouse pointers and highlights to help you track and navigate each page.
Advanced yet intuitive, SuperNova Magnifier is flexible and easy to use. It enables you to split your laptop or computer screen – so it’s half magnified to see details, and half standard-size to keep perspective. You can also zoom in for total clarity on detailed tasks.
You can also add a document camera, to magnify and view letters and other printed articles on screen.
SuperNova Magnifier and Screen Reader
Whether shopping online with the latest web browsers, creating spreadsheets and slideshows in Microsoft Office, or reading your letters and other hard copy documents, with SuperNova Magnifier & Screen Reader you can find your perfect blend of magnification, screen reading and braille to get the job done.
If your sight deteriorates, or your task requires greater detail, with SuperNova you can: boost magnification, announce punctuation, replace difficult colours, increase verbosity, hear webpages, turn on braille.
SuperNova Magnifier and Speech
Browsing the web, emailing your contacts or reading your print letters is all effortless with your perfect combination of magnification, colors and speech.
If you have a bad eye day or your sight changes, SuperNova Magnifier & Speech grows and evolves with you: Boost magnification, announce punctuation, replace difficult colors, hear webpages or listen as you type.
Dolphin SuperNova PC Magnifier And Screen Reader
SuperNova is a very powerful magnifier/screen reader program for Windows. Some of its main features include magnification, color schemes, mouse pointer enhancements, screen reading, braille integration, external camera integration, and OCR.
BRLTTY (Linux)
BRLTTY is a background process (daemon) which provides access to the Linux/Unix console (when in text mode) for a blind person using a refreshable braille display. It drives the braille display, and provides complete screen review functionality. Some speech capability has also been incorporated.
It is free and open source
Emacspeak (Linux)
Emacspeak is a Complete Audio Desktop and that allows visually impaired users to interact independently and efficiently with the computer. Its technology enables it to produce rich aural representation of electronic information. Emacspeak offers audible interface of the different aspects of the Internet such as browsing and messaging as well as local and remote information via a consistent and well-integrated user interface.
It is free
Virtual Magnifying Glass 3.7 (Windows, Linux, and Mac)
Virtual Magnifying Glass is a free, open source, cross-platform screen magnification tool. It is simple, customizable, and easy-to-use.
Features
Multi-monitor support
Lens height and width can have any size
Mouse scroll-wheel now controls zoom factor
Variable scale factor from 1x to 32x
It is free and open source
VoiceOver: Hear what’s happening on your screen
VoiceOver + Braille: Customize braille experience
Magnifier: Use your camera to get a closer look
Spoken Content: Go from written word to spoken word
Zoom: Enlarge your screen
Hover Text: Get a quick size boost of what you’re reading
Reduce Motion: Tone down the special effects
Audio Descriptions: A scene to be heard
Display: Find the right view for you
Text Size: Apps can automatically adapt to larger, bolder type
Dark Mode: Make everything easier on the eyes
Accessibility Shortcuts: Keep your apps close and your settings closer
Dictation: Everything you say goes
Siri: Find what you’re looking for without looking at all
Available selectively on:
iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, HomePod, AirPods, iPod touch
Chrome’s Visual Accessibility Features
5 innovations in accessibility and assistive technology from 2019, 2019
Screen readers are instrumental to blind web users. However, when images aren’t properly labeled, the AT is unable to tell the user what, exactly, is being depicted on their screens.
In 2019, Google set out to fix that problem. The search engine giant’s new visual accessibility feature borrows machine learning technology from other Google products to better recognize information contained in unlabeled images. According to Android Authority, that means, whether an image is labeled or not, Chrome is now better able to scan images online and tell the user what they’re looking at.
MagniLink iMax – the software with magnification for Mac users
LVI Low Vision International presents MagniLink iMax (developed jointly with Assistiveware), the software which makes Mac fully accessible! Together with the video magnifier MagniLink Student, this is a complete and unique solution for Mac users.
MagniLink iMax provides magnification, contour enhancement and pointer settings as well as screen reading with high-quality speech output. In addition to Text To Speech voices, MagniLink iMax comes with automatic language identification in the screen reader mode and GhostReader - an application for reading documents. It contains shortkeys for fast and easy access to the text and the user can listen to documents including file types such as Text, Word, HTML, PDF, ODT or RTF. You can save texts as Mp3-files.
With features like split screen, dual screen support, full-screen mode, multiple high-contrast modes, a circular and a squared lens-zoom, MagniLink iMax gives you the ability to set the screen mode based on your own preferences. The contrast enhancement mode gives a clear picture with smooth character edges regardless of the magnification.
Visually Impaired Agent Solutions: Call center technology for the visually impaired
TCN delivers the best cloud call center solutions in the industry to visually impaired call centers across the globe. TCN has optimized its award-winning contact center platform to work with Job Access With Speech (JAWS) and has made it accessible to agents everywhere.
Dial Smarter
All TCN’s features and productivity tools are included to use with our visually impaired solutions.
A customizable solution to meet the accessibility needs of your employees
With cloud-based technology, visually impaired agents can work remotely from the convenience of their own home
Optimized to work with Job Access With Speech (JAWS) – the world’s most popular screen reader – to assist users with vision loss to navigate call center dashboards and screen content
Helps visually impaired agents navigate TCN’s call center platform workflows via hotkeys that leverage JAWS functionality during both incoming and outgoing calls, while audible tones signal the connection of an incoming call
Providing these tools to visually impaired individuals provides more opportunities for jobs and satisfaction in the workplace.
OCR Software
A9t9 supports quite a long list of languages, although not as extensive as some of the other options on this list.
Free open-source OCR software for the Windows Store. The application includes support for reading and OCR'ing PDF files.
OmniPage Standard 18 is an OCR at professional level.
Features
Improved OCR engines deliver superior accuracy for document conversion and archiving business critical documents
Convert documents stored in Windows Live SkyDrive, GoogleDocs, Evernote, Dropbox, and many more
Includes the Nuance Cloud Connector powered by Gladinet
Capture text with a digital camera or iPhone
Scan a document, automatically convert into a readable format and send it to the Kindle electronic book reader in one easy step
Supports 120 languages
It enables users to quickly OCR a portion of the screen using a keyboard shortcut. The resulting text will be saved to the clipboard by default.
Conceptually:
You press a hotkey, select the zone of the screen you want to OCR and then it sends the result directly to the clipboard, so you can paste it into a word processor.
The software is Open Source as well, so you can copy and modify it as you like, as long as you comply with the terms of the GNU license.
Easy Screen OCR is a small, best free OCR software that relies on a cloud-based, Google-powered recognition engine. So it needs an active internet connection to work.
This OCR application is intended to extract text from screenshots, letting you copy text from websites or any other text that’s on-screen. What’s particularly cool about this is the support for more than 100 languages.
While this is not a traditional OCR application, there are plenty of workflows around these days that involve extracting text from the images you’re working with. Easy Screen OCR makes that task as easy as a few keystrokes.
Digital Smart Pens and Scanners
Handheld printed text-to-speech reader and more!
Reads printed text out loud for - promotes independent reading and helps with reading difficulties for low vision
Pass the nib across a word and the built-in dictionary displays the definition and reads it out
Compact, portable, and light
Both Mac and Windows compatible on USB
C-Pen Reader Pen Scanner is a portable, pocket-sized, handheld device that reads printed text aloud with a human-like, high-quality, British English digital voice.
Features a built-in voice memo recorder with playback and is also a scanner for capturing lines of text and uploading to a PC or Mac, making it ideal for students, teachers, and professionals to capture essential information.
Note: If you can use a yellow highlighter pen to highlight text in a book or on paper then you should be able to make use of this C-Pen.
Voice Stick is a portable text scanning device for the visually impaired. When it scans printed letters, the OCR (Optical Character Recognition) function recognizes the texts and converts the written information into a voice. The portable stick, Voice Stick, can be used to convert any words or letters found in our daily life, such as in books, newspapers, contracts, mail, etc., into voice information.
MIT finger device reads to the blind in real time
Scientists at MIT are developing an audio reading device for the visually impaired that can be used with the swipe of a finger. A synthesized voice reads words aloud, quickly translating reading material.
It is a personal reading device for anyone who is consistently exposed to large amounts of text – at work and school, or for leisure – and assists people who have low vision or reading difficulties, including dyslexia and reading fatigue.
OrCam Read with Smart Reading. Simply ask for the text that interests you: “Read the headlines,” “Read amounts,” or “Start from” a specific section (like “desserts” in a menu).
OrCam Bluetooth Earphones are also available for complete privacy when using your OrCam Read Smart.
The OrCam Read Smart comes with English and French languages as standard, available languages are: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese.
Planon X05 DocuPen Xtreme Color Scanner
The pen-sized Planon DocuPen Xtreme X05 Color Scanner delivers high quality scans of documents or photos up to 8" wide at up to 600 dpi resolution. It is equipped with a Bluetooth interface so you can send your scans wirelessly to a Blackberry, Windows Mobile smart phone, laptop computer or other compatible devices.
The DocuPen X05 has a clear 2-line OLED display which provides you with information such as file names, date & time, battery and memory levels, color and mono modes, and compression levels. You can also copy a document and print it with Planon's portable PrintStick mobile printer so you can work at home or on the road.
Image quality up to 600 dpi is possible utilizing Planon's Crystal Line Contact technology which delivers accurate imaging for professional reproductions of contracts, receipts, invoices, color pictures and more.
Scan and read your paper documents
Listen to documents
Connect to a monitor to see words highlighted during reading
Operate it easily with the intuitive controls
Scan and read in multiple languages
Control reading speed and volume
Hear a full Letter-sized page read at once
Eye-Pal
Ace: Portable battery-operated and braille-compatible screen reader and scanner with a built-in screen for displaying photos, magnifying small objects and enlarging texts for individuals who have difficulty reading printed text.
Ace Plus: Portable scanner, reader, and video magnifier in one lightweight, battery-operated device. Has a simple one-button, spam-free, email system. Has a built-in WiFi that allows user to connect to Bookshare and NFB Newsline and download books and access publications.
ROL (Read Out Loud): Lightweight, battery-operated, portable scanner and reader that comes with a pair of headphones that easily plugs into the front of the device for privacy. The ergonomic thumbwheels and tactile controls are intuitively located for ease of use. Braille-display compatible for reading a book or a menu at a restaurant or filling out a form at the doctor's office. Incorporates the AudioMinder technology, allowing the user to set an alarm and record appointment reminders.
Vision: Fast, accurate, and easy-to-use scanning and reading appliance that connects to a monitor or TV to display text in a high-contrast, large font so user can read along as the content is spoken. May be used for scanning a printed page, pill bottle, recipe card, or newspaper. Motion detector automatically senses when a new page is placed under the camera.
Voice Writing
What's the difference between VOICE TYPING and DICTATION?
HINDI Sudoku Puzzles (Volume 1-4) (Hindi), Universal Puzzles
Easy-read fonts in Large Print
I Was Blind But Now I See (English), Theresa Goodine
Large Print
Large-print (also large-type or large-font) refers to the formatting of a book or other text document in which the typeface (or font) are considerably larger than usual to accommodate people who have low vision. Frequently the medium is also increased in size to accommodate the larger text. Special-needs libraries and many public libraries will stock large-print versions of books, along with versions written in Braille.
The font size for large print is typically at least 18 points in size. Different sizes are made to suit different visual needs, with a common rule of thumb to be at least twice the minimum acuity size.
Publishing Standards
The standards specifies:
Maximum limits on size, thickness, and weight
Minimum limits on margins
Type size at least 14 point, preferably 18 point
Sans serif or modified serif font recommended
Adequate letter and word spacing
Flexible binding recommended to allow open book to lie flat
Font Sizes
The American Publishing House for the Blind defines font sizes as:
12 pt. = regular print
14-16 pt. = “enlarged” print (not considered large print)
18 and larger = large print
18 and larger, with other formatting changes = enhanced print
In addition to enlarging type size, page layout and font characteristics can have a positive effect on readability.
Font Design
Fonts designed for legibility make it easier to distinguish one character from another. Here are the primary things to think about when selecting a font for use by persons with low vision:
The upper case “I” and Roman Numeral I, the numeral 1, and the lower case l, should all look different from one another.
The font should be wide-bodied with space between each letter.
Letters which have a "bubble" inside them (known as a counter, such as o, d, g, e), should have ample space inside the counter.
Punctuation should be rounded, large, and very visible.
Font strokes should be solid and without gaps.
Examples of more-easily read fonts are Antique Olive, Tahoma, Tiresias, and Verdana.
Ratios
Companies offering the large-print formatting uses diverse formats (also called ratios) to support the larger font size. Among these ratios, we find:
Ratio 1:1, the content is enlarged on a single (1) portrait page and the common typological size is 18 points.
Ratio 1:2, the content is enlarged on two (2) landscape page and the common typological size is 18 points.
Custom ratios, the content is enlarged on multiple landscape pages and the common typological size is 28 points.
Large Printing in India
Soccer Legend, Leo Messi, Has Teamed Up with OrCam to Make a Change
“As an OrCam ambassador, I take great satisfaction in helping to improve the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired, by using the life-changing OrCam MyEye device.״
- Leo Messi
Barcelona megastar Lionel Messi has come to the help of a young blind Arsenal fan as he sent the child a life-changing pair of glasses worth £4,200 by OrCam Technologies. Messi has joined hands with the Israel-based firm in a bid to increase awareness of the challenges faced by the blind and visually impaired community.
Messi will hand out OrCam MyEye device to people with inspiring stories, who are suffering from blindness or are visually impaired, every year. They also have the chance to personally meet the six-time Ballon d’Or winner in Barcelona.
The selected individuals will go onto become members of ‘OrCam Dream Team’, which is led by Messi himself.
Source: Lionel Messi gifts young blind Arsenal fan OrCam glasses in life-changing gesture, 2020
Audiobook Narrators
We live in an amazing time. Technology is moving so fast and we are very lucky to be in the age of the Audiobook BOOM. The Audiobook industry is growing at an incredibly fast rate and is currently worth $3.5 billion Dollars (according to goodreader.com). There are more audiobooks being recorded now than ever before and more and more audiobook narrators are needed to record them.
If you would like to become one, read the following blogs / websites:
Narrators, ACX
How to Become an Audiobook Narrator: Expert Advice, Stephanie Ciccarelli, 2021
Hear, hear! Indians are ‘reading’ audiobooks, ToI, 2018
Audiobook Income Academy (AIA): Offers courses to become audiobook narrator
Audiobooks Voice Over: Jobs for Narrators in Indian languages
Audible Vision Beta
Audible Vision App is an effort towards making a meaningful impact towards the blind and VI community. App will leverage artificial intelligence to help them be independent by helping them perform some of the daily chores on their own and help stay safe through mask and crowd detection.
App has a very simple and intuitive voice driven UI interface for ease of operation. It is a one shop stop for the users to handle many activities like:
Smart Text: Identify product name or nearby shop names.
Expiry Date: Detect expiry date of products. This feature is in experimental stage, kindly re-confirm the expiry date with a human agent.
Safety: In current situation, it is even more challenging for the blind people to know if their surrounding is safe.
Mask detector: Person in front is wearing mask or not.
Crowd detector: Equally important is to identify if the commute path is not crowded.
Find Text: Identify products or shops through their names. For example, if a user wants to find a specific medicine in a medical box; instead of reading all the text, user can ask for a specific medicine name to be searched and the app will alert as soon as it camera is directed towards it.
Document: Read books or text pages.
Voice commands & feedback: The app can be controlled using voice commands and output will be communicated through voice or sound.
Accessible Formats: Braille, Large Print, Audio and Digital Text
Just like sighted people, blind and visually impaired people need to be able to access all kinds of written information. This could be anything from a menu, newspaper article, or phone listing to a catalogue or user manual. The information needs to be made accessible.
In the past, printed information was not so accessible and we were reliant upon various sources to gain that information. The access depended upon whether or not we had people to read to us (living nearby who were able to do this), knew braille (if we had learnt it, and if the information was printed in braille), or could still see large print (if our eyesight was still good enough). Nowadays however, overall accessibility is improving. With our ever increasing thirst for knowledge, we have many more options now than we did before. Traditionally, TV and radio have led the way in putting written information into an audio format. The introduction of computers (and other electronic items) with accessible features (such as large print and screen readers), has seen information presented in a lot more formats, called digital text, which makes it far more accessible than ever before.
Having access to information provides blind and visually impaired people with a sense of independence. The Information and Communications Standards under the AODA states that organizations must create, provide, and receive information in accessible formats. Accessible formats, sometimes called alternate formats, are ways of presenting printed, written, or visual material so that people who do not read print can access it. People who do not read print may:
Be blind or visually impaired
Have a learning disability that affects reading
Have a physical disability and be unable to hold or turn pages
Types of Accessible Formats
There are four types of accessible formats that may be used by people with a print disability.
Braille (See Braille Reader and Writers): It is a way of writing the alphabet using a system of raised dots that readers feel with their fingers. Many books and magazines are translated into Braille and are available to buy or borrow. Books for young children often include both print and Braille, so that parents or children who are blind can read with their families. Some businesses offer information in Braille, such as: Bank statements, Bills, Forms, Menus, Event programs, etc. Buildings may install Braille signs for elevator buttons, washrooms, and room numbers.
Braille displays connect to computers or phones and display the screen’s contents in Braille. People can also print files in Braille using a Braille printer or embosser. They can write in Braille using several devices, from a computer to a slate and stylus, which is portable like a pencil and paper.
Large Print: People who are visually impaired often read print that is 18-point font or larger with good colour contrast. Large-print copies of books, signs, and other media are sometimes available. People may read standard-sized print by using a magnification device, although print may still not be large enough, there may not be enough colour contrast, or people may only see a few letters at a time. People may read from large monitors, use mobile devices with screen magnification software, or select the option on certain websites to enlarge text and images.
Audio: Today, audio consists of digital files. DAISY files allow readers to navigate to specific sections or pages as they could if holding a printed document. mp3 files allow readers to move through them but they have less control over which parts they read.
Some audiobooks are available commercially, while others are produced by organizations, such as the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA). CELA creates accessible books, newspapers, and magazines for non-print-readers. Audio also makes people aware of other information presented visually, including:
Audible announcements of stops on public transit
Audio-guided tours of venues such as museums and galleries
Digital Text: Digital text is delivered on a computer or another device to meet the needs of students with sensory, physical, or learning and reading disabilities. Digital text is malleable and, depending on the technology and/or the software that is used, various features that control how the content is presented to the user can be manipulated such as size, fonts, colors, and contrast to accommodate the needs of the learner. Supported reading software with text-to-speech can provide audio and visual components either separately or simultaneously as well as other scaffolded supports like highlighting, dictionaries, and thesauruses.
New technologies combined with digital text make Audio-Supported Reading (ASR) possible. This method is a technology-based approach for accessing and working with text that enables users with visual impairments to listen to voiced text while looking at screen-displayed print or using a refreshable braille device. With sufficient practice, both braille readers and magnified print readers can greatly increase the rate at which they can obtain information from text using ASR.
Print Disability
A print disability is NOT an new disability classification, but refers to the functional ability of a student with a disability such as blindness, low vision, learning disabilities or physical disabilities to make use of printed content.
A print disability is easiest to understand when considering how the student interacts with printed materials. A student with a print disability is one who is unable to gain information from printed materials at an anticipated level for their grade, and needs alternative access or an accessible format to gain information from and use those materials. Print disabilities commonly affect students with blindness, visual impairments, learning disabilities or other physical conditions that make it difficult to hold or manipulate educational materials.
Commonly available Accessible Formats
The following are currently available accessible formats that are support by wide variety of devices and apps. We discuss the details of each in the following section.
Braille
Braille Ready File (BRF)
Large Print
Audio
Lossy Formats: MP3, AAX, M4A/M4B, AAC, M4P, WMA
Lossless Formats: FLAC, ALAC, WMA Lossless
Digital Text
Digital Accessible Information SYstem (DAISY)
Electronic Publication (ePub)
PDF Accessible / PDF Fully Accessible
National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS)
HTML / Word / Rich Text Format (RTF)
Sources:
What are Accessible Formats?, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
Accessible Formats, Accessibility Central
Accessible Formats, Reading Rocket
What is Digital Text?, Maine-AEM
What Is A Print Disability?, Maine-AEM
Notes: Mobile apps - readers and writers - for various accessible formats are detailed in Apps page for the Blind
Commonly used Accessible Formats
Braille / Braille Ready File (BRF)
Braille is a series of raised dots evenly arranged in quadrangular letter spaces or cells. The configuration of dots can be read with the fingertips by people who are vision impaired.
Braille Ready File (.brf ), often referred to as eBraille or web-braille, is a specialized digital text format used to create embossed braille or be read using a braille display or with a refreshable braille device.
Accessibility features
Braille is unique written language that may be the most accessible option of reading and writing for students who are blind or have a significant visual impairment.
An average classroom textbook in braille usually weighs 8-10 pounds and is bound in sections
BRF's are digital files on a refreshable display and help prevent the need to carry and store large volumes of embossed braille text.
Works with
Refreshable Braille display
Braille embosser
Large print is defined as print for text passages that is larger than the commonly used print and font sizes from 8 to 12 points.
Accessibility features
Many large print books come in multiple volumes. No volume is greater than 270 pages.
Trade books come in 16 point or greater font.
For most textbooks, large print will be 18 point font.
Works with
Students who need larger text
Audiobook Formats
There are several audible audio book formats. They are one of two kinds:
Lossy Audio Formats: Lossy compression is a form of compression that loses data during the compression process. This is sacrificing quality and fidelity for file size.
Lossless Audio Formats: It reduces file size without any loss in quality between the original source file and the resulting file. It isn't as efficient as lossy - equivalent files can be 2x to 5x larger.
Lossy Formats
MP3 (.mp3): MPEG, audio layer 3.
AAX(.aax): Created by Audible, encoded by DRM and can be converted to MP3 by Audible Audiobook
M4A/M4B(.m4a/.m4b): An audio-only MPEG-4 file, used by Apple for unprotected music
AAC(.aac): Advanced Audio Coding developed in 1997 as the successor to MP3. Widely used by YouTube, Android, iOS, iTunes, Nintendo, and PlayStations.
M4P (.m4p): A version of AAC with Fairplay DRM developed by Apple
WMA(.wma): Windows Media Audio, better than MP3.
Lossless Formats
FLAC (.flac): Free Lossless Audio Codec.
ALAC (.alac): Apple Lossless Audio Codec that compresses is slightly less FLAC.
WMA (.wma): WMA Lossless
Accessibility features
Speed controls allow students can speed up or slow down the rate at which the book is read.
Students can easily click to navigate by pages, chapters or sections as well as add their own digital bookmarks.
Can be read on Daisy players or PC, Mac, IOS, and Android devices using the free downloadable software or apps.
Content is Reflowable, meaning the text is optimized to fit the page regardless of font size.
Works with
DAISY Devices
"The phonograph at home reading out a novel." From Daily Graphic (New York), 2 April 1878.
Less than a year after the invention of the phonograph, this drawing offered a future vision. Novels however would remain impractical for phonographs until the 1930s.
Digital Talking Book (DTB) / DAISY
A Digital Accessible Information SYstem (DAISY) Talking Book (DTB) is a digital or human voice recording of the full electronic text with the capability to navigate and bookmark sections of the book. A Daisy talking book is made up of a series of files linked together. A computerized text DAISY book can be read using refreshable Braille display or screen-reading software, printed as Braille book on paper, converted to a talking book using synthesized voice or a human narration, and also printed on paper as large print book. In addition, it can be read as large print text on computer screen.
Accessibility features
Text-to-speech capabilities allow the text to be read aloud
Highlights text as it is read for improved comprehension
Built in bookmarks and electronic navigation
Images are tagged with alternate text descriptions that can be read aloud.
Page numbers of the Daisy correspond to the page numbers of the printed text.
Content is Reflowable, meaning the text is optimized to fit the page regardless of font size.
Daisy readers have additional features such as:
Dictionaries
Bibliographers
Contrast and color: Boost the contrast with various built-in color variations
Built-in graphic organizers
Pronunciation assistance
Highlighting of Digital Text for notes
Web access
Works with
Further Reading:
Guidance and Training on DAISY, DAISY Consortium
Reading Tools, DAISY Forum of India
Authoring Tools, DAISY Forum of India
Electronic publications (ePub)
ePub is a free and open e-book standard by the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF). ePub files are simplified versions of the Daisy format and are usable on most all electronic devices.
Accessibility features
Compatible with text-to-speech programs.
Content is “Reflowable”, meaning the text is optimized to fit the page regardless of font size.
Readable on the computer as well as many mobile devices.
Built in bookmarks and electronic navigation through “Table of Contents” often included
Publishers can tag images with alternate text descriptions that can be read aloud.
Page numbers correspond to the page numbers of the printed text if programmed by the publisher
Works with
Popular eReaders include: iPad, Kindle, iPhone, Android, Kobo, Nook, Sony Reader, Windows Phone, PC and Mac OSX notebook/desktop systems.
PDF Accessible / PDF Fully Accessible
A PDF Accessible file is a digital scan of a book or document that turns printed text into an electronic format that is readable by a computer or portable device. These scanned files will look exactly like their printed counterpart and will maintain formatting regardless of screen size or magnification.
A Fully Accessible PDF is a PDF that was converted directly from a structured WORD document. These documents are optimized by adding additional accessibility features to the file, like “tags”. A tag contains information such as header locations, hyperlinks, and alternative text descriptions for graphics.
Accessibility features
A PDF Accessible file
Provides an identical digital representation of a printed book.
Compatible with text-to-speech programs
Users can increase the page size without distorting the text; allowing PDF Accessible files to be used as digital large print.
PDF readers have features as:
Highlights text as it is read for improved comprehension
Contains note taking features like in text highlighting and commenting
Bookmarking and electronic navigation
A PDF Fully Accessible file
Includes content related graphics which are programmed with alternate text descriptions that can be read aloud.
Font style matches the original text (i.e. bold, italics, underline).
Page numbers correspond to the page numbers of the printed text.
Footnotes are positioned within text to provide greater understanding of content.
Content is “Reflowable”, meaning the text is optimized to fit the page regardless of font size.
Guidelines on creating accessible PDFs
TTS in PDF can be used to improve reading accuracy, proofreading, notetaking and understanding.
Works with
Adobe Acrobat Reader (Free): Students can type their answers right on the page of a PDF
Click on Comment tool on the right side of the screen.
Click on the plain ‘T’ on the top Comment bar.
Click on the page where you want to type your answer. Type it!
Print the page when you are finished!
NIMAS is the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard. NIMAS means the standard established by the Secretary of Education to be used in the preparation of electronic files suitable and used solely for efficient conversion into specialized formats.
Accessibility features
If graphics are present, alternative text that can be read aloud may also be available.
Electronic navigation through Table of Contents
Requires special software to read
Works with
NIMAS files are source files and are not student-ready. These are used by publishers to publish contents in multiple formats
In the past, instead of being provided in quantities that met the need of the community, accessible materials were often provided on an individual basis. It was difficult for students with disabilities to anticipate in what format their materials might arrive. With NIMAS, there is a minimum standard for schools and publishers to follow for educational materials.
Audio-Supported Reading (ASR)
This method is a technology-based approach for accessing and working with text that enables users with visual impairments to listen to voiced text while looking at screen-displayed print or using a refreshable braille device.
With sufficient practice, both braille readers and magnified print readers can greatly increase the rate at which they can obtain information from text using ASR.
Further Reading:
Audio-Supported Reading, Richard M. Jackson, 2012
Comparative View of Formats
12 great reasons to use digital books
Convenience: Listen anytime, anywhere, online or offline. Stream audio directly in your browser or download and play while disconnected.
Mobile: Listen on your mobile, or desktop. Audio file formats are supported and played on all devices.
Education: Learn by listening and become a proficient reader. Access native speakers to help you learn a language.
Learning English: Improve your pronunciation, expand your vocabulary and better your listening skills in your target language (Free Audio Books for English Learners).
Adaptable: Find a narrator you like, change the playback speed, and adjust the volume to create the perfect listening experience.
Sharing: Things are always better together. Share your favorite digital books and listen with friends and family.
Portable: Carry your whole library with you wherever you go and access it on your mobile, tablet, or e-reading device. Ideal for travelling.
Variety: Access thousands of books or podcasts online from a range of online libraries covering all genres.
E-readers: Feature-packed e-readers include wifi, backlighting, and dictionaries for multi-language support. Change the font size, add audio, and make digital notes.
Studying: Widen your vocabulary and improve your grammar. Use graded ebooks or read and listen to the audio book at the same time to test your comprehension.
Environment: Digital books are green. No paper, no transportation costs, no waste.
Classics are free!: Thousands of classic books are available free in the public domain. Digitalbook provides a platform to easily access these books along with free podcasts.
An audio book is a recording of a text read aloud, either word for word or abridged. They are a convenient alternative to traditional books and an important media for the visually impaired. Audio books have come a long way since the 1930s when the first full length recordings appeared for people with disabilities. They were made available to the general public in the 1950s, but it wasn’t until the 1970s with the release of cassette tapes that popularity began to rise, especially among commuters while driving. Today, we no longer use bulky recording formats to listen to audio books. New digital devices with space for thousands of files allow you to carry a library around, and download or stream audio directly online. Popular audio formats like mp3 files play on the majority of digital devices. Platforms such as Google Books and Amazon, provide access to huge libraries of books, while smaller non-profit organizations, such as Librivox, allow public domain access to free audio books read by volunteers.
An eBook (or Electronic Book) is a version of a printed book in digital format. They are cheaper and quicker to publish and therefore provide a more convenient way to circulate literature. During the 1970s the Internet provided a huge step forward for sharing digital texts and making them available on screen and ready to download. By the end of the 1990s, publishers started to provide digital versions alongside their printed counterparts. EBooks are typically read using an e-reader, such as the popular Kindle, although most digital devices can read EPUBs, the most common format used today. Some devices even allow you to listen to the spoken word and read at the same time. There are plenty of free eBooks available in the public domain, from sites such as Gutenberg and although not likely to replace printed books in the near future, eBooks and audio books are changing the way we consume literature. Digitalbook.io aims to facilitate this by bringing together the best digital books from all the top online sources.
A podcast is an audio recording usually based around a specific theme or topic, which you subscribe to through an app on your mobile device. In the year 2000, before the term podcast was coined, RSS feeds started to support audio and video files as the world was introduced to it’s first on demand offerings. It wasn’t until 2004 that the term podcasting first appeared and the commercial aspect was realized. Media outlets quickly picked up on the latest trend to consume media and rushed to provide their listeners with a podcast option. The following year, Apple introduced podcasts into its iTunes platform, as the race to attract the most subscribers had officially begun. Today, some of the more popular podcast series are radio shows, inspirational talks, and language learning, just to name a few. Digitalbook.io enables you to search and listen to a wide variety of free podcasts, which are provided by Listen Notes, the best free podcast search engine on the web.
Web Accessibility Examples
Correct and Incorrect Use explained lucidly for elements:
Headings
Links
Images
Tables
Example Accessible Sites
Making Accessible Webpages: ARIA Authoring Practices
As per UNCRPD, 2006 (United Nation Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities), accessing web content and contributing to web content is a basic human right which should not be limited in any form.
Every company or organization publishing web content has a shared responsibility to follow international standards and best practices for web accessibility. These standards and best practices are not always followed due to various reasons – such as lack of awareness, cost and availability of the needed expertise. This in turn, has an adverse impact by creating an inaccessible and non-inclusive digital eco-system.
With this view, W3C has created the WAI-ARIA Suite.
WAI-ARIA, Accessible Rich Internet Applications Suite, defines a way to make Web content and Web applications more accessible to people with disabilities. It especially helps with dynamic content and advanced user interface controls developed with Ajax, HTML, JavaScript, and related technologies. Currently certain functionality used in Web sites is not available to some users with disabilities, especially people who rely on screen readers and people who cannot use a mouse. Some of the barriers include:
Web sites are increasingly using more advanced and complex user interface controls, such as tree controls for Web site navigation. To provide an accessible user experience to people with disabilities, assistive technologies need to be able to interact with these controls. However, the information that the assistive technologies need is not available with most current Web technologies.
Another example of an accessibility barrier is drag-and-drop functionality that is not available to users who use a keyboard only and cannot use a mouse. Even relatively simple Web sites can be difficult if they require an extensive amount of keystrokes to navigate with only a keyboard.
Many Web applications developed with Ajax (also known as AJAX), DHTML, and other technologies pose additional accessibility challenges. For example, if the content of a Web page changes in response to user actions or time- or event-based updates, that new content may not be available to some people, such as people who are blind or people with cognitive disabilities who use a screen reader.
WAI-ARIA addresses these accessibility challenges by defining how information about this functionality can be provided to assistive technology. With WAI-ARIA, an advanced Web application can be made accessible and usable to people with disabilities.
WAI: Web Accessibility Initiative of W3C
Resources
The website for disability equality charity Scope, is a lesson in how to do keyboard accessibility well.
Try tabbing through the page, observe the big ‘skip to main content’ banner that appears for the first tab, the transition styles when tabbing between elements, and the thick border on the focus indicator.
The site is also a great example of how to achieve beautiful site design that meets accessibility requirements. Large, high-res, and captivating imagery is easy on the eye, even for partially-sighted site users, and colours are distinct, with large font sizing, line spacing, and well-designed buttons.
With an ageing customer base, SSE is embracing inclusive design and working to deliver an accessible service to all its customers alike.
SSE’s energy business has focused much of its accessibility efforts around its online sign-up journeys, since they’re the most important and profitable user experiences on the website.
As part of a redesign of these journeys, SSE has gone back to basics. It has changed key elements of its digital design, including a significant revision of its brand colors.
Check-out the SSE case study to learn more about how the organization is working to achieve inclusive experiences for all its customers.
The BBC’s digital team are strong advocates of inclusive design, which ensures that accessibility is an ‘integral part of user experience design’.
This means putting people first:
adding value for disabled people
prioritizing familiarity and consistency
giving control over content, and
offering multiple methods interact with interface components.
BBC website includes a hidden ‘Skip to content’ link at the start of the tab index that is revealed when you tab to it, but there is also an ‘Accessibility Help’ link straight after. This ensures that keyboard and screen reader users who are new to the site can quickly find help.
GOV.UK is a great example of a website that does lots of little things to make sure the overall experience is as inclusive as possible. As well as semantic and well-structured HTML, it has many small enhancements for screen reader and keyboard users to ensure they can make full use of the site.
The feedback forms in the footer, hidden behind two links, make use of ARIA attributes to help screen reader users find the right form and fill them in correctly. The ‘No’ and ‘Is there anything wrong with this page?’ links have aria-controls and aria-expanded=”false” attributes to indicate that they control a nearby section of the page that is currently hidden.
