Health & FitnessAssistive Technology Devices: How Disabled People Use The Web

Assistive Technology Devices: How Disabled People Use The Web

Understanding the functionality of assistive technology is crucial for web developers and designers as it may give those who utilize them a more enjoyable experience.

Since people with disabilities deserve the most care and love they can get, NDIS Consumables provides all kinds of medical care and consumables for as many that are in need.

In light of this, we’ll focus on a few assistive devices for disabled people.

What is Assistive Technology?

Any piece of technology designed to make life simpler for a person with a disability falls under the category of assistive computer technology.

Computer accessibility is a term used in human-computer interaction to describe the accessibility of a computer system to all users, regardless of handicap or degree of impairment.

Devices For Assistive Technology

Some examples of assistive technology are:

1. Adaptive Keyboards

Adaptive Keyboards
Source: ergocanada.com

People with various disabilities can benefit from using one of the many different types of adapted keyboards. Word-completion software is occasionally included with adaptive keyboards. This lessens the number of keystrokes while also speeding up typing.

2. Single Switch Entry Devices

Single Switch Entry Devices
Source: huffingtonpost.co.uk

When pressed, a button carries out an activity and notifies the computer of the signal. They frequently resemble big, spherical, vibrant buttons. The switch can be configured to carry out any action you specify.

3. Head Pointers

Head Pointers
Source: spinalcord.org

They are head-mounted devices (such as a stick, stylus, or other objects) that enable users to interact with a computer interface.

4. Foot Switches

Foot Switches
Source: tomorrow.city

Similar to single switch devices, foot switches operate in the same manner. But they appear to be pedals rather than buttons.

5. Sniff And Puff Switches

Sniff And Puff Switches
Source: axesslab.com

They are gadgets that let users control computers by taking and exhaling little breaths of air, and they are connected to a computer interface that scans the screen.

Depending on personal customization, the user can “click” on the region by breathing in or out when the portion of the screen they want to interact with comes into focus.

6. Screen Magnification Software

Screen Magnification Software
Source: lanars.medium.com

Text, images, and graphics on a screen are enlarged using magnifying software. In order to make the pointer simpler to locate on the screen, screen magnification software also increases the cursor size. The user can then enlarge and reduce the size of the desired portions of the screen.

7. Eye-Tracking Software

Eye-Tracking Software
Source: abilitynet.org.uk

The user can navigate through web pages and type on a customized screen by using eye-tracking software, which tracks the eye’s movements.

8. Screen Reader Software

Screen Reader Software
Source: equalizedigital.com

Every word displayed on the screen is read aloud by screen readers. Users frequently use shortcuts like the “tab” key to move through online pages.

They also translate information from screens into braille using braille display equipment. They use both commonplace and more complicated applications.

9. Text To Speech Applications (TTS)

Text To Speech Applications
Source: news.northeastern.edu

TTS is an assistive software for reading aloud text. It produces synthetic speech from text obtained in documents, websites, and emails, making them easier for those who are blind, visually handicapped, or dyslexic to use. Most PCs and mobile devices support it.

Conclusion

Many persons with disabilities use and access computers in a variety of unique ways. Some of them carry out this using assistive technology. Depending on their particular requirements and preferences.

Furthermore, not everyone operates a computer with a mouse and keyboard. People with mobility issues have a variety of possibilities thanks to alternative input devices letting users operate a computer in a way that suits them best. They might do this by using their hands, feet, mouth, eye, breath, thumb, or a single finger.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Subscribe Today

GET EXCLUSIVE FULL ACCESS TO PREMIUM CONTENT

SUPPORT NONPROFIT JOURNALISM

EXPERT ANALYSIS OF AND EMERGING TRENDS IN CHILD WELFARE AND JUVENILE JUSTICE

TOPICAL VIDEO WEBINARS

Get unlimited access to our EXCLUSIVE Content and our archive of subscriber stories.

Exclusive content

More article

.........