The document discusses assistive technologies for individuals with disabilities that impact input and output. It describes technologies like electronic Braille displays, screen readers, screen magnification, speech synthesizers, and video magnifiers that help those who are visually impaired. OCR technology, switches, alternative keyboards, mice, and head mice are mentioned as tools to aid users with dexterity issues. Voice recognition is highlighted as an input method for both hearing and mobility impaired individuals. Stephen Hawking's use of an infrared detection system and voice synthesizer is provided as an example.

1. Gerardo Alfaro, José Milla

2. Lack of dexterity

Issue with Input devices:

 Hard to use keyboard, mouse, and similar devices

3. Hearing impaired

Issue with input devices:

 Difficulty for voice input devices
(They find it difficult to control their own sound
output)
Issue with output devices:

 Cannot hear speech output or sound

4. Visually impaired

Issues with Input devices:

 Many devices depend on having visual feedback
Issues with output devices:

 Cannot see the screen or read conventional
printer output

5. Electronic Braille Displays

Electronic reading aids

Screen Magnification

Speech output systems

Video Magnifiers


6. Tactile devices that are placed under a typical

computer keyboard
 It enables the user to read the contents of the
computer screen, by touch in Braille
 These displays are designed with buttons
and/or bars to enable the user to view any
part in the screen, and read whichever part
they wish

8. Used to scan and translate printed text into a

computer readable file.
 This then can be read with synthetic speech,
magnification software or a Braille Display.
 It consists of:
 A scanner (scans the text to be processed)
 Recognition software that can be in the form of a
printed circuit board or software stored in a disk

10. A Speech synthesizer produces artificial

human speech. It can be implemented in
software or hardware.

11. Screen magnification software works by

increasing the size of the image displayed on
the screen
 Some screen magnification programs now
provide supportive speech output as well
 Windows OS include some screen
enhancement features such as High Contrast
color schemes, and larger font sizes

13. Typically consists of a speech synthesizer and

screen reading software
 A screen reading program sends screen text
displayed on the screen to be spoken by a
speech synthesizer
 The speech synthesizer produces the speech
output

14. Useful for people with some useful vision

Video magnifiers require a camera to magnify

what the user intends to read, whether on a
computer screen or printed handouts, etc.

18. Provide more visual information and

feedback that can replace audible
information.
Allow users to configure frequency and

volume of audible cues.

21. Special Input Devices

 Special pointing devices
Alternative input methods

 Switches
 Head Mice
 Voice Recognition

22. Keyboards tend to be much smaller, decreasing

the range of motion needed to operate all of the
keys
Most don’t have the QWERTY configuration but

have the most commonly used keys in the center
while the less commonly used ones on the
edges.
Some keyboards also have the ability to control

the mouse so the user can control everything in
a small amount of space

24. The mouse is still the preferred pointing

device, and additions such as optical mice are
maintenance free for the dexterity impaired
as well as cordless mice which don’t get
tangled
 Tracker balls however are gaining popularity
as they need less hand and wrist movement
to function effectively

26. Switches:
 Come in all shapes and sizes
 Used when other input methods aren’t viable
 They can be operated by any part of the
body, and positioning is often critical
 Switch software requres scanning of some
sort; therefore it’s rather slow

27. Head Mice:
 These systems enable the cursor to be
controlled by movement of the head, with
software allowing the user access to all
common mouse functions
 With a a keyboard emulator, a user can work
independently (as long as they have fine head
control)

28. Voice Recognition:
 The user speaks through a microphone
 The computer processes the sound input
 The computer then can carry out tasks based
on command words that are given through
speech input

32. Stephen Hawking,

33. He has ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)

The vast majority of his body is paralyzed, to

such an extent he cant even speak
 He uses a voice synthesizer to speak
 He creates words by moving his cheek
muscles, and a infrared beam detects these
movements
 The speech creating process is not fast by any
means but it at least allows him to talk

34. He uses similar movements to move the

electric chair in which he is in, and access the
computer on it