It’s Built In! Accessibility Options in Windows XP and Apple OS X Delaware Instructional Technology Conference Joanne Jennings Office of Educational Technology University of Delaware

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference2 Accessible Technology Enables individuals to adjust their computers to meet their needs –Visual –Hearing –Mobility –Cognitive –Speech

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference3 Accessible Technology Specialty Hardware and Software Products Or It’s Built into Operating Systems

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference4 Section 508 Compliance U.S. Federal Government –In 1998 Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act to strengthen Section 508 –Requires that Federal agencies’ electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities –Compliant as of June 21, 2001 Microsoft –Accessible Technology since 1988 Apple –Accessible Technology since 1985

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference5 Who Can Benefit from Accessible Technology (AT)? 2003 Microsoft Study –57% of computer users age likely or very likely to benefit from AT Includes those who are not measured in other studies as disabled but who have difficulty in performing tasks

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference Microsoft Study Other Key Findings –Participants reported that AT Makes computers more comfortable and easier to use –Use of AT was influenced by an individual’s computer experience and confidence rather than impairments –Users of accessible technology often find the technology themselves to improve their computing experience –These findings changed the concept of disability Altered understanding the need for accessible technology

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference7 Delaware Student Population 116,287 Students ,636 Special Education Students

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference8 Delaware Students

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference9 Delaware Students

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference10 Windows XP Accessibility Tools Start  All programs  Accessories  Accessibility

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference11 Windows XP Accessibility Tools The Accessibility Wizard Utility Manager Narrator Screen Magnifier On-Screen Keyboard

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference12 Windows XP Accessibility Tools The Accessibility Wizard –A good first step Asks series of questions To identify optimum font and cursor sizes, visibility options, keystroke speeds and more –Adjust settings specific to user’s needs

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference13 Windows XP Accessibility Tools Utility Manager –Provides access to the Magnifier, Narrator, and On-Screen Keyboard –Open with Windows key-U

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference14 Windows XP Accessibility Tools Narrator –Text-to-speech program Announces menu and control options Shortcuts, titles, window titles, keystrokes, and window settings. Text within windows in selected text-only programs such as Notepad, Wordpad, and plain-text Outlook messages

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference15 Windows XP Accessibility Tools Mobility –On-Screen Keyboard US standard or enhanced with numeric keypad In hovering mode, placing the mouse over a character for a length of time selects character

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference16 Accessibility Options in Windows XP Start  Control Panel  Accessibility Options

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference17 Accessibility Options in Windows XP Mobility –StickyKeys Difficulty holding down 2 or more keys at the same time—press one key at a time –FilterKeys Ignore brief or repeated keystrokes –ToggleKeys Hear tones when you press Caps Lock, Num Lock, and Scroll Lock keys

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference18 Accessibility Options in Windows XP Mobility –MouseKeys Control mouse pointer using the numeric keypad Left Alt, Left Shift, Num Lock –Speech Recognition Works with Word Start  Control Panel  Sounds, Speech and Audio Devices  Speech

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference19 Accessibility Options in Windows XP Hearing –SoundSentry Generates a visual warning when your system generates a sound –Error messages, alerts –Show Sounds Program with sound uses a text caption or icon

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference20 Accessibility Options in Windows XP Visual –High Contrast Variety of choices –Cursor Options Blink rate Cursor width –Enlarge the display

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference21 Accessibility Options in Windows XP General Tab –Administrative Options Apply user settings at login –Automatic Reset Turn off accessibility after a time limit –SerialKey Devices Allows you to add switches –Notification Gives a warning or make a sound when you turn feature on or off

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference22 Accessibility Tools in Macintosh OS X Universal Access (similar to Windows Accessibility Options) –Apple menu  System Preferences  Universal Access Text automatically spoken when you mouse over it

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference23 Accessibility Tools in Macintosh OS X Visual Disabilities –View Options Increases icon size and icon text size View menu –Dock Magnification System preferences  Dock

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference24 Accessibility Tools in Macintosh OS X Visual Disabilities –Apple Menu  System Preferences  Speech –Text-to-Speech (similar to Windows Narrator) Speech recognition Speak alerts

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference25 Accessibility Tools in Macintosh OS X Visual Disabilities –Zoom (similar to Windows Magnifier) Magnify everything on the screen Quicktime video plays magnified –Display Adjustment

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference26 Accessibility Tools in Macintosh OS X Learning and Other Disabilities –TextEdit Word processor Can speak an entire doc or selected text –Spoken Items Hear text read aloud Both TextEdit and Spoken Items are useful for feedback, especially for those learning to read and write –Talking Calculator OS X not Windows

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference27 Accessibility Tools in Macintosh OS X Mobility –Sticky Keys (similar to Windows StickyKeys) For difficulty in pressing more than one key at a time –Slow Keys (similar to Windows FilterKeys) For difficulty with initial or repeated keystrokes –Mouse Keys (similar to Mouse Keys in Windows) Allows use of numeric keypad instead of mouse

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference28 Accessibility Tools in Macintosh OS X Mobility –Key Repeat Set repeat delay to prevent keystroke repeats –Keyboard Navigation Assign a keyboard combination to any menu item that does not have one assigned Also can change an existing combination

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference29 Accessibility Tools in Macintosh OS X Mobility –Speech Recognition Launch applications and complete commands with your voice Speaker independent No voice training required Optimized for built-in microphones

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference30 Accessibility Tools in Macintosh OS X Hearing Disabilities –Flash Screen (similar to Windows SoundSentry) Visual indication of alert sounds by flashing screen once –QuicktimeQuicktime Application included with OS X creates and displays a text track

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference31 Accessibility Tools in Macintosh OS X General –Multiple Users (similar to Windows Administrative Options) Each user saves preferred settings –Sherlock Useful for emerging readers and writers

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference32 Introducing Tiger: 10.4 VoiceOver Provides access to your Mac through speech, audible cues and keyboard navigation Appropriate for students with learning, mobility, or visual disabilities

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference33 Introducing Tiger: 10.4 VoiceOver –Integrated screen reader Web pages Mail messages Word processing files Mac workspace –Allows use of keyboard –Voice over demoVoice over demo

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference34 One Size Does Not Fit All…. Accessibility options in Windows and Macintosh are not for everyone –More robust software and hardware are necessary for more serious impairments More expensive More customizable

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference35 For More Information on Third Party Products Apple – Microsoft – earch.asphttp:// earch.asp –(

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference36 THANK YOU!

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference37 References "Accessible Technology in Computing--Examining Awareness, Use, and Future Potential." Microsoft Technology for Everyone: Accessibility Microsoft Corporation. 02 Apr "Accessibility." Accessibility Apple Computer, Inc "Accessibility in Education." Accessibility in Education Apple Computer, Inc "Apple's Accessibility Technologies." Accessibility Apple Computer, Inc "Assistive Software/Hardware Based on Disability." UIUC. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Carmack, Carmen. "Help Getting Around: 14 Accessibility Features." Smart Computing August 2003: Carmack, Carmen. "More Than Meets The Fingertips." Smart Computing September 2003:. Davidson, Iver. "Special Tools for Special Needs: Utilities Make XP Microsoft's Most Accessible OS Yet." Smart Computing June 2003:.

4/14/05Delaware Instructional Technology Conference38 References Derowitsch, Rachel. "Input Devices: Get In Touch With The Best Features of These Tools." Smart Computing July 2003: "Fingertip Facts on Education " State of Delaware Department of Education. 02 Apr Lazzaro, Joe. "The Eyes Have It." Smart Computing January 2005: "Microsoft and Section 508." Microsoft Technology for Everyone: Accessibility Microsoft Corporation. 21 Mar "Microsoft Technology for Everyone: Accessibillity." Microsoft Corporation "The Wide Range of Abilities and Its Impact on Computer Technology." Microsoft Technology for Everyone: Accessibility Microsoft Corporation. 02 Apr "VoiceOver." Accessibility Apple Computer, Inc