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Adaptive technology
and older people
ASCCA – the peak organisation for Computer Clubs for Seniors – is committed to ensuring that all older people have the opportunity to become computer literate. This includes older people who have difficulty using standard computer hardware and software.
This information sheet will give you an overview of the many different ways to make computer technology accessible to older people with disabilities. You can obtain one to one and small group help from one of the many seniors computer clubs throughout Australia. When this document is viewed online at www.ascca.org.au all links will take you to the relevant websites for more details. You will find some contact details at the end of the sheet.
Adaptive technology opens up a new world of information for
people who find it difficult to use common computer devices such as
keyboards, the mouse, a monitor or a printer.
The technology includes alternative or adapted hardware and/or
software applications which duplicate the input and output tasks in an
appropriate way for the user.
Many older people are deterred from using computers, not
only because of lack of familiarity, but also because they are physically
unable to use the keyboard, the mouse, or are unable to read text or view
images or video on a computer screen.
Adaptive technology, which can also be known as assistive
technology, compensates for the inability to use input and output devices and
the computer operating system.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics found in its 1998 report
(Disability,
Ageing and Carers Summary of Findings, Australia, 1998 (Cat. no. 4430.0) that the rate of disability amongst older people ranges
from 36% of the population aged between 60-64 to 67.5% of people aged 75 and
over.
·
Assistance with paperwork is required by 262,100 people aged 65 and over.
·
Mobility assistance is required by 410,400 people aged 65 plus.
·
133,600 people aged 65 and over require assistance with communication.
People who benefit from adaptive technology include:
·
People with low vision or no useful sight at all
·
Older people with poor hand function (stiff joints, tremors, weak muscles or
paralysis), often as a result of stroke or arthritis
·
Older people with poor memory or confusion
Computer hardware is the physical body of the system.
It includes the computer’s central processing unit and motherboard,
daughter boards (such as sound card), keyboard, monitor, mouse and any other
peripherals such as printer, scanner and modem.
These include
keyboards, mouse, trackballs, scanners and cameras.
Video screens
and printers are output devices.
All can cause
problems for older people with disabilities.
See Section 2.2
All computers require operating systems (or sets of instructions) to
manage tasks such as storing, sorting and saving files.
The operating system manages software applications.
Examples of operating systems include Microsoft Windows and Linux.
Windows and other operating systems have recently introduced many
accessibility features to assist people who have difficulty reading a screen,
using a mouse or a keyboard, or hearing sounds.
These include shortcut keys, toggle switches, bundled screen readers
(such as narrator which is built into Windows XP), and utility managers which
can increase screen contrast or change font size.
These are designed to accomplish given tasks such as word
processing, mathematical calculations, drawing pictures and managing data.
Examples of software applications include Microsoft Word, Adobe
Photoshop, Macromedia Dreamweaver, Netscape browser and Internet Explorer.
Again, the major software application companies are
increasingly providing accessibility features to ensure equal access to
information technology.
It may be that you have difficult reading a document, sending or
receiving email or seeing a webpage on the screen. Enlarging the text, images and the menu bars may be as simple
as changing the commands in your operating system, such as Windows XP, or you
may need screen magnifying or text to speech software.
A few examples of software, utilities and equipment are given below.
ASCCA does not necessarily endorse these products over others.
On your control panel, check out the Accessibility options or
Keyboard Assistance on the Microsoft Accessibility website.
These allow you
to enlarge text or images on a screen.
Some software allows you to zoom in and out. An example of screen magnifying software is Freedom
Scientific’s
MAGic and
ZoomText.
IBM Web Adaption Technology will help you customise your computer and
help you to access websites.
There are a range of products for email and the web which can read text
aloud to either replace reading text or facilitate screen reading.
These include
Jaws,
which can read many popular software programs as well as operating system
commands,
Connect Outloud or Window
Eyes™.
Many of these text to speech readers can also send output to Braille
printers and Braille displays.
Many people cannot read books, magazines and
printed material in general.
However, optical character recognition (OCR) software can be used in
conjunction with a flatbed scanner to overcome such barriers.
By using a scanner with OCR software, a computer can output to large
print, speech, Braille or another modality.
An example of OCR software is
Scansoft.
A mouse is used for pointing a cursor and clicking to carry out commands.
There are a number of alternatives which may suit you.
You may be unable to use a mouse at all, or require a different clicking
or pointing device. You may not
be able to see the cursor, you may lack fine motor control to click where you
choose on the screen, or you may not be able to click at all.
Instead of a mouse, you could use short-cut keys to replace the mouse
functions. Screen reader
programs work this way, using key strokes like TAB, shift key etc.
However, you can also use generic software applications such as the
Microsoft Office suite this way.
The alternate keys are easy to learn and full instructions are given for each
application. As an example,
check
Keyboard assistance in Microsoft.
There are a myriad of devices you can use instead of a mouse.
Some are used by hands, others by moving the head or sucking and
drawing breath. You can check
out many of these devices at the Independent Living Centre or specialist
places like
Ability Technology.
Keyboards come in lots of
different shapes and configurations.
Adapted keyboards can be used by people who have control over one hand or
just one finger. Some are
programmable, permitting the user to rearrange the keyboard layout. Keyboards can also be used with a mouth stick or even with
the feet. They can be large or
small in size.
Microsoft provides three
Dvorak layouts
(as opposed to QWERTY layouts) for people who type with either their right or
left hand, or with both hands, as part of its Windows operating system
On screen keyboard programs allow an image of a keyboard to be shown on
screen. The user then uses a
mouse, joystick, switch, electronic pointing device, head stick or trackball
to select the key on the screen.
Some on screen programs have a scanning system, whereby the user controls the
highlighted letter with a part of the body able to be controlled.
Keyguards are plastic or metal covers that fit over a standard or
alternative computer keyboard.
They help prevent accidental keystrokes and provide a place to rest hands for
stability when typing.
There are a number of software programs which enable the computer to recognise your voice, and type the words on the screen. The user gives commands via a microphone attached to the computer. This can be extremely useful for people with poor hand function. You can create text documents such as letters or email messages, browse the internet and navigate through applications and menus using your voice.
Software programs include ViaVoice and Dragon Speaking Naturally.
For more information about products
Quantum Technology Pty
Ltd
5 South Street (PO Box 390)
Rydalmere NSW 2116
Phone: 02 8844 9888
Fax: 02 9684
Email: info@quantech.com.au
Vision Australia
Mitchell Street,
Enfield NSW
2136
PO Box 176
Burwood NSW 2134
Phone: (02)
9334 3333
Fax: (02)
9747 5993
http://www.visionaustralia.org.au/info.aspx
Email:
info@visionaustralia.org
Ability Technology
Box 44, 145 Sydney
Road
Fairlight NSW 2094
Phone: (02) 9907
9736
Fax: (02) 9907 9599
http://www.abilitycorp.com.au/
Email:
info@ability.org.au
For more information
about computer learning opportunities:
Australian Senior
Computer Clubs Association
Level 4, 280 Pitt Street
SYDNEY 2000
Phone: (02) 9286 3871
Fax: (02) 9286 3876
Email: office@ascca.org.au
Proudly
sponsored by Roche Products Pty Limited
Prepared by Margaret Tucker, Moxon Green & Associates Pty Ltd on behalf of
©
2003