Laura Hagerty

DSPS 55: Assistive Technology

Research Paper

Some people might find silence peaceful, but for people with visual loss like myself, sounds and voices are treasures. There was a time when the options for a person with visual loss were limited to typewriters and braillers but, today that is no longer the case. Due to technological developments, someone with visual loss has a variety of appliances and devices available to her. In a world with no sight, these products make a big difference.

There are many visual aids for the blind. Some have sound; some do not. The Braille n' Speak, JAWS and Kurzweil 1000 scanners are 3 developments in assistive technology that are very helpful in everyday life. They make it easy for one to communicate with others and express oneself. The Braille n' Speak is shaped like a miniature Brailler. It has 6 keys with a spacebar at the center. Unlike the Brailler, the Braille n' Speak is very light so it can be carried around easily. It also has more functions

than a Brailler. It has a clock, calendar, calculator, files and it can be hooked up to a computer for printing material. However, one must know Braille in order to use it. Braille n' Speak was developed by Blazie Engineering and is available through Freedom Scientific. It cost about $1300; it is hardware that contains a memory chip. It works by keyboard commands. A Braille n' Speak will save all material when it is turned off without having to be told like a computer. The voice can be turned on and off easily making it possible to work without disturbing others. I chose the Braille n' Speak because it is like a portable brailler, only better. I can take notes, put personal reminders in the calendar and write down phone numbers. Later, I can use keyboard commands to retrieve the information. It has a calculator so it comes in handy if I need to do some math. It has a case with a shoulder strap which makes it very convenient.

Another product that is very helpful to people with visual loss is JAWS. JAWS is a computer screen reader. While one types information, JAWS reads back everything making it easy to correct work. JAWS also reads CD Rom, internet, and electric disk. Using JAWS one can edit, save, and print work. In order to operate JAWS one must know how to type.

JAWS is software that is available through Freedom Scientific. Price varies depending on what version is purchased. Price range goes from $800 to $1000. JAWS is mostly used by people with visual loss, but people with other disabilities can benefit from it, for instance, someone with dyslexia. JAWS opened up the world of computers to the visually disabled.

The reasons I like to use JAWS are because it allows me to know exactly what I'm typing, I can go online, read books, etc. I can also use it with some of my other equipment. I can hook it up to my Braille n' Speak and print something out. I can save work or delete it. I can even transfer information to and from floppy disk. JAWS gives me flexibility.

One more amazing creation in synthetic voice technology is the Kurzweil 1000 scanner. It is a reading machine that uses voice synthesizer to read print material. It was developed by Ray Kurzweil. He makes musical keyboards that synthesize acoustic instruments. The Kurzweil 1000 scans, reads and saves print material. One uses number keypad on the computer to activate the scanner's functions. It makes it possible for people with visual loss to have access to print books, magazines, newspapers and mail.

Gone are the days when a person with visual loss had to wait for someone to read something to them just because it was print. I like the Kurzweil 1000 scanner because it makes me feel very independent. I can read my own mail, especially if it is private. If something is not available in braille or on tape, I can scan it and read it right away.

I use other speech synthesizer devices in my everyday life. I have a talking clock with an alarm. In the kitchen, I use a talking microwave. It has a timer and cooks nicely. I have a talking weight scale though I keep the volume turned down so only I can hear it. I feel very fortunate to enjoy these synthetic voice devices. They fill my world with beautiful sounds.

These advances in voice synthesizing technology make it possible for someone with sight im- pairment to grow and learn. They lead a path to education, computers, print items and so much more. It is exciting to imagine what the future will bring not only for people with visual loss but others as well.