From the web site http://microsoft.com/enable Accessibility Products for Microsoft Windows, Windows NT, and Windows 95 March 1998 This document lists some of the products which are available to make the Microsoft(R) Windows(R), Microsoft Windows(R) for Workgroups, Windows 95, and Microsoft Windows NT(R) operating systems more accessible to people with disabilities. While Microsoft attempts to include all known products in these categories, the list may not be exhaustive, and Microsoft does not in any way endorse the products described nor take responsibility for the accuracy of this information. For references on how to obtain more information on this field, please see the last section of this document. Products are listed according to the following categories: * Screen enlarger utilities for individuals who have low vision * Screen review utilities for individuals who are blind * On-screen keyboard utilities for individuals who use a pointing device instead of a keyboard * Voice input utilities for individuals who talk to their computer instead of using a keyboard or mouse * Keyboard enhancement utilities for individuals who have difficulty with standard keyboard behavior * Miscellaneous utilities and operating system enhancements NOTES: Unless otherwise noted, all products designed for Microsoft Windows 3.x support Windows 3.0 and 3.1 and Windows for Workgroups 3.11. All products listed are produced in English unless otherwise noted. Specific information regarding other languages available is listed in the "Language" section of each product listing. Unless otherwise noted, all prices are in U.S. dollars. Screen enlarger utilities Screen enlargers (also called large print programs) allow the user to enlarge a portion of their screen. This effectively turns the computer monitor into a viewport showing only a portion of an enlarged virtual display. The user can then use the mouse or keyboard commands to move this viewport in order to view different areas of the virtual display. Most manufacturers have free demonstration copies available. Product: LP-Windows From: Optelec U.S. Inc., P.O. Box 729, 6 Lyberty Way, Westford, MA 01886 Phone: 800-828-1056 or 508-392-0707 Fax: 508-692-6073 Internet: http://www.optelec.com System: Windows 95, Windows 3.x Price: Windows 95/3.x: $395; Windows/MS-DOS: $595 Demo: Downloadable from their Web site or available free by mail. Notes: LP-Windows software is designed for people with low vision and is easy to use. Simple disk installation converts your software applications to large print. Magnifies text, spreadsheets and graphics 16x. SVGA compatible for Internet access in large print. Compatible with any PC, PS/2, or laptop equipped with SVGA, VGA, EGA, MCGA, or CGA display adapters. Product: Lunar From: Dolphin Computer Access Limited, P.O. Box 83, Worcester WR3 8TU England Phone: +44-1905-754577 Fax: +44-1905-754559 Email: sales@dolphinaccess.com or support@dolphinaccess.com U.S. dealers: sduncan@4access.com; ulva1@aol.com; sales@maxiaids.com; lssgrp@aol.com Internet: http://www.dolphinaccess.com System: Windows 95 version is for r.4.00.950; Lunar SVGA is for Windows 3.x Price: Two models: $465 Windows 95; $360 SVGA Windows 3.x Demo: Available from Web site or by mail. Notes: Supports up to 16x magnification in SVGA & Windows 95. All features are accessible from the Control Panel or via hot keys. It intelligently "tracks" and magnifies dialog boxes, Windows controls, menus, highlight bars, pointers, and cursors. Available in both versions: Split Screen Mode magnifies anything from a single line to the whole screen; Line View Mode reviews the screen as a single scrolling line; customization of color schemes, mouse pointers and cursors. Available in Windows 95 version only: font smoothing in any True Type font. Windows NT version available summer 1998, price $845. Product: MAGic and MAGic NT From: Henter-Joyce, Inc., 11800 31st Court N., St. Petersburg, FL 33716 Phone: 800-336-5658 or 813-803-8000 Fax: (813) 803-8001 Internet: http://www.hj.com ftp: ftp://ftp.hj.com/pub/hj Email: info@hj.com System: Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0 Price: MAGic: $349; MAGic for Windows NT: $995.00 Demo: Via Internet (FTP) or mail Notes: Screen magnification software for MS-DOS, Windows, and Windows NT. MAGic magnifies up to 20x in Windows (12x MS-DOS). Supports SVGA, 256 color display resolutions. Additional features include smooth panning, color contrast, attribute tracking, hot key remapping and advanced settings. Product: MagniPORT From: Microsystems Software, Inc., 600 Worcester Rd., Framingham, MA 01701 Phone: 800-828-2600 or 508-879-9000 Fax: 508-879-1069 BBS: 508-875-8009 Email hware@microsys.com Internet: http://www.handiware.com System: Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows NT Price: $19 Demo: Via Internet (FTP), BBS or Mail Notes: Pop-up screen magnification window. Enlarges screen image up to 10x in Windows and Windows NT. Tracks mouse movements. Supports all display resolutions. Product: MAGNUM 95 From: Artic Technologies, 55 Park St., Troy, MI 48083 Phone: 248-588-7370 Fax: 248-588-2650 Email: Info@artictech.com Internet: Http://www.artictech.com System: Windows 95 Price: $195 Demo: Free demo version downloadable from Web site or by mail. Notes: Up to 32x magnification, full color, and graphics support. Designed to work interactively with Artic's screen access software, WinVision 97. Product: MAGNUM Deluxe From: Artic Technologies, 55 Park St., Troy, MI 48083 Phone: 248-588-7370 Fax: 248-588-2650 Email: Info@artictech.com Internet: Http://www.artictech.com System: Windows 3.x, MS-DOS Price: $395 Demo: Free demo version downloadable from Web site or by mail. Notes: Up to 32x magnification, full color, and graphics support. Designed to work interactively with Artic's screen access software, WinVision. Product: 9FX Series and Imagine 128 From: Number Nine Corporation, 18 Hartwell Ave., Lexington, MA 21730 Phone: 617-674-0009 Fax: 617-674-2919 Cost: $149 to $1499 Notes: Number Nine makes video adapters with a feature called "Hawkeye," hardware pan and zoom enlargement. It has most of the standard enlarger features, including the ability to track mouse and insertion bar. It also relocates dialog boxes to the zoomed area, and allows you to adjust the size and color of the mouse cursor. Unlike most software-only products, it works with screen resolutions higher than 640x480. Product: PANORAMA Window Bridge or POWERAMA Window Bridge From: Syntha-voice Computers Inc., 304 - 800 Queenston Rd., Stoney Creek, ON L8G 1A7 Canada Phone: 800-263-4540 (Ordering Hotline, Product Support) 905-662-0565 (General Inquiries, Main Number) Fax: 905-662-0568 BBS: 905-662-0569 Internet: http://www.synthavoice.on.ca or ftp.synthavoice.on.ca Email: help@synthavoice.on.ca System: Windows 3.1x, MS-DOS Price: Panorama: $495; Powerama: $695 Demo: Available free by mail, BBS, or Internet. Notes: PANORAMA allows typing, editing, and navigation of the cursor or mouse to be automatically tracked in user-definable large print. POWERAMA additionally allows these same functions to be spoken through any of 40 speech synthesizers. Both models magnify MS-DOS text up to 12x, graphics up to 16x. No magnification limitation in Windows. Smooth scrolling; character smoothing. Designed for IBM 80-386 based systems or better, with MS-DOS 3.3 or later. Originally released July 1992; current version is 1.32. Product: ProVision32 From: Biolink Computer R&D Ltd., Suite 305, 140 W. 15th St., North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 1R6, Canada Phone: 604-984-4099 Fax: 604-985-8493 Email: Compuserve 72604,367 or 72604.367@compuserve.com Internet: http://biz.bctel.net/biolink System: Windows NT 3.51/4.0 Price: $995 Demo: Available for $25, mailing and handling included. (Express extra.) Notes: ProVision32 is a 32 bit screen magnification software program for use by low vision people. ProVision32 is compatible to work with the screen reader program Protalk32 for Windows NT 3.51/4.0. Network versions and site licenses available. Product: The Magnifier From: IMG Inc., 21550 Oxnard St., Suite 300, Woodland Hills, CA 91367 Phone: 800-889-0987 Fax: 818-346-3973 Internet: http://www.IMGPresents.com Email: Info@imgpresents.com System: Windows 3.x; Windows 95; Windows NT Price: $29.95 Demo: Downloadable from Web site Notes: Provides adjustable 2x - 10x area magnification in any Windows environment. It requires no special hardware or enlarged fonts and works with all text and graphics applications. Multiple magnifier configurations are supported. Also includes "cursor locator" crosshair settings for users who have difficulty locating or tracking the cursor on the screen. The Magnifier works with any pointing device. Product: Super Vista and Vista PCI From: Telesensory Corp., 520 Almanor Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086-3533 Phone: 800-804-8004 or 408-616-8700 Fax: 408-616-8719 Internet: http://www.telesensory.com System: Super Vista: Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows NT; Vista PCI: Windows 3.x, Windows 95 Price: $2495 for either Notes: Super Vista and Vista PCI are screen magnification systems consisting of specialized video adapters that provide SVGA emulation with additional pan and zoom capabilities. The software is entirely mouse controlled. The Vista mouse also functions as the Windows mouse, switching back and forth between applications and enlarger control. Work very well with network and terminal emulation systems. Product: ZoomText Xtra and ZoomText for DOS From: Ai Squared, P.O. Box 669, Manchester Center, VT 05255-0669 Phone: 802-362-3612 Fax: 802-362-1670 Email: zoomtext@aisquared.com Internet: http://www.aisquared.com System: ZoomText Xtra: Windows 95, Windows 3.1x ZoomText for DOS: MS-DOS Price: ZoomText Xtra Level 1 (screen magnification only): $395 ZoomText Xtra Level 2 (screen magnification & screen reading): $595 ZoomText for DOS $395 ($200 with purchase of ZoomText Xtra) Demo: Available free from Web site or by mail. Notes: ZoomText Xtra is a family of low-vision software that features a fully integrated screen magnifier and screen reader, along with a specialized module for document reading. Magnifies from 1x to 16x in full- and partial-screen zoom windows, with advanced edge-smoothing, color filtering and cursor enhancements. Speaks all Windows components, echoes typing and reads multi-page documents. Intelligent tracking of all screen activity including support for Microsoft Active AccessibilityTM. Supports 16, 256 and high color display drivers and any resolution. Integrated text-to-speech works with any Windows 95 sound card. Also supports all SSIL synthesizers. ZoomText for DOS magnifies from 2x to 16x in full- and partial-screen zoom windows. Three smooth fonts, 16 selectable colors, advanced tracking, smooth panning and pop-up menus. Supports 80 column text and standard VGA graphics display modes. Screen review utilities People who cannot use visual information use the computer with the aid of a screen review utility. Screen reader utilities take the information displayed visually on the screen and make it available through alternative media, such as synthesized speech or a refreshable Braille display. Screen review utilities often accept configuration files (also called set files or profiles) which tell it how to work correctly with particular applications. Most Windows screen review utilities provide access to MS-DOS. Product: ASAP for Windows From: MicroTalk, 721 Olive St., Texarkana, TX 75501 Phone: 903-792-4150 Fax: 903-792-4150 BBS: 903-832-3722 Internet: http://www.screenaccess.com System: Windows 3.x, Windows 95 Language: English Price: $595 Demo: A free demo copy is available via their BBS or Web site. Notes: Works with multimedia sound cards or hardware speech synthesizers and is highly configurable. Product: Blindows From: Frank Audiodata, P.O. Box 1161, Kriegsstr. 13-15, D-68790 Oberhausen-Rhsn. Phone: +49-7254-5050 Fax: +49-721-5579 Email: Blindows@audiodata.de Internet: http://www.audiodata.de System: Windows 3.x; Windows 95; Windows NT version due mid-1998 Language: Many languages available Price: Blindows; Blindows 95 or Blindows NT: 4100 DM Notes: Blindows Professional, is an extension to the Audiodata Speech and Braille output systems for Microsoft Windows 3.11 applications. Blindows takes the extreme complexity of graphical relationships in the Windows environment and makes them clear even for blind users through clearly structured presentation using (optional combinations of) speech, sound, and Braille. The user maintains a clear of idea of the two-dimensional structure of the screen, by using the acoustic cues and intuitive feedback provided by the TASO system. A tactile renditions of text information via the Braille display can be augmented by listening to a synthetic-speech translation. An optional simultaneous enlarged-character text and graphics display is also integrated. As a sighted user can access programs through overlapping windows, Blindows provides blind users access two ways: in work mode, Blindows provides access within the limits of the currently open windows, eliminating confusing information from other applications; in heuristic mode, it allows the user to roam across all open windows, providing a direct impression of all activities. Product: DRACULAwin, DRACULAnet and DRACULAvox From: EuroBRAILLE sa, 34 ru du General Brunet, 75019 PARIS, FRANCE Phone: +33-01-53-72-85-00 Fax: +33-01-42-01-98-40 Email: Boutique@eurobraille.fr Web Site: http://www.eurobraille.fr System: Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows NT 5.0 Language: DRACULA family are available in English, French and Deutsche Price: DRACULAwin / DRACULAnet 95 = $1290; DRACULAvox: $790.00 Notes: DRACULAwin 95 is 32-bit software that works with euroBRAILLE Braille display equipment. It provides access to Windows 95 and Microsoft Office 97. DRACULAwin 95 represents a new philosophy in access. The navigation functions, attached to the characters, are defined in correlation to the position of the characters in the word. A simulator of the Braille equipment is used to see how the blind user navigates, as well as to do a demonstration with the mouse for a sighted user to a blind person. Patent pending. DRACULAnet 95 is subset of DRACULAwin 95 to give access to INTERNET via Internet Explorer and Outlook 97. Products in development include: DRACULAwin 98 & NT have the same specifications as DRACULAwin 95 but it will provide access to WINDOWS 98 & NT 5.0 and Microsoft Office 97. DRACULAnet 98 & NT are subsets of DRACULAwin 98 & NT to give access to INTERNET via Internet Explorer and Outlook 97. DRACULAvox 95, 98 & NT is 32-bit screen reading software that works with a dedicated keyboard (DRACULAkey). It's an ergonomic voice screen reader that provides access to Windows 95, 98 & NT and Microsoft Office 97. Product: Hal From: Dolphin Computer Access Limited, P.O. Box 83, Worcester WR3 8TU England Phone: +44-1905-754577 Fax: +44-1905-754559 Email: sales@dolphinaccess.com or support@dolphinaccess.com; U.S. dealers: sduncan@4access.com; ulva1@aol.com; sales@maxiaids.com; lssgrp@aol.com Internet: http://www.dolphinaccess.com System: Two models: Windows 95; Windows NT Price: Windows 95 version: $465; Windows NT version: $845 Demo: Available free from their Web site or by mail. Notes: Uses Dolphin's own off-screen model. Hal's "Layout Analyzer" automatically associates any text label/description with its appropriate control in dialog boxes, so it doesn't need complex configuration files for each Windows application. Hal for Windows 95 works with any speech synthesizer which has SSIL (Speech Synthesizer Interface Library) or SAM (Synthesizer Access Manager) support. Hal for Windows NT supports any Dolphin serial synthesizer. Easy adjustment of speech settings using a simple control panel. Interactive Navigation Mode. Version 2 now available includes object labeling, support for Microsoft Office 97 and Internet Explorer 4, document read facility, and supplementary Braille display support for the Alva Delphi and Tieman Combibraille. Support for the Telesensory PowerBraille and others will be implemented during Spring/Summer 1998. Product: JAWS for Windows (JFW) From: Henter-Joyce, Inc., 11800 31st Court N., St. Petersburg, FL 33716 Phone: 800-336-5658 or 813-803-8000 Fax: (813) 803-8001 Internet: http://www.hj.com ftp: ftp://ftp.hj.com/pub/hj Email: info@hj.com System: Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0 Language: Many languages available (worldwide distribution) Price: Windows 3.x/ Windows 95: $795; Windows 95/Windows NT: $1495.00 Demo: JFW Timed Evaluation (60 days) with all materials: $39.95. Notes: 32-bit program has many built-in help features and powerful configuration tools that allow the user to customize it for use with even the most complex applications. Tutorial training set of six 90-minute cassette tapes designed to teach JFW and Windows from the keyboard. Includes toll free technical support in North America. Works with a wide variety of refreshable Braille and software synthesizer solutions utilizing standard sound cards. Product: outSPOKEN for Windows v. 1.2 From: ALVA Access Group, 5801 Christie Ave., Ste. 475, Emeryville, CA 94608 Phone: 510-923-6280 TTY: 510-923-6286 Fax: 510-923-6270 Email: osw@aagi.com Internet: http://www.aagi.com System: Windows 3.x, Windows 95 Price: $695 Demo: Available free by downloading from Web site, or request from dealers or via email. Notes: outSPOKEN is designed to work with many of today's popular programs including word processors, Web browsers, email programs, databases, accounting packages, spreadsheets, installers and CD-ROMs. OutSPOKEN includes support for refreshable Braille displays, announcement of icons and other graphics in distinctive Graphic Voice, automatic cursor tracking, identification of all fonts, sizes, and styles, announcement of new windows and dialog boxes, identification of buttons (notes default button), check boxes and graphical controls, and a customizable dictionary for changing the pronunciation of specific words. The program's documents include the manual in print, audio, electronic, and upon request, Braille format. Additionally, a Windows tutorial and complete set of tactile sheets are included. The manual on cassettes is tone-indexed and includes a separate, easy reference cassette for perusing the table of contents. Minimum system requirements: PC compatible with a 386/33 SX or better, speech synthesizer, sound card and Windows 95 or 3.1x. For Windows 95, a Pentium processor with a minimum of 16MB of RAM is recommended. An ALVA or Telesensory Braille display for use with Braille portion of outSPOKEN. Product: Protalk32 From: Biolink Computer R&D Ltd., Suite 305, 140 W. 15th St., North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 1R6, Canada Phone: 604-984-4099 Fax: 604-985-8493 Email: Compuserve 72604,367 or 72604.367@compuserve.com Internet: http://biz.bctel.net/biolink System: Windows 95; Windows NT 3.51/4.0 Language: English, Dutch, French, German, Spanish, Polish and Swedish. Price: Windows 95: $495; Windows NT: $1495 Demo: Windows 95 version available via download from Web site; Windows NT version available for $25, mailing and handling included. (Express extra) Notes: Protalk32 works with any multimedia sound card supported by Windows, and with many hardware speech synthesizers and Braille displays. Network versions and site licenses available. Product: Screen Reader/2 From: IBM (Special Needs Systems Department) Phone: 800-426-7630 (Ordering); 800-426-4832 (Information) TTY: 800-426-4833 Fax: 512-838-9367 Internet: http://www.austin.ibm.com/pspinfo/snshome/html System: IBM(R) OS/2(R) WARP 3.0, 4.0 Price: $600 software only; $700 with external keypad Notes: Provides access to Windows-based and DOS applications when run under IBM's OS/2 operating system. Screen Reader/2 supports most commercially-available text-to-speech synthesizers. It can also be used to drive Braille displays. A dedicated 18-key keypad controls Screen Reader/2 functions (navigation, mouse controls, etc.). Pop-up menus and "Tips" and "Keys" files provide quick access to functions and navigation for applications. Screen Reader/2 provides Internet access. It was released November 1995. Product: ScreenPower(R) for Windows 95 From: Telesensory Corp., 520 Almanor Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086-3533 Phone: 800-286-8484 or 408-616-8700 Fax: 408-616-8753 BBS: 408-616-8723 Email: info@telesensory.com Internet: http://www.telesensory.com System: Windows 95, Windows 3.x Price: $1195 Demo: Available free by mail. Notes: ScreenPower for Windows 95 provides complete Braille and speech access to Windows for blind users. This new release provides enhancements such as an Overview mode and the ability to configure SPWin 95 for any application. With a Braille display and/or integrated speech output, each Windows element is identifiable and accessible. Element appearance, location, purpose, selection status, and relationship to other elements are accessible. SPWin's Explore Mode provides a consistent, easy-to-use interface. Controls on Telesensory Braille displays and the numeric pad enable users to emulate mouse functions like click, cut, drag, and paste screen items. SPWin lets users access hidden icons or windows without moving or closing applications. The system facilitates Windows Help by underlining hyperlinks for clear identification. Supports all synthesizers compatible with SSIL specification, and the SpeechPlus Prose board. Plus, all Telesensory Braille displays, including Navigator and the PowerBraille line. System requirements: at least a Pentium 100 with 32 MB of RAM. Product: SLIMWARE Window Bridge From: Syntha-voice Computers Inc., 304 - 800 Queenston Rd., Stoney Creek, ON L8G 1A7 Canada Phone: 800-263-4540 (Ordering Hotline, Product Support) 905-662-0565 (General Inquiries, Main Number) Fax: 905-662-0568 BBS: 905-662-0569 Internet: http://www.synthavoice.on.ca or ftp.synthavoice.on.ca Email: help@synthavoice.on.ca System: Windows 95, Windows 3.x, MS-DOS Price: $695 Demo: Available free by mail, BBS, or Internet Notes: Screen review program for the blind or deaf-blind. Works on all of the above operating systems with a single set of commands. Supports more than 40 speech synthesizers and more than 20 models of Braille displays. Designed for IBM 80-386 based systems or better, with MS-DOS 3.3 or later. Compatible with VGA video cards or better. System must have 4 MB of RAM, minimum. Requires Sound Blaster with TEXT ASSIST, hardware speech synthesizer, or Braille display. Originally released July 1992; current version is 2.41. Windows 95 version supports Microsoft Active AccessibilityTM. Product: VIRGO 2 From: BAUM Products GmbH, Schloss Langenzell, 69257 Wiesenbach, Germany Phone: +49 6223 49090 Fax: +49 6223 490999 Internet: http://www.baum.de Email: 100041@compuserve.com or friehoff@baum.de System: Windows 95, Windows 3.x Language: German, French, Spanish, Italian, Swedish (easy localization through LNG files) Price: DM 4,750.- Demo: Free, available in January 1997; request via email or fax Notes: The VIRGO screen review software provides a user-defined, either hierarchical-logical or topological (screen oriented) access to Windows. Compatible with PC-based Braille lines via the optional VIRGO-Link package, and supporting SSIL speech output. User friendly package includes information lines, path function, synchronization of speech output, support of Drag & Drop, sorting options, and bookmarkers. Content of Braille display can be shown on the screen, for cooperation with sighted users. Supports most graphic adapters/resolutions (VGA, SVGA, Hires). Under Windows 95 it offers extended functionality such as an interactive user configuration and improved user friendliness through optimal multimedia capabilities. It is 16- and 32-bit compatible, supports MS-SAPI, and uses Visual Basic and VB for Applications as its macro languages. Data interchange through DDE and OLE Automation; all applications supporting macro and OLE Automation can be made VIRGO aware. Product: VISIOBRAILLE From: Handialog, 37, rue de Rome, Paris, 75008, France Phone: +33 1 44 70 32 00 Fax: +33 1 44 70 32 44 Email: handialog@handialog.com Web Site: http://www.handialog.com From: Medialog, 12th St., DIAB Building (Olivetti), MKALLES, Lebanon Phone: +961 3 278 230 Fax: +961 1 282 499 Email: medialog@inco.com.lb System: Windows 95, Windows 3.1x; Windows NT 4.0 available first quarter 1998 Language: French, Arabic Price: $1200 (Windows 3.1x, Windows 95); $1800 (Windows NT) Demo: Available second quarter 1998, downloadable from Web site Notes: A screenreader with optional speech synthesis (English & French). Supports Visiobraille terminal and most popular OEM Braille terminals. Standard PC keyboard with customization utility and online Help. Product: Visions FWD (Visions for Windows & DOS) From: Artic Technologies, 55 Park St., Troy, MI 48083 Phone: 248-588-7370 Fax: 248-588-5260 Email: Info@artictech.com Internet: http://www.artictech.com System: Windows 95 and MS-DOS Price: $795 Demo: Free 30-day demo version (call or request from Web site). Notes: Provides all of WinVision 97's access to Windows 95 and true access to MS-DOS sessions under Windows via a wide variety of speech synthesizers and/or refreshable Braille displays. Easy, intuitive, use right out of the box-no need for customization or macros. Extensive interaction built in for Microsoft Office 97, full support for Microsoft Active AccessibilityTM, Web-Pilot for Internet Explorer 3.0 & 4.01 provides true Internet access. Comes with full documentation and cassette tapes. Product: WINDOTS From: F.H. Papenmeier GmbH & Co. KG, Reha Div., P.O. Box 16 20, D-58211 Schwerte, Germany Phone: +49-2304-946-0 Fax: +49-2304-946-246 Email: fhp@rehatec.un.eunet.de System: Windows 3.x; a Windows 95 version to be released mid 1996 Language: German and other European Demo: Demo is available free of charge. Notes: WinDOTS is a software package that allows blind people to access programs running under Windows. With its unique spatial access concept, WinDOTS transfers all elements needed for working with the graphical user interface - texts, icons, command buttons, etc., or the different windows in their frames - into a format which may be presented on a Braille display. The structure and the layout of the original Windows screen remain unchanged. WinDOTS works best with Papenmeier's two-dimensional Braille displays ( BRAILLEX-2D Screen with 80-cell Braille display, or BRAILLEX-2D Lite with 40-cell Braille display; both display units have a vertical display representing the structure of the screen data). A portable solution is also available with BRAILLEX Compact, a notebook computer with integrated 40-cell Braille display. A speech synthesizer can be added. Full mouse emulation is supported through routing keys. Product: Window-Eyes From: GW Micro, Inc., 725 Airport North Office Park, Fort Wayne, IN 46825 Phone: (219) 489-3671 Fax: (219) 489-2608 Internet: http://www.gwmicro.com BBS: (219) 489-5281 ftp: ftp://ftp.gwmicro.com/ Email: support@gwmicro.com System: Windows 3.x; Windows 95 Price: $595 Demo: Available free by ftp, mail, BBS, or UUENCODED Email Notes: Window-Eyes is a flexible and configurable Windows-based screen reader. The design philosophies of the Vocal-Eyes screen reader for MS-DOS have been integrated as a base for Window-Eyes, and Vocal-Eyes users will appreciate the consistent user interface. Window-Eyes supports many speech synthesizers and is compatible with a variety of MS-DOS-based screen readers. It does not require any special screen or keyboard device driver. Windows 95 version supports Microsoft Active AccessibilityTM. Product: Windows Master From: Blazie Engineering, 105 E. Jarrettsville Rd., Forest Hill, MD 21050 Phone: 410-893-9333 Fax: 410-836-5040 Price: $495 Demo: Available free by mail. Notes: Allows you to control the PC using your personal digital assistant products from Blazie Engineering. Works with Braille Lite for speech and Braille access, or Braille 'n' Speak or Type 'n' Speak for voice access. Product: WINKLiNE From: Speech Systems for the Blind, 76 Wheaton Dr., Attleboro, MA 02703-6623 Phone: 508-226-0447 Internet: http://world.std.com/~speechfb System: Windows; Windows 95 Price: $45 Demo: Available for $5 or downloadable from their Web site and many information systems. Notes: Provides text-to-speech using any multimedia sound card supported by Windows. Identifies icons, menus, and controls, and echoes words as typed or as written to the screen. Product: WinVision 97 From: Artic Technologies, 55 Park St., Troy, MI 48083 Phone: 248-588-7370 Fax: 248-588-5260 Email: Info@artictech.com Internet: http://www.artictech.com System: Windows 95 Price: $595 Demo: Free 30-day demo version (call or request from Web site). Notes: Provides Windows 95 access via a wide variety of speech synthesizers and/or refreshable Braille displays. Easy, intuitive, use right out of the box-no need for customization or macros. Extensive interaction built in for Microsoft Office 97, full support for Microsoft Active AccessibilityTM, Web-Pilot for Internet Explorer 3.0 & 4.01 provides true Internet access. Comes with full documentation and cassette tapes. On-screen keyboard utilities Some individuals with motion impairments cannot use a standard keyboard, but they may be able to use one or more switches or point using a mouse or headpointer. An on-screen keyboard is a program which displays a list of choices to the user and allows them to select those choices using a point-and-click, point-and-dwell or simple clicking interface. A common use of this technique is to display a representation of a keyboard in a window, and allow the user to choose keys which will be typed into the current application, allowing even a user with a single switch to do anything that one could do with a keyboard. Variations in this category include Morse-code input systems and single- or double-switch systems. Product: Eek! From: OMS Development, 610-B Forest Ave., Wilmette, IL 60091 Phone: 847-251-5787 Fax: 847-251-5793 System: Windows 3.1, 3.11, Window for Workgroups; Windows 95 version in beta test. Price: $120 Demo: Demo version available for $5, applicable toward purchase. Notes: Eek! can be used in click mode and can be customized for specific applications. Product: HandiKEY and HandiKey Deluxe From: Microsystems Software, Inc., 600 Worcester Rd., Framingham, MA 01701 Phone: 800-828-2600 or 508-879-9000 Fax: 508-879-1069 BBS: 508-875-8009 Email: hware@microsys.com Internet: http://www.handiware.com System: Windows 3.x, Windows 95, MS-DOS Price: HandiKEY $395.00; HandiKEY Deluxe $495.00 Demo: Via Internet (FTP), BBS or Mail Notes: On-screen keyboard which also includes word prediction, sticky keys and text to speech output. HandiKEY can be used in direct select mode with a mouse, joystick or trackball or in manual or automatic scanning mode. Also supports three or five switch interface. The Deluxe version includes HandiCHAT augmentative communication software. Product: Mouse Keys From: World Communications, 245 Tonopah Dr., Fremont, CA 94539 Phone: 510-656-0911 Fax: 510-656-3005 System: Windows 3.x; Windows 95 version is under development Language: French, German, Spanish and Italian Price: $395 Notes: Onscreen keyboard includes word prediction. Can be used in either click or dwell mode. Product: My-T-Soft AT From: IMG Inc., 21550 Oxnard St., Suite 300, Woodland Hills, CA 91367 Phone: 800-889-0987 Fax: 818-346-3973 Internet: http://www.IMGPresents.com Email: Info@imgpresents.com System: Windows 3.x; Windows 95, Windows NT Price: $99.95 Demo: Downloadable from Web site Notes: Onscreen virtual keyboards with word prediction, My-T-Soft AT is an advanced version of My-T-Mouse, optimized for the Assistive Technology user. It features 25 U.S. and International onscreen keyboards, programmable macro buttons and panels (for keystroke and text macros), integral word prediction (both alphabetically and by most often used) with editable dictionary, voice key feedback, show and hide keys, keypress dwell timer, and pop-up calculator, all in 12 selectable sizes. My-T-Soft AT works with any pointing device: mouse, pen, glidepad, touchscreen, trackball, headmouse, or IR/wireless. Product: SAW (Switch Access to Windows 3) From: ACE Centre, Ormerod School, Waynefleet Rd., Headington, Oxford OX3 8DD England Phone: +44-18865 63508 Fax: +44-1865 750188 Email: Acecent@dircon.co.uk System: Windows 3.x; Windows 95 version will be available at the end of 1996 Price: $150 (Runtime) $500 (Designer) Demo: Demo version available at no charge. Notes: Provides access to Windows using switch, mouse, trackerball and optical pointers through on-screen "selection sets," grids of icons, letters or words which, when selected, carry out a full range of internal or external commands. Pre-designed selection sets for some popular applications are available, along with sets for CD-ROMs and text accelerators. A version for Windows 95 will be available in December 1996. Product: ScreenDoors II From: Madenta, Inc., 3022 Calgary Trail South, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6J 6V4 Phone: 800-661-8406 or 403 450-8926 Fax: 403-988-6182 Email: Davidh@madenta.com Internet: http://www.madenta.com System: Windows 3.x, Windows 95 and NT Price: $395 Language: Supports every Windows language except Japanese Demo: Phone or email for demo version. Also available for download at http://www.madenta.com. Notes: ScreenDoors II is a powerful on-screen keyboard and word prediction program. It allows users using alternative mice or switch to have full functional keyboard access to Windows. Features include next word prediction, customizable dictionaries, resizable keyboard, and custom color combinations, built in dwell selection and scanning. 16 and 32 bit versions. Product: SofType From: Origin Instruments Corp., 854 Greenview Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75050 Phone: 972-606-8740 Fax: 972-606-8741 Email: sales@orin.com Internet: http://www.orin.com System: Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0 Price: $295.00 Demo: Downloadable from Web site or call to request a floppy Notes: SofType 4.1is a 32-bit Windows 95 onscreen keyboard that works with all 16-bit and 32-bit applications. SofType 3.1 is a 16-bit onscreen keyboard developed for Windows 3.x applications. Both programs include predicted word completion with customizable word lists; stability compensation that can be adjusted to enhance a user's ability to control a mouse pointer; and integrated AutoClickTM that provides dwell selection anywhere in the Windows environment as well as within SofType's onscreen keyboard. Softype is delivered with several keyboard layouts including: alphabetical, QWERTY, chubon, and Kidkeys 1 and 2. Keyboard size, font size, font type, and key spacing are all adjustable. Product: WiViK2(R) Windows Visual Keyboard From: Prentke Romich Company, 1022 Heyl Rd., Wooster, OH 44691 Phone: 800-262-1984 or 330-262-1984 Fax: 330-263-4829 Email: info@prentrom.com Internet: http://www.prentrom.com System: Windows 95, Windows 3.x Language: Shipping product includes 18 international keyboards Price: WiViK2REP: $415; WiViK2 Scan: $520 Notes: Compatible with all Windows 3.1 and 16-bit Windows 95 applications, WiViK2REP works in either click or dwell mode. An on-screen keyboard with word completion and word prediction, the latter can be extended from any text file. Totally configurable, including buttons for macros, and works with non-Windows-based applications when displayed in a window. Displays up to 400 keys per page, up to 50 pages of keys (limited by memory), and any key can have up to 750 key-strokes. Macro language is very similar to WordBasic. WiViK2 Scan is designed for people who can only access a switch. Text entry and mouse operation can be achieved using up to five switches; a variety of scanning methods are supported. WiViK2 Rep features are included. Voice input utilities Voice input utilities allow users to control their computer by recognizing spoken commands. Some products are designed for command and control, meaning that they allow you to perform commands, switch between windows and so forth. Some products also support dictation, which allows you to enter large amounts of free-form text such as a letter. Most products recognize discrete speech, meaning that you must pause briefly between words, but some products support continuous speech which does not require such pauses. Product: DragonDictate(R) for Windows From: Dragon Systems(R), Inc., 320 Nevada St., Newton, MA 02160 Phone: 800-825-5897 or 617-965-5200 Fax: 617-527-0372 Email: info@dragonsys.com Internet: http://www.dragonsys.com BBS: GO DRAGON on CompuServe System: Windows 95, Windows NT, Windows 3.1x Language: Available in seven languages Price: $99 and higher for different configurations Demo: Available free from their Web site Notes: DragonDictate for Windows is a large-vocabulary dictation system that lets one use most Windows-based applications entirely by voice. Compatible with many popular multimedia sound cards, end-users can control the mouse, dictate text and enter data, and navigate quickly within Windows commands and controls without touching the keyboard. DragonDictate for Windows quickly adapts to the user's voice, vocabulary, and environment to achieve an accuracy rate of over 95%. A high-quality, noise-canceling microphone is included. Product: IBM VoiceType Application Factory From: IBM Phone: 800-TALK2ME for information; 800-342-6672 to order Price: $399 Notes: A high-accuracy speech recognition toolkit. It is a command-and-control utility supporting up to 1,000-word vocabulary. Comes with microphone and uses a SoundBlaster-compatible adaptor. Can be used on a laptop.. Product: IBM VoiceType Dictation for Windows From: IBM Phone: 800-TALK2ME for information; 800-342-6672 to order Language: French, German, Italian, Spanish, UK and US English Price: $999; $1,099 if for laptop; 30-day money-back guarantee if purchased directly from IBM Notes: IBM VoiceType Dictation is a large-vocabulary system supporting up to 32,000 words at a rate of 70-100 words per minute with 95% accuracy. Comes with adapter card with microphone and digital signal processor. Can be used on a laptop. Product: IN CUBETM Voice Command From: Command Corp. Inc., 3761 Venture Dr., Duluth, GA 30136 Phone: 770-813-8030 Fax: 770-813-0113 Email: in3@commandcorp.com BBS: URL: http://www.comandcorp.com/incube_welcome.html Price: Two versions: $395 for Windows 3.x, Windows 95, and Windows NT 4.0; $495 for Windows NT 3.51 Demo: Downloadable from their Web site. This is a locked version of the actual program, which can be unlocked into the full version by calling Command Corp. and paying for In Cube. Notes: IN CUBE PRO is a continuous speech-recognition system which can be used without modification by people with disabilities for full voice control of the Windows interfaces. To use a Windows utility or application, the user just speaks its name. In Cube's powerful functions locate applications that are already running and pop them to the front of the display. If the application called is not running, In Cube launches it. Within applications, In Cube has voice macro input. Product: Kurzweil VOICETM for Windows From: Kurzweil Applied Intelligence, Inc., 411 Waverly Oaks Rd., Waltham, MA 02154 Phone: 800-380-1234 or 617-893-5151 Fax: 617-893-6525 Email: info@kurz-ai.com Internet: http://www.kurz-ai.com System: Windows 95, Windows 3.1x Price: $695 Notes: Kurzweil VOICE Release 2.0 is an easy to use, speaker-independent product which provides full command and control capabilities integrated with robust dictation capabilities for text creation. Release 2.0 includes command lists for Windows 95, Windows 3.1x and the most recent versions of leading Windows software applications, as well as 30K and 60K word vocabulary options. It works with Windows-compatible, 16-bit sound boards, and includes a Telex Nomad microphone. Product: Listen 3.0 for Windows From: Verbex Voice Systems, Inc., 275 Raritan Center Parkway, Edison, NJ 08837 Phone: 888-4 VERBEX or 732-225-5225 Fax: 732-225-7764 System: Windows 95, Windows 3.x, Windows NT (April 1998) Language: English; Japanese and German versions also available. Price: $99; $139 with microphone or headset; $59.95 via FTP Notes: Verbex provides speaker-independent, continuous speech recognition solutions for Windows users. Listen 3.0 for Windows isn't intended for dictation applications, but allows users to navigate, command and control Windows applications with normal conversational speech. No training is needed for most North American voices. It comes with robust speech interfaces for over 30 of the most popular Windows applications and automatically generates speech interfaces for virtually any other Windows app. User-friendly Command Editor allows easy customization of voice commands. Product: VoiceServer for Windows From: Applied Voice Technology, Ltd., 26 Danbury St. Islington, London N1 8JU. Phone: +44-171-454 1224 Fax: +44-171-454 1225 Email: 100113.2672@compuserve.com System: Windows 3.x Price: £249 Notes: A speaker dependent hardware/software discrete word recognition system for controlling Windows apps. Not only can menu options and buttons be voice-activated, but listbox items can be selected, other apps executed and switched between, apps' interfaces externally customized etc. It also includes a comprehensive voice- driven macro recorder, where mouse and keyboard operation can be interleaved with spoken commands in a completely voice-driven environment. VoiceKit PRO for Windows is a complete API allowing C programmers to incorporate AVT's voice recognition into their own software seamlessly and flexibly. VoiceKit VB offers the same functionality to developers using Microsoft Visual Basic(R) programming system. Product: VoiceUser From: Cylogic, 348 W. Olympic Place, Suite 9., Seattle, WA 98119 Phone: 206-283-8800 Fax: 206-282-2616 Email: skidata@luckydog.com System: Windows 3.x; a Windows 95 version is planned that won't be dependent on Windows Sound System; Sound System is no longer available from Microsoft Price: $49 Demo: Available free by mail; assumes user has Windows Sound System Notes: A speaker-independent command and control interface. Version 2.1 features vocabularies for seven of the most popular Windows word processors, plus vocabularies for the accessory applications included with Windows. Pre-configured vocabularies and macros allow virtually anyone to start using the program with little or no voice training. Windows Sound System and a SoundBlaster-compatible sound card are required. Keyboard enhancement utilities Keyboard enhancement utilities are products that modify the behavior of the Windows keyboard to make it easier to use for individuals with disabilities. Product: Access Packs for Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Windows NT From: Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6393 Phone: 800-426-9400 (Microsoft Sales Information Center) BBS: 425-936-6735 Internet: http://microsoft.com/enable/ TTY: 800-892-5234 System: Windows 3.x, Windows NT (v. 3.5 and 3.51) Price: Available at no charge by mail; download from our Web site or other download services. Notes: Access Pack for Microsoft Windows provides a variety of features for people with limited dexterity or who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. These features include: * Allow single-finger typing of SHIFT, CTRL, and ALT key combinations. * Ignore accidental keystrokes. * Adjust the rate at which a character is repeated when you hold down a key, or turn off character repeating entirely. * Prevent extra characters if you unintentionally press a key more than once. * Enable you to control the mouse cursor by using the keyboard. * Enable you to control the computer keyboard and mouse by using an alternate input device. * Provide a visual cue when the computer beeps or makes other sounds. Access Pack for Microsoft Windows is available as file ACCP.EXE, and Access Pack for Microsoft Windows NT is available as file WN0789.EXE. Product: Aurora for Windows 2.0 From: Aurora Systems, Inc., Box 43005, 4739 Willingdon Ave., Burnaby, B.C., V5G-3H0, Canada Phone: 888-290-1133 or 604-291-6310 Fax: 604-291-6310 Email: aurorasw@direct.ca Internet: http://www.djtech.com/aurora System: Windows 95, Windows 3.1x Price: $195-$490; $195 upgrade from Aurora for MS-DOS Demo: Full documentation and software, 20 minute per-run time limit, $15, demo price refunded on purchase of any Aurora Systems product. Notes: Word prediction with 100,000+ word vocabulary, grammatical rules and spelling assistance for augmentative communication and learning disabilities. Now includes Aurora Realvoice speech output on most Windows supported sound cards. Aurora Talk makes conversation easy. Aurora Echo makes any Windows word processor a Talking Word Processor. Can be used with a single finger or headstick with included keyboard and mouse controls. One minor feature does not work under Windows 95. Product: Dvorak Keyboard Layouts From: Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6393 Phone: 800-426-9400 (Microsoft Sales Information Center) BBS: 425-936-6735 TTY: 800-892-5234 Internet: http://microsoft.com/enable/ System: Windows 95, Windows NT 3.5, Windows 3.x (Already included with Windows NT 3.51 and later.) Price: Available at no charge by mail or via our Web site and numerous download services. Notes: Microsoft distributes three Dvorak keyboard layouts that make the most frequently typed characters on a keyboard more accessible to people who have difficulty using the standard "QWERTY" layout. No special equipment is needed in order to use these features. A layout for people who type with two hands is included with each operating system; consult the online help about keyboard layouts for installation instructions. Two additional layouts for people who type with only one hand are distributed as Microsoft Application Note GA0650 and available as a file called GA0650.EXE on many download services. Product: HandiWORD and HandiWORD International From: Microsystems Software, Inc., 600 Worcester Rd., Framingham, MA 01701 Phone: 800-828-2600 or 508-879-9000 Fax: 508-879-1069 BBS: 508-875-8009 Email: hware@microsys.com Internet: http://www.handiware.com System: Windows 3.x, Windows 95, MS-DOS Language: International version supplies foreign language dictionaries Price: HandiWORD $295.00; HandiWORD International $395.00 Demo: Via Internet (FTP), BBS, or Mail Notes: Word prediction/abbreviation expansion software aiding users with limited keyboarding capability. Supplied with default dictionary file. Supports speech output of prediction choices. Dictionary maintenance utility allows user to modify existing or create new dictionaries. Software is statistically weighted with frequently used words appearing first. Sticky-key utility built into software. Product: HandiSHIFT For Windows From: Microsystems Software, Inc., 600 Worcester Rd., Framingham, MA 01701 Phone: 800-828-2600 or 508-879-9000 Fax: 508-879-1069 BBS: 508-875-8009 Email: hware@microsys.com Internet: http://www.handiware.com System: Windows 3.x, Windows 95, MS-DOS Price: $49 Notes Sticky key utility. Allows serial depression of Control, Shift, and Alt keys. Adjusts key repeat rate. Includes SeeBEEP visual beep utility. Product: IntelliTalk for Windows From: IntelliTools, Inc., 55 Leveroni Court, Ste. 9, Novato, CA 94949 Phone: 415-382-5959 Fax: 415-382-5950 Email: info@intellitools.com Internet: http://www.intellitools.com System: Windows 3.x, Windows 95 Price: $49.95 single copy; $179 five-pack; multi-user pricing available Demo: Available. 60-day money-back guarantee. Notes Talking word processing program that can speak or read back sentences, letters, and/or words as you type. Choice of voices. Wide variety of font types, sizes, and colors to maximize readability. System requirements: PC with 386 SX processor or better (486 recommended). VGA monitor (SVGA recommended). Windows 3.1 requires 16 MB hard drive space to install and 4 MB RAM. Windows 95 requires 12 MB hard drive space and 8 MB RAM. Product: KeyREPTM From: Prentke Romich Company, 1022 Heyl Rd., Wooster, OH 44691 Phone: 800-262-1984 or 330-262-1984 Fax: 330-263-4829 Email: info@prentrom.com Internet: http://www.prentrom.com System: Windows 95, Windows 3.x Price: $250 Notes: KeyREP Rate Enhancement Package for keyboard users provides word prediction and abbreviation expansion. KeyREP works with any keyboard and any application running under Windows 3.1 except MS-DOS windows. Product: Telepathic II From: Madenta, Inc., 3022 Calgary Trail South, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6J 6V4 Phone: 800-661-8406 or 403 450-8926 Fax: 403-988-6182 Email: Davidh@madenta.com Internet: http://www.madenta.com System: Windows 3.x, Windows 95 and NT Price: $295 Language: Supports every Windows language except Japanese Demo: Phone or email for demo version. Also available for download at http://www.madenta.com. Notes: Telepathic II is a powerful word predictor for Windows. Word completion and Next word prediction, abbreviation expansion, learning, built in dwell, select with mouse or keyboard. Miscellaneous utilities The following products are also designed for use by individuals with disabilities: Product: Cicero From: Dolphin Computer Access Limited, P.O. Box 83, Worcester WR3 8TU England Phone: +44-1905-754577 Fax: +44-1905-754559 Email: sales@dolphinaccess.com or support@dolphinaccess.com; U.S. dealers: sduncan@4access.com; ulva1@aol.com; sales@maxiaids.com; lssgrp@aol.com Internet: http://www.dolphinaccess.com System: One model: Windows 95 and/or Windows NT Price: $635 Notes: Text reading software provides PC users with a fast, responsive, and reliable method of reading printed material independently using an industry standard scanning system together with a speech synthesizer. Can be used with Dolphin's Cipher Braille translation, Lunar screen enlargement, and/or Hal screen reading on a single synthesizer. Supports SSIL compatible synthesizers under Windows 95 and SSIL-compatible speech synthesizers whose SSIL drivers are NT-compliant (including DECtalk Express, Artic Transport, Accent SA, and Keynote Gold). Product: Dragger From: Origin Instruments Corp., 854 Greenview Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75050 Phone: 972-606-8740 Fax: 972-606-8741 Email: sales@orin.com Internet: http://www.orin.com System: Windows 95 and Windows 3.x Price: $95.00 Demo: Downloadable from Web site or call to request a floppy Notes: Utility for generating mouse click functions throughout the Windows environment using "dwell" (AutoClickTM) selection techniques. Right single clicks, double clicks, and drag operations are all possible. Pausing and restarting the AutoClickTM feature is accomplished by dwelling on an on/off button. Product: HandiPHONE From: Microsystems Software, Inc., 600 Worcester Rd., Framingham, MA 01701 Phone: 800-828-2600 or 508-879-9000 Fax: 508-879-1069 BBS: 508-875-8009 Email: hware@microsys.com Internet http://www.handiware.com System: Windows 3.x, Windows 95, MS-DOS Price: Windows 3.x/Windows 95: $295; MS-DOS: $595 Demo: Via Internet (FTP), BBS or Mail Notes: Hands-free access to the telephone. PopDIAL software stores up to 10,000 names / 30,000 phone numbers allowing the user to dial out, receive calls, and access voice mail systems, paging, call transfer, call waiting, and other popular services. Complete system includes a specially-modified modem, a hands-free speakerphone or headset, and cables. Product: Joystick-To-Mouse From: IMG Inc., 21550 Oxnard St., Suite 300, Woodland Hills, CA 91367 Phone: 800-889-0987 Fax: 818-346-3973 Internet: www.IMGPresents.com Email: info@imgpresents.com System: Windows 3.x; Windows 95 Price: $29.95 Demo: Downloadable from Web site Notes: This software utility lets any joystick, IR/wireless device, or VR headset that attaches to the PC or soundcard's game port run Windows and Windows applications, games, online services, the Internet, even accessibility products. It shares the cursor and button controls of the mouse or other pointing device. It can run concurrently with a mouse or other pointing device, allowing parents, teachers, or therapists to assist users. Any of 60 mouse button functions or up to 128 keystrokes can be stored in each of four joystick buttons, for each different application. It's ideal for people who can't and/or prefer to operate a joystick instead of a mouse or trackball. Product: Open Book Unbound, Version 3 From: Arkenstone, Inc., 555 Oakmead Parkway, Sunnyvale, CA 94086 Phone: 800-444-4443 or 408-245-5900 Fax: 408-328-8484 TTY: 800-833-2753 Email: info@arkenstone.org Internet: http://www.arkenstone.org System: Windows 3.1x, Windows 95 Price: $995 Demo: Call 800 number for the dealer nearest you Notes: Reading software for people with vision impairments or reading difficulties. Combined with a scanner, it turns a talking PC into a complete reading machine. Open Book makes reading print material as easy as pressing a single button. By automatically adjusting for skew, contrast, and page orientation, Open Book reads the page as accurately as possible. The latest update of Open Book, version 3.5, has dozens of new features, including simultaneous reading and scanning, screen customization which allows low vision users to modify text size, screen color, and other visual features, and a text search feature which allows the user to find a word or phrase anywhere within the document. Product: PROXi From: Madenta, Inc., 3022 Calgary Trail South, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6J 6V4 Phone: 800-661-8406 or 403 450-8926 Fax: 403-988-6182 Email: Davidh@madenta.com Internet: http://www.madenta.com System: Windows 3.x, Windows 95 Price: $2495 Language: N/A Demo: Phone or email for demo version. Also available for download at http://www.madenta.com. Notes: PROXi is an environmental control system (home and office automation system) for people with physical disabilities. It allows users to control everything in the home or office, telephone, lights, TV, VCR, thermostat, door openers etc. Control everything through your computer either by voice, single switch scanning and direct selection through the mouse or keyboard. Product: SeeBEEP For Windows From: Microsystems Software, Inc., 600 Worcester Rd., Framingham, MA 01701 Phone: 800-828-2600 or 508-879-9000 Fax: 508-879-1069 BBS: 508-875-8009 Email: hware@microsys.com Internet http://www.handiware.com System: Windows 3.x, Windows 95, MS-DOS Price: $20 Demo: Via Internet (FTP), BBS or Mail Notes: Visual beep utility for persons with hearing impairments. Will flash screen in reverse video or present visual beep bitmap on-screen each time the computer makes a sound. Product: Step On It! From: Bilbo Innovations, Inc., 1290 Oakmead Parkway #118, Sunnyvale, CA 94086 Phone: 408-736-6086 Fax: 408-736-6083 Email: bilbo@bilbo.com Internet: http://www.bilbo.com System: Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0, MS-DOS Price: $99.00 Demo: 30-day money back guarantee Notes: Three programmable foot switches that emulate keystrokes and mouse clicks. The initial setup provides for taking over the Alt, Shift, and Control keys, but the pedals can be custom-programmed for any other keys, macros, or mouse button clicks. For persons with limited hand capabilities, RSI, one-handed and blind touch-typists. Product: VisAbility From: Ai Squared, P.O. Box 669, Manchester Center, VT 05255-0669 Phone: 802-362-3612 Fax: 802-362-1670 Email: zoomtext@aisquared.com Internet: http://www.aisquared.com System: MS-DOS (PIF included to run from Windows) Price: $495 ($395 for registered ZoomText users) Demo: Available free by mail or download from their Web site. Notes: VisAbility is a low-vision reading and form-filling program. It works in conjunction with a scanner to enlarge printed or handwritten material, from 4x to 32x, on your computer screen. Hands-free reading modes pan smoothly through the entire image or within columns. Printed forms can be scanned and filled-in, while being enlarged on the screen. The completed form can be printed at normal size or a magnified size, up to 8x. Product: WiVox From: Prentke Romich Company, 1022 Heyl Rd., Wooster, OH 44691 Phone: 800-262-1984 or 330-262-1984 Fax: 330-263-4829 Email: info@prentrom.com Internet: http://www.prentrom.com System: Windows 95, Windows 3.1 Price: $200 Notes: Enhances writing and reading by providing auditory feedback of text entered into any Windows or Windows 95 application. Works with standard keyboard, and with the WiVik2 series of on-screen keyboards, including KeyREP. Set it to speak characters, partial words, full words, or sentences. Requires an external speech synthesizer. Operating system enhancements Microsoft Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 include a variety of features for people with low vision, limited dexterity, color-blindness, or who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. All the Access Pack features are now integrated into the operating system, and are found in the Control Panel under Accessibility Options. (See Access Pack entry under "Keyboard enhancement utilities" for a description of those features.) Product: Microsoft Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 From: Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6393 Phone: 800-426-9400 (Microsoft Sales Information Center) Internet: http://microsoft.com/enable/ BBS: 425-936-6735 TTY: 800-892-5234 Price: Windows 95: $99; Windows NT: $319 (special pricing might apply; check with your dealer) Notes: New helpful features included in areas of the Control Panel other than Accessibility Options: * Display The user interface is customizable. Sizes and colors of window titles, scroll bars, borders, menu text, icons, and other elements are adjustable by the user. * Mouse The mouse pointer can now be resized to normal, large, or extra-large. Customizing pointer color or adding animation also increase the pointer's visibility. * Keyboard Having to repeat keys by holding them down can be a problem for users with impaired dexterity. With RepeatKeys settings, users adjust or disable the repeat feature. * Password, User Profiles Users of the same machine can now use their log-ins and passwords to set preferences and desktop settings, including accessibility features. * Chat Up to eight people can hold a "conversation" by typing on their networked computers, a handy alternative to telephones in work environments that include people who are deaf or hard of hearing. (The Chat feature is only available on CD-ROM, and is found in the Accessories folder.) System improvements to Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 that are useful for people with disabilities include: * High-contrast schemes and mode make it easier to see screen objects. (High-contrast mode available in Windows 95 only.) * SerialKeys allows the user to control the personal computer using adaptive equipment such as alternative keyboards or augmentative communication devices that connect to the personal computer's serial port. (Found under Accessibility Options.) * Windows 95's Plug and Play architecture inherently supports multiple cooperating pointing devices, allowing the addition of such devices without the need to replace or disable the mouse. * Automatic Reset returns a system to its default configuration after a specified idle time. * In Windows 95, the status of major accessibility features can be displayed on the taskbar or in a floating window. The indicator provides a clear visual signal of which features are active and provides feedback on the keys and mouse buttons currently being "held down" by StickyKeys and MouseKeys features. For More Information The above is not meant to be a comprehensive listing of all accessibility products. There are literally thousands of products on the market, and the user ultimately needs to determine the best fit for his or her needs. More and more Microsoft products, for instance, are adding accessibility features such as keyboard navigation, Microsoft Active Accessibility, and closed captioning. You can find information on them from our Web site, http://microsoft.com/enable/. Two sources for more comprehensive listings of available products are listed below: Product: CO-NET CD From: Trace R&D Center, S-151 Waisman Center, 1500 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53705-2280 Phone: 608-263-2309 Fax: 608-262-8848 TTY: 608-263-5408 Email: info@trace.wisc.edu Internet http://trace.wisc.edu System: Any system with a CD-ROM Price: $45 Notes: Check out the Trace R&D Center's new "Cooperative Electronic Library" on their Web site for a vast amount on assistive technology. The CO-NET CD (officially the Cooperative Electronic Library on Disability) provides a database of more than 22,000 products and other information for people with disabilities. It is issued twice a year. Also included is a second CD called A Taste of the Web, which is a collection of disability-related Web sites housed on a CD-ROM. Trace R&D also produces a resource guide that describes products that help people with disabilities use computers. The book, titled Trace ResourceBook, provides descriptions and photographs of about 2,000 products. Contact: National Information System (NIS) At: University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208 Phone: 803-777-1782 Fax: 803-777-9557 Notes: Computers and other assistive devices can help persons with disabilities to overcome a variety of barriers. For general information and recommendations on how computers can help specific people, you should consult a trained evaluator. For information about locating programs or services in your area that may be able to help you, please contact the NIS. (c) 1994-1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, MS-DOS, Windows, Windows NT, and Visual Basic are registered trademarks. IN CUBE is a trademark of Command Corp., Inc. Kurzweil VOICE is a trademark of Kurzweil Applied Intelligence, Inc. Dragon Systems and DragonDictate are registered trademarks of Dragon Systems, Inc. IBM and OS/2 are registered trademarks and Windsurfer is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. WiViK2 is a registered trademark and KeyREP is a trademark of The Bloorview MacMillan Rehabilitation Center. Joystick-To-Mouse, My-T-Mouse, and My-T-Mouse for Kids are registered trademarks of Innovation Management Group, Inc. (IMG). ScreenPower is a registered trademark of Telesensory Corp. This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS DOCUMENT. Accessibility Toolbar: Introduction | Microsoft Accessibility Efforts | Microsoft Products | Accessibility Aids | Other Resources | For Developers and Authors | News and Events | Status and Evaluations | About This Site | Formatted Version | Accessibility Home Page Microsoft Toolbar: Microsoft | Products | Search | Support | Shop | Write Us (c) 1997-1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Legal Notices. Last updated on March 13, 1998. ---------- End of Document