What Are Adaptive Technologies
“Adaptive Technologies” are products and services for people with special needs that assist them in their educational, professional, recreational and independent development. By using technological devices, individuals with visual impairment can independently access, process and transmit the same information as sighted people.
⇒ Screen readers convert texts and outputs on the computer screen into spoken language. There are commercial screen readers such as Windows supporting speech output JAWS (Job Access Wtih Speech), but also non-commercial versions such as ORCA provided by Ubuntu operating system or NVDA.
⇒ Braille embossers are hardware used to “print” texts and documents in Braille. A translation software for Braille is needed to convert those texts from their digital format.
⇒ Reading devices and scanners allow persons with visual impairment to convert all material from ink into digital format. In this format the material is accessible through a screen reader. The Braille display converts texts and symbols on the computer screen into Braille on a display that is connected to the computer station.
⇒ For people with low vision there is a variety of magnification lenses that can be attached to the computer screen as well as software’s that magnification the screen output. Colors and contrasts are another means to improve the indistinguishably of contents on the desktop for people with low vision.
