List of Adaptive Technology
Available in STCC’s Adaptive Computing Lab - Bldg. 27/2nd Floor
Please note that the web addresses for of each product vendor are provided and it is highly recommended that you visit these sites for additional information. For a more comprehensive list of assistive technology resources please visit this searchable database at Closing the Gap's web site. All links to vendors will open a new browser window.
BAT Personal Keyboards (dual)
by HALLoGRAM Publishing
The BAT Personal Keyboard is an adaptive device, which facilitates keyboard
input with only one hand, using just seven keys. A compact, one-handed device
replicates all the functions of a full-size keyboard. With its word expansion
and macro capabilities, ability to customized for efficient keyboard entry.
Big Buddy Button (switch) by RJ
Cooper & Associates, Inc
Establish or interrupt a signal to an electronic single switch device. Activation
pressure required at the edges is half of the pressure required at the center
of the button. Measure 4.5 in diameters and provides both auditory and tactile
feedback.
Braille Embosser by Enabling Technologies
Company
Prints documents in Braille once translated into Braille from text using a Braille
Translator (see Duxbury Braille Translator).
Close Caption Television (CCTV)
by Optelec Tieman Group USA
Closed Circuit Television magnifies printed and hand written materials. Available
in black and white, color and an SVGA model which allow you to connect to your
computer monitor.
Co:Writer by Don Johnston,
Inc.
Co:Writer is an intelligent word prediction software program that works with
any word processor to reduce keystrokes necessary to complete an intended word.
This productivity tool can help make writing easier for your students. Type
in a letter and Co:Writer suggests logical word choices that fit your sentences.
Dragon Naturally Speaking (Professional
Edition) by ScanSoft Corp.
Voice recognition technologies that make it possible to control a computer and
enter data without touching the keyboard or the mouse. A person who is unable
to use their hands or who must limit their use can move cursors and pointers,
perform keystrokes, carryout system functions and create documents using only
their voices.
Duxbury Braille Translator
for Windows by Duxbury Systems, Inc.
Windows application used for creating, editing and producing Braille documents.
Text in a variety of standard file types (e.g., .TXT, .WRI and .DOC) can be
imported and converted to Braille.
FM Receivers by Phonic Ear, Inc.
This equipment is used to give a hearing impaired person a direct auditory connection
to the speaker (i.e. Instructor) by means of FM transmission between
a lavaliere microphone and a receiver.
Glidepoint
TouchPad by Cirque Corporation
The TouchPad, often found on laptop computers, a small device used in place
of the mouse on your PC. The Touchpad allows the user to control the cursor
with minimal finger movement and needs only a very light touch. A simple tap
of the finger executes the "button click" function like a mouse or
trackball.
Half
Keyboard by Matias Corporation
The Half Keyboard technology allows you to type with one hand, using your standard
touch-typing skills. The Half Keyboard is half of a traditional QWERTY keyboard,
on which your left hand also fulfills the functions of your right.
Hyperstudio by Scranton Quality
Computers
HyperStudio is an authoring program, one that is unbounded from wizards
or pre-built templates. For over 10 years, HyperStudio® has been
the de facto standard classroom multimedia authoring program. The first major
release in over five years, HyperStudio represents the next level in desktop
and online multimedia communications for educators and students. Many features
such as Drag and Drop, Integrated Media Library Browser, View the Content Library
PDF located in the HyperStudio Library!
Inspiration by Inspiration
Software, Inc.
Inspiration Software, Inc. develops and supports visual thinking software for
use in education and business. Inspiration is an organizational tool that lets
the user make concept maps on the computer. It then automatically converts
the web into an outline. For example, your students might use this tool to
organize research papers or explore career and educational objectives.
Intellikeys Keyboard by IntelliTools,
Inc.
IntelliKeys is an alternative keyboard, which has many built-in features for
people with disabilities. Your students can adjust the responsiveness of the
keyboard; the way the shift and other modifier keys work; the repeat rate settings;
the speed of the mouse, and more. IntelliKeys can be used with adaptive equipment
such as switches and key guards.
JAWS
for Windows (JFW) by Freedom Scientific, Inc.
Synthesized speech technology that makes it possible for a Windows based computer
to speak the information displayed on the monitor. Key combinations provide
access to reading, navigational and system controls for individuals with visual,
learning and other impairments.
Trackballs by Kensington Technology
Group
Trackballs encourage natural hand positioning and reduce arm, shoulder, and
wrist movement. A top-mounted ball allows easy fingertip or mouth-pointer control
and precision pointing. Their symmetrical design fits both left-and-right-handed
users and all hand sizes. Some models offer custom programmable buttons, which
can automate repetitive tasks or enable mouth-pointer users to perform drag-n-drop
functions. Some models also offer scroll wheels for speeding through long documents
and web pages.
Kurzweil 1000 by Kurzweil
Educational Systems, Inc.
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is the conversion of scanned printed text
into electronic text, which can then be read using text-to-speech technology.
The Kurzweil 1000 allows blind or visually impaired individuals to have access
to printed materials without have them converted to Braille.
Kurzweil 3000 by Kurzweil
Educational Systems, Inc.
Kurzweil 3000 is an optical character recognition software tool, which allows
the user to scan printed material and have it read back to them, using synthesized
speech. The text is highlighted as it is read to allow both visual and auditory
feedback. This tool is intended to assist students with a variety of learning
disabilities. It can also be used to read from the Web and has several
built in study skill features including highlighting and a built-in dictionary.
A text editor also allows your typed text to be read back to you and includes
spell checking and word prediction.
MathTalk by Metroplex Voice Computing
Inc.
Mathtalk is a powerful and versatile voiced math program that allows
the user to create mathematical notations for documents using over 2,000 math
commands. It works with word processors and toggles to MathType for technical
math processing. MathTalk works with Dragon Dictate, which may allow a mobility-impaired
person to independently complete their math assignments using speech.
MathType by Metroplex Voice Computing Inc.
MathType is an intelligent mathematical equation editor designed for personal
computers running Microsoft Windows or Apple MacOS. It is an application that
allows you to create complex equations through simple point-and-click techniques,
and then use them in documents, Web pages, or markup-based systems.
OmniForm by Caere Corporation
OmniForm is a software program used to convert paper forms to electronic forms.
Once these forms are converted, they can be read and filled-in using a variety
of adaptive softwares.
outSPOKEN
by ALVA Access Group
outSPOKEN for Macintosh, is a screen reader that allows blind and visually impaired
people to use the Macintosh computer. outSPOKEN'S talking interface announces
virtually everything on the screen. Combined with a powerful, yet easy-to-learn
navigation tool, which eliminates the use of the mouse, outSPOKEN allows access
to even the most complex applications.
OnScreen
by RJ Cooper
OnScreen is an on-the-screen keyboard with Word Complete that allows the user
to enter text into any application.
RapidText
by Rapid Text, Inc.
RapidText provides real-time remote classroom captioning for the deaf and hearing
impaired. The instructor wears a wireless microphone that transmits to a receiver,
which plugs into a voice/data modem attached to the student’s laptop. The captionist
is hearing the lecture via the phone lines and the transcription is sent back
to the student’s laptop in real time where it then can be saved.
Tactile
Image Enhancer by Repro-Tronics, Inc.
This device allows you to create your own raised-line images from free-hand
drawings or printed images. This provides a tactile representation of printed
materials.
TASH
Mini-Keyboard by Tash, Inc.
This reduced-size fully functional 101 key keyboard provides full keyboard and
mouse control to an individual with limited range of motion but good fine-motor
skills. This keyboard can be operated using a mouth-stick or other pointing
device and the touch sensitivity can be adjusted as needed. (The overall dimension
is approximately 7”x5”).
TextSound
by Emetrix, Inc.
TextSound is the text-to-speech file converter. You can batch convert your text
documents to spoken audio files using TextSound Windows Edition or TextSound
Command-Line Edition. TextSound 2.0 supports different output formats, including
.wav and .mp3.
Read
and Write V4 by textHELP!® Systems Ltd
Read and Write is a software program designed specifically for people with dyslexia,
reading, typing vision, and spelling difficulties. A vocabulary-supported program
works in conjunction with a Windows word processor, spreadsheet, or database.
Type
& Talk by textHELP!® Systems Ltd
This is a highly regarded flexible educational word processor. Using textHELP's
expertise in the field of learning disabilities, this software is designed to
assist and motivate students with their reading and writing process. Based on
the award winning Read & Write, features of Type &
Talk include speech, an advanced phonetic spell checker, word prediction,
homonym support, thesaurus, and word wizard. Incorporated with the software
are lesson plans to enable educators to use the software easily with in the
curriculum.
Quicktionary Reading Pen by
WizCom Technologies Ltd.
Brings Portable "Scan-See-Hear" Technology to the World of Learning
A Unique Educational Tool That Scans Words and Pronounces Them Aloud. A portable
assistive reading technology that reads words aloud and can be used ANYWHERE
.
ViaVoice
Enhanced Edition by IBM
ViaVoice for Macintosh, Enhanced Edition delivers a complete solution that provides
users the ability to dictate, edit, and correct text within an application.
Communicate by dictating in applications such as Microsoft Word and Apple. Auto-Analysis
help you add new words to ViaVoice s vocabulary on the fly for greater accuracy.
As you use the system, it learns your vocabulary and usage patterns; the more
you use the system the more accurate it becomes. Use a key word to automatically
trigger commonly used phrased paragraphs or pages.
Window-Eyes by GW Micro
Window-Eyes is screen reader which gives your student total control over what
they hear, when they hear it, and how they hear it. Again, screen readers provide
complete vision and mouse independent access to the computing environment.
Windows Accessibility Options
by Microsoft Corporation.
Students with mobility, hearing, or visually impairments, there are a number
of things they can do to make Windows easier to use. Such as change the display,
mouse, or keyboard settings, as well as use sound to help them use Windows.
For example, if a student has trouble using a mouse, you can use the MouseKeys
feature. This enables them to use the numeric keypad to move the mouse pointer.
Information about installing these accessibility features is located in the
Help Index under "adding accessibility components".
Write:Outloud by Don Johnston,
Inc.
Write:Outloud is a talking word processor that encourages writing and reading.
It is an easy yet powerful talking word processor with a talking spell checker.
Write:Outloud's multi-sensory approach improves writing because the user immediately
hears if words are omitted or misplaced. Students listen to choose the correct
word and revise word choices, spelling and sequence.
ZoomTextXtra Level 2 by AiSquared
ZoomText Xtra is a new family of adaptive software, designed specifically to
meet the needs of the visually impaired. ZoomText Xtra seamlessly integrates
two adaptive technologies - magnification and screen reading - to provide complete
access to Microsoft Windows applications and documents.