What is Assistive Technology?
by Tamara Bahr
Assistive or Adaptive Technology (AT) is the term used to describe
all of the tools, products, and devices, from the simplest to the
most complex, that can make a particular function easier or possible
to perform . Some assistive technologies include text-to-speech
screen readers, alternative keyboards and mice, head pointing devices,
voice recognition software, and screen magnification software.
Who Uses AT?
Often AT devices and products are designed in order to assist a
particular group of individuals with specific disabilities. People
who are blind or low vision will often use software programs called
screen readers to help them read written text that is not provided
in Braille format. People with physical disabilities, who are unable
to use a traditional computer keyboard might instead use a foot
pedal or mouth tube & switch in order to carry out functions
on a computer.
What Type of AT do People With Learning Disabilities Use?
Because Learning Disabilities affect the way we take in and process
information, the most common types of AT used by people with Learning
Disabilities are focused around reading, language, organizational
skills, and processing information. Some examples are:
- Screen Reading Software
Screen reading software will read the text that appears on a computer
screen to the user. Screen reading software is particularly useful
for individuals with dyslexia but is also used for people who
are auditory learners.
- Speech/Voice Recognition Software
Speech/Voice recognition software also sometimes referred to as
Speech- to-text software will convert the spoken word to text
on a page, or commands to a computer (i.e. opening files, or navigating
software applications.) A microphone is plugged into the computer
and the user speaks the words he or she wants to type or the commands.
Speech recognition software is particularly useful for individuals
who have written expressive difficulties and difficulty using
keyboards to navigate software applications. Note: Speech
recognition technology is improving all the time but there is
a bit of a learning curve involved with this technology and may
not be suitable for everyone.
Things to consider: voice recognition software
trains itself to recognize the speech patterns of its users. The
more the software is used the better it becomes at recognizing
the user’s voice. Because of this, patience is required
when you initially begin using such a program.
- Word prediction Software
Word prediction software will present possible words that a user
is looking for when typing text. The software will also predict
the next possible word based on frequency of usage and context.
This technology is particularly useful for individuals with Dyslexia
and for people who have difficulty typing.
- Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software will convert paper
based text into electronic text for use with screen readers. A
scanner is needed to scan materials from book or other paper-based
text. The OCR will then recognize the letter shapes through imaging
analysis and convert them to electronic text. This technology
is particularly useful for individuals who cannot access printed
materials due to low vision or processing deficits.
- Visual Organizers
Visual Organizers are used to present ideas, concepts, information,
and related concepts in the form of charts, tables, graphs, flowcharts,
and diagrams. This technology is particularly useful for individuals
who have difficulty processing, analyzing, and comprehending text-based
information but is also used for people who are visual learners.
- Electronic Organizers
Electronic or digital organizers are hardware devices or software
used for time management and resource organization. This technology
is particularly useful for individuals who have difficulty with
time management and organization but is also used well by people
who are tactile learners.
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Web References & Resources:
1. http://www.utoronto.ca/atrc/reference/tech/scread.html
2. http://www.utoronto.ca/atrc/reference/tech/voicerecog.html
3. http://www.utoronto.ca/atrc/reference/tech/wordpred.html
4.
http://www.bucks.edu/~specpop/visual-org.htm
5.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_digital_assistant
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