Hardware


For many people with disabilities using common computer equipment is next to impossible. There are many new inventions to improve the needs of those who need something different to surf the internet. Below is some links to sites that offer some of this equipment.




  1. Ability Hub
    Assistive Technology for people with a disability who find operating a computer difficult, maybe even impossible. This web site will direct you to adaptive equipment and alternative methods available for accessing computers
       Mouse Alternatives
       Keyboard Alternatives
       Text - To - Speech
       Speech Recognition
    Just to name a few
  2. NIST Braille Display
    NIST has developed a unique refreshable Braille technology that can reduce cost by a factor of 10 or more. It will make possible high performance Braille displays for $1000 or less, and enable high speed reading devices about the size of a portable CD player. While existing displays put Braille on a linear array of dots, this design puts the Braille on the rim of a rotating wheel, which moves the text past the user's fingers. Users can adjust wheel speed, or can pause the wheel for stationary reading. Tests thus far indicate a high degree of readability.
  3. No Hands Mouse
    While most computer hardware advancements are technology related, the NoHands Mouse is both a technological and medical breakthrough. Designed by both engineers and physicians, the NoHands Mouse is not only easy and efficient to operate, it helps avoid carpal tunnel syndrome caused by desktop mice with the simple use of your feet instead of your hands.
  4. Integra mouth Mouse
    IntegraMouse enables the user to activate all functions of a computer mouse by mouth. Movement of the cursor takes place through minor movements of the mouthpiece by the user's mouth. Left and right mouse clicks are triggered by very slight sucking or blowing - double clicking and drag & drop are also easily accessible.
  5. Lucy Hands Free Keyboard
    The Lucy is a highly versatile and sophisticated keyboard especially designed for users with severe upper-limb trauma. This gives users a valuable means of communication, and a greater degree of independence, than previously possible
  6. Alternative Keyboards
    Alternative keyboard layouts and other enhancements allow people who experience difficulty with conventional keyboard designs to use computers. The products available range from keyguards that prevent accidental key activation, to alternative keyboards with differing layouts, sizes, etc. for people who have specific needs, to alternative input systems which require other means/methods of getting information into a computer.
  7. Refreshable Braille Display
    Refreshable Braille Displays are electronic devices that are used to read text that a computer sends to the monitor. The device is connected to the computer by a serial cable and produces Braille output on the Braille display. Refreshable Braille displays only read one line of text at a time. These displays generally include directional keys which allow the user to navigate through a document. Larger displays (80 cells) also include a cursor routing function. Each cell contains eight small pins, allowing eight dot computer Braille rather than the six dot Braille we are used to seeing.

    Some portable note takers that have refreshable Braille can also be used as a refreshable Braille display for a PC computer.
  8. External Speech Synthesizer
    An external speech synthesizer is a hardware device used for speech output. Typically, they are used with screen readers or OCR/scanning software [Optical Character Recognition] programs for people who are blind or visually disabled. External speech synthesizers were used exclusively before the advent of sound cards in computers. Now, with multi-channel sound cards people who use screen readers or other speech output software can have both the "voice" of the computer and the system sounds audible at the same time. Some people who require the system sounds, or who prefer to leave their sound cards to perform other functions may want to use an external speech synthesizer instead of the internal sound card. For example, if they want to listen to a CD, watch a DVD, or do some audio/video conferencing, they might want to leave the sound card channels free to do so. this may also be a critical piece of equipment for people who are also composing music or using audio editing programs. There are also "software speech synthesizers".


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