Adaptive input and Output for Computers
Computers are great tools used by everyone but have specifically enabled
people previously limited by disabilities with their interaction
with the outside world. Here are some ways computers can be adapted
to get input from people with disabilities
Mobility and Adaptation means of Input
People who can not move their hands, have difficulty controlling
their muscles and/or can not speak can still get information from
their minds into the computer with some modifications or specialized
input devices, including
| positioning of keyboards, monitors, tables tops | Our lab for example |
| Modified keyboards for fine motor control problems. Also
includes turning off repeating key functionality, having "sticky keys"
for control and shift keys, and recessed keys on keyboards |
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| specialized keyboards and mouthstick allow for input without hands |
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| eye movement input |
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| In worse case situations if people can have control of at
least one muscle they were they can hit a on-off switch they
can use Morse Code input. This device
emulates a keyboard and can be plugged in just like an USB keyboard.
The switches would be attached and customized depending on the person
using it. |
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| Computers can be trained to recognize speech input.
Another software tool is word prediction so people don't
have to type the whole word (like in Google) |
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Blindness and adaptations for Output
People who are blind or have trouble seeing do not have a hard
time with input; the trouble is with output. Here are some
output adaptations:
| All text shown on the screen can be sent to sound
output with a voice synthesizer, both for the operating
system and the browser. | Website designers should put an
alt tag in image tags that has text describing the image, especial
if the image is used for input. Also, image maps for input will
not work for someone who is blind. |
| braille printers | |
| For people with low vision, the screen can be greatly magnified |
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Hearing and Speech
Lights to signify when sounds are being output.
Voice synthesizers