Disabled Devices

Front 1

Puff-suck switch

Back 1

This switch is excellent for someone with low physical mobility; you suck of puff down a tube then some software on a computer can use this input to do a large variety of things.

Front 2

Foot Mouse

Back 2

These are used by people with no use in their arms. They work the same as a regular mouse, only for your feet! One part of it controls the cursor, the other part clicks. A USB port is used to connect it to the computer.

Front 3

Eye Typer

Back 3

A camera is attached to a computer and focuses on the user’s eyes. It detects where the user is looking and moves the cursor accordingly. Slow blinks are used to click the mouse.

Front 4

Braille Keyboard

Back 4

Braille is dots that can be ‘read’ by touch. A braille keyboard is the same as a conventional keyboard; however braille replaces the usual letters.

Front 5

Braille Display

Back 5

This connects to a computer and reads the screen’s text. Then it prints this text onto a refreshable Braille display.

Front 6

Braille Printer

Back 6

It pushes pins into paper on one side, to create the raised braille dots on the other side. Special paper is used in this printer.

Front 7

Speakers and microphones

Back 7

Speakers can convert on screen text to speech, however this can be disjointed and mispronounced. Microphones let users say aloud their text. Software can be used to convert this speech.

Front 8

Screen Magnifier and Zoom

Back 8

The screen magnifier is a piece of Perspex held in front of the computer monitor. It helps people with visual impairments. The Zoom tool is another way of helping this. Magnifications can go up to about 500%.

Front 9

Predictive Text and Sticky Keys

Back 9

Predictive text is mainly found on phones. This software predicts what you want to type so you only have to type a few letters. Sticky keys allow you to ‘turn on’ shift, ctrl or alt and keep it on until another key is pressed.