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Computer Training Center

Adaptive Technology Overview

Adaptive technology (AT) is any hardware or software designed to help a user compensate for areas of disability or impairment. AT gives individuals with disabilities the same access to information available to users who are not disabled. Screen magnifiers and screen readers are the two main types of AT used by people who are blind or visually impaired.

Screen magnification
Screen magnification programs increase the size of text and images displayed on the computer monitor. Once a screen magnification program has been installed on a PC, the specialized software will interact with both the PC's operating system and any application that is running. ZoomText® (by AI Squared) and MAGic® (by Freedom Scientific) are examples of screen magnification programs for the visually impaired.

Screen Magnification Programs
System Requirements

Screen Reading Programs
Screen reading programs use a voice synthesizer to read aloud information displayed on the PC monitor. Once a screen reading program has been installed, it can automatically start each time the computer is booted up. These programs will also interact with the PC's operating system and other applications. The two major screen reading programs on the market are JAWS® for Windows (by Freedom Scientific) and Window Eyes® (by GW Micro).

Screen Reading Programs
System Requirements

Scan-to-Speech Programs

Another popular type of AT is scan-to-speech. Scan-to-speech programs use a standard flatbed scanner to convert print material into electronic text and synthetic speech software to read it. The two main scan-to-speech software programs are Open Book® (by Freedom Scientific), and Kurzweil 1000® (by Kurzweil Educational Systems).

Scan-to-speech Programs
System Requirements

System Requirements

THE BASIC PC CONFIGURATION FOR A NEW
COMPUTER USING ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Below is the basic configuration for a new PC that will be needed to support adaptive technology. Please keep in mind that this is merely intended as a starting point. Before purchasing a new PC, some research should be done. The following should be considered:

Type of Processor
Pentium III (or higher) or AMD equivalent
2 GHz or faster

Memory
256 MB RAM or higher

Hard Drive
30 GB HDD or higher

Sound
Multi-channel sound, preferably a PCI card rather than onboard

Video
High quality video, preferably an AGP card rather than onboard

Software

ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS

Screen Magnification Software:

ZoomText® by Ai Squared Website: www.aisquared.com
Phone: (802) 362-3612
Level 1 ($395.00), Level 2 ($595.00)

MAGic® by Freedom Scientific Website: www.freedomscientific.com
Phone: (800) 444-4443
Standard ($295.00), with speech ($595.00)
Professional ($395.00), with speech ($750.00)

Big Shot® by Ai Squared ($99.00) Website: www.aisquared.com
Phone: (802) 362-3612

Screen Reading Software:

JAWS® for Windows by Freedom Scientific Website: www.freedomscientific.com
Phone: (800) 444-4443
Standard ($895.00), Professional ($1195.00)

Window Eyes® by GW Micro Website: www.gwmicro.com
Phone: (260) 489-3671
Standard ($595.00), Professional ($795.00)

Scan-to-Speech Software

Open Book® by Freedom Scientific ($995.00) Website: www.freedomscientific.com
Phone: (800) 444-4443

Kurzweil 1000® by Kurzweil Educational Systems ($995.00)
Website: www.kurzweiledu.com
Phone: (800) 894-5374

Voice Recognition Software:

Dragon Naturally Speaking® by ScanSoft Website: www.scansoft.com
Phone: (800) 654-1187
Preferred ($175.00), Professional ($500.00)

IBM ViaVoice® by IBM Website: www.ibm.com/able
Phone: (800) 426-4832
Standard ($75.00), Advanced ($125.00)

Adaptive Peripherals:

Refreshable Braille Displays
40 cell ($5,000.00), 80 cell ($10,000.00)

Stand Alone Devices such as FreedomBox
FreedomBox by Serotek Corp. ($999.00 plus $21.95/month for service) Website: www.freedombox.info
Phone: (877) 661-3785

GUILD ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGY PRICE LIST

Guild members now have the opportunity to purchase adaptive technology (AT) products through our Computer Training Center. Consumers benefit from buying AT products through the Guild through lower costs and tax-free savings. Following is a list of the software programs and products currently available. Please allow two weeks for delivery after the order is placed.

JAWS® for Windows
Retail
$895.00
Guild
$800.00

MAGic®
Retail
$295.00
Guild
$250.00

MAGic® with speech
Retail
$495.00
Guild
$400.00

ZoomText®
Retail
$395.00
Guild
$350.00

ZoomText® with speech
Retail
$595.00
Guild
$525.00

Big Shot®
Retail
$100.00
Guild
$100.00

Vera Reading Machine
Retail
$3,000.00
Guild
$3,000.00

To learn more or to place an order for any of these products, please contact David Flament at (312) 236-8569 or davidf@guildfortheblind.org.

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