| Computer aids come in many shapes and
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| | any extra costs to make your computer
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| sizes. They range from decidedly
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| | more user-friendly. Many software
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| low-tech devices to high-tech software
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| | programs, including Netscape, Firefox,
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| programs which enable low vision
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| | Windows and Microsoft Office, allow you
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| sufferers to do the same computer tasks
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| | to enlarge text and icons.
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| as normal-sighted people. Perhaps, as a
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| | You can customise the background and text
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| non-computer user, you simply want to
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| | colors as well in order to achieve high
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| scan a magazine article into your
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| | contrast color schemes best suited to
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| computer that the PC will then read out
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| | your needs. Black text on a white
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| loud. Computer aids will help you
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| | background is generally recommended as
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| perform this and similar non-computer
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| | the most vision-friendly.
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| tasks.
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| | However, several major software companies
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| As you use the correct magnifier at the
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| | now manufacture high-tech computer aids.
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| correct strength for regular reading
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| | These will help you, not only to read
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| activities, so the same low-tech vision
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| | text and recognise pictures and graphics
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| aids which help with regular reading can
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| | with ease, but also to send and receive
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| also be used as a computer aid to view
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| | emails, create documents and surf the
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| the computer screen. Magnifiers come in
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| | web. Some software also offers
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| a variety of forms. There are hand
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| | large-print displays of important
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| magnifiers, free-standing magnifiers,
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| | navigation items such as the cursor
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| some that look like mini telescopes and
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| | location.
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| others that can be worn around the neck.
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| | Many of these high-tech devices use an
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| These can be readily adapted for computer
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| | easily-installed program from a CD,
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| use.
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| | which will first scan text from your
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| Another type of magnifier which can
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| | files or emails and then read these aloud
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| greatly benefit someone with low vision
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| | to you by a voice which sounds human and
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| is a screen magnifier. This is a simple
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| | not synthetic. This conversion of text
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| hardware option that allows you to use
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| | to sounds has been much improved, and
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| your existing software on your computer.
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| | problems of inaccuracy and inaudibility
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| A relatively inexpensive option, it
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| | have largely been eliminated.
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| displays both text and images much larger
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| | These "talking computers" represent some
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| and more boldly than a conventional
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| | of the more popular computer aids. It's
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| screen.
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| | easy to see why. Voice-activated
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| Moving from the screen to the keyboard,
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| | computers obviate the need to type
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| there are a number of low-tech computer
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| | altogether, and this is a real plus for
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| aids which can be very useful, especially
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| | those with low vision.
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| if you are a good touch typist. Bump
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| | The concentration needed to read the text
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| dots can be placed on the control, alt
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| | on a computer screen is tiring, and is
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| and delete keys which will make these
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| | especially so if you have a visual
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| frequently-used keys much easier to
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| | impairment. As the majority of low
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| locate.
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| | vision sufferers are seniors, keyboarding
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| Similarly, the "f" and "j" keys can be
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| | can also be difficult with arthritic
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| highlighted with a dot or sticker making
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| | fingers.
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| it much easier to keep your fingers
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| | If you have difficulty with stiff finger
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| correctly positioned for keyboarding.
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| | joints or hand cramps, but you still
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| The dots and stickers provide you with a
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| | prefer to use a mouse, it is a good idea
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| handy reference point. Many low vision
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| | to try a larger one. Your hand will rest
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| sufferers use this principle for the
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| | over the mouse in a more relaxed position
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| telephone: by putting a dot or sticker on
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| | which will alleviate any stiffness or
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| the #5, the rest of the numbers are found
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| | discomfort.
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| much more easily.
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| | The mouse can act as a computer aid in a
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| The keyboard, itself, can be a problem if
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| | number of additional ways. A wireless
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| you are visually impaired. New, enhanced
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| | mouse will leave you less restricted for
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| visability keyboards are now available
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| | space; a central wheel will allow you to
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| which can help you overcome the problem
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| | scroll up and down easily with your
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| of viewing your keyboard. Often marketed
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| | middle finger, and alteration of the
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| as a computer aid to help counter the
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| | mouse behavior settings (by clicking on
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| effects of computer vision syndrome, but
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| | the Start menu then the Control Panel and
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| equally useful for low vision sufferers,
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| | finally Mouse) will enable you to slow
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| the keys are half as large again as those
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| | down aspects of the mouse operations.
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| on conventional keyboards. They are also
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| | There are three settings which are
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| marked with high-contrast lettering for
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| | particularly relevant to low vision
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| ease of use.
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| | users. You can slow down the rate you
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| The larger keys, along with a special
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| | double-click to open programs or folders
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| facility that allows a single key to open
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| | which gives you greater precision. The
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| up the browser or put on an audio or
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| | pointer speed can also be slowed down
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| video function, help make using the
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| | enabling you to follow it more easily,
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| computer a much more comfortable
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| | and the mouse wheel can be set to scroll
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| experience. The availability of a
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| | the page to the optimal number of lines
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| wireless version makes for greater
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| | the operator is comfortable with.
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| comfort still as your movements are less
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| | So, from simple scanning of a magazine
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| restricted. Used in conjunction with
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| | article to creating and using
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| dots and stickers, these adapted
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| | spreadsheets, there is a computer aid
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| keyboards can be a real boon for the
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| | available for low vision sufferers. With
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| visually impaired.
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| | so much on offer, low vision should not
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| But you don't necessarily have to incur
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| | mean low expectation.
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