Tag: Speech

Assistive Technology Bundled Software

Cynthia A. Lockley on

Code-it Software Solutions has been a player in the development of Assistive Technology (A-Tech) software since 1997. They were the first to release "talking" web browsers (named "Web Talkster" & "Web Speakster") to aid children with ADD, or folks with poor eye sight, to enjoy the web. They offered their array of Windows XP or Vista platform software stuff all wrapped up in one package type application in the hopes that you'd benefit in some way from it's use.

You didn't have to have special needs to enjoy this software! Anyone (particularly kids) that enjoys text 2 speech software will get good use from the many applications it offers! This software is entirely freeware, no adware and / or spyware. You could use it free forever. The software included Text 2 Speech Stuff…Speaking Note Pad, Text 2 Audio, Text Talkster, Web Talkster; Misc Stuff…Audio Recorder/ real time, Audio CD Writer, Data CD Writer, Magnifier, Sign Talkster; and Fun Stuff…Guess the Number Game, Picture Taker, Peedy the Jokester, and Song Gallery.

The Code-it Software Solutions website closed down and discontinued distribution of all their software on 01.01.2019  Updated

Orca: an open source scriptable screen reader

Cynthia A. Lockley on

Orca is an open source scriptable screen reader. The development of Orca has been led by the Accessibility Program Office of Sun Microsystems, Inc. with contributions from many community members. For more information and to download Orca, see https://wiki.gnome.org/action/show/Projects/Orca?action=show&redirect=Orca.

Using various combinations of speech, braille, and magnification, Orca is designed to work with applications and toolkits that support the assistive technology service provider interface (AT-SPI). This includes the GNOME desktop and its applications, OpenOffice, Firefox, and the Java platform. Some applications work better than others, however, and the Orca community continually works to provide compelling access to more and more applications.

On the Accessible Applications page at Orca Accessible Applications, you will find a growing list of information regarding various applications that can be accessed with Orca as well as tips and tricks for using them. The list is not to be a conclusive list of all applications. Rather, the goal is to provide a repository within which users can share experiences regarding applications they have tested.

Anyone with an interest in improving the GNOME Desktop Accessibility Guide (user section), please review the latest edits at https://help.gnome.org/users/gnome-help/stable/a11y.html and direct all corrections, suggestions, etc. to email hidden; JavaScript is required – your input is greatly appreciated!

Darragh Ó Héiligh is a senior system administrator at Dublin City University in the Information System and Services department. He is blind and uses several tools to make his job accessible. He writes a blog and prepares Tech Pages for more thorough details about using Linux, Orca, and other technology. For example, "Using the Tilda terminal in Linux with full accessibility for Orca users".