| The ability to provide free access of information | | | | website in color. (The traditional Screen Reader still |
| to everyone is very important to our society. As | | | | seems to be the best option for persons |
| a result, most software development companies | | | | experiencing Macular Degeneration). A person can |
| are striving to make technology accessible to | | | | enlarge a portion of the screen to make things |
| disabled persons. They have made great strides in | | | | easier to see with the magnifier. |
| addressing various types of disabilities and creating | | | | The High Contrast feature increases the contrast |
| solutions that allow for these individuals to freely | | | | for text and images that were meant to be |
| access the information they desire. | | | | distinct and easily recognizable. This feature |
| The Vista Ease of Access Center presents | | | | reduces eye strain and is effective for persons |
| features that broaden accessibility for numerous | | | | that suffer with color blindness. |
| types of disabilities. The Vista Ease Of Access | | | | The Narrator is a text-to-speech program. It |
| Center is a centralized location where a user can | | | | reads the on-screen text to the user and |
| modify accessibility settings and manage | | | | describes some events (such as error messages) |
| accessibility programs by asking the user various | | | | that happen while the computer is in use. It also |
| questions related to daily tasks (like the difficulties | | | | reads Narrator menus without leaving the active |
| encountered when hearing voices on TV or using | | | | window and has a natural sounding voice. |
| a pencil). Based on the responses, a user profile is | | | | The Mouse can be switched to accommodate |
| created, and some basic settings are | | | | people who are left handed or missing an arm or |
| recommended, which a user has an option to | | | | hand. |
| modify at a later time. | | | | An on-screen keyboard is available, making the |
| The login screen is also affected by accessibility | | | | physical keyboard unnecessary. This aids |
| settings, the end user should have no trouble | | | | individuals with poor fine motor skills, which are |
| logging in. | | | | necessary in order to type well. The on-screen |
| The Speech Recognition feature enables a person | | | | keyboard has all the standard keys that are on |
| to interact with the computer using only their | | | | the physical keyboard. The On-Screen Keyboard |
| voice. This lessens dependence on the mouse and | | | | also allows a user to type utilizing an alternative |
| keyboard while maintaining overall productivity. | | | | input device. |
| Speech Recognition allows a user to dictate | | | | Visual Notifications is a feature geared toward the |
| documents and e-mail, browse the internet, and | | | | hearing impaired. The end user has the ability to |
| command programs by verbalizing what is seen. | | | | replace the system sounds with visual cues, such |
| The interactive training leads the user through a | | | | as a flash on the screen. The system alerts are |
| simple setup process and familiarizes the person | | | | announced with visual notifications instead of |
| with the voice commands. | | | | sounds. |
| The Captions feature turns on text captioning for | | | | All of the above mentioned features are |
| animations and video. | | | | accessible in two ways. A user either chooses to |
| The magnifier allows the user to increase the | | | | turn them on for one session or to have the |
| screen by levels from 2 to 16 times the original | | | | features turned on every time they log on. |
| size. The user can choose to scroll with the | | | | All of the options in Vista Ease of Access work |
| mouse, keyboard, or text editor. However, the | | | | very well for the use for which they were |
| visual changes do not seem to be effective for | | | | intended. It has provided many users freedom to |
| users with Macular Degeneration, as hoped. It | | | | access information without dependence on other |
| seems the pixels don't allow for smooth reading, | | | | individuals, allowing a tremendous amount of self |
| and the pixels can and sometimes do cause eye | | | | reliance, which is extremely important. |
| strain. Some websites force the viewing the | | | | |