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Vision impairment and computing
This factsheet explains how people with impaired vision can use computers effectively. This factsheet is part of AbilityNet’s free Advice and Information service.
If you have any questions at all about anything in this Factsheet, or any
other aspect of assistive technology, please contact us.
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Updated February 2014 Page 2
Access to the Keyboard
The letters on a computer keyboard are small and
can be difficult to see. Large print keytop stickers
in several colour combinations are available.
Learning to touch-type is recommended, where
possible.
Keyboard Stickers
Touch-typing tutors are available as a speaking computer program. See our factsheet on touch typing
for further information.
Screen Placement
The placement of the screen can be important. Glare and window light can make
unusable a computer that would otherwise be manageable.
Colour
Many people with impaired vision can see some colour combinations better than
others. Colour options are available in practically all programs. Windows/OS X has a
wide range of pre-defined colour schemes to try or you can create your own preferred
colour schemes.
Screen Size
Larger than standard screens produce a larger than standard image. Screens are
available over 30” in size. It is now possible to connect a TV to a computer via HDMI
cables although this normally applies to newer TV models.
For laptop computers, screens are typically around 15” visible viewing area. They can
go up to 17” but the bigger the screen the heavier the laptop. We’d always advise that if
you need a bigger screen you consider connecting your laptop up to a larger monitor.
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Updated February 2014 Page 3
Screen Resolution
Ensuring that your screen resolution (how small the dots are that make up the picture
on your monitor) is no higher than 800x600 is a good starting point – text and pictures
will be larger than at higher resolutions.
Choice of Font Style and Size
It is possible to increase the size of all text within Windows (including icon text, menus,
message boxes etc). This can considerably enhance the visibility of Windows and all
the programs you use.
A font such as the one this document is written in - "Arial", can be easier to see than
others which are not uniform width and have "serifs" (tails) such as "Times New
Roman".
In Windows a number of colour schemes include larger text of up to 3 times the
standard size.
The Mouse Pointer
In Windows (and OS X) it is possible to change the colour and size of the mouse
pointer (arrow) and the other shapes the mouse pointer appears as. A wider range of
sizes and colours and high visibility effects can be achieved with specialist software.
Product Guide Price Supplier
Mac Settings Free Built into Mac
Windows settings Free Built in to Windows
Mouse pointers Free www.yourdolphin.com
Microsoft Word and Excel Features
Both Microsoft Word and Excel have features that may help increase visibility. You can
increase the size of the buttons in the toolbars in both.
In Word you can make the document window white text on a blue background
regardless of Windows' colour scheme.
"Zooming In"
A number of programs such as word-processors allow the user to increase the size of
the text in the window where the document appears quite considerably. This does not
affect the size in which the text is printed out. Most buttons on the toolbar (the row of
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Updated February 2014 Page 4
small pictures at the top of the screen that can perform an operation when clicked with
the mouse) can be enlarged by choosing the right option within the program.
Magnification Software
A number of products are available that
produce an enlarged image on the
computer's screen. The sizes of
enlargement possible, the image quality
and the method of control vary.
Example of screen magnification
Enlarging characters in this way always means that only a portion of the whole screen
is visible at any time. Use of such software is relatively simple and there are also a
number of word-processing packages specifically designed for use with large
characters.
There is also software that magnifies the area around the mouse pointer like a
magnifying glass.
Product Guide
price
Supplier
Windows
magnifier
Free In Windows XP and above
Virtual Magnifier Free http://magnifier.sourceforge.net
Mac Magnifier Free Within Mac OS
Hyperlens $49.95 www.visionsuit.com
Finding the Text Cursor
Many people find it difficult to locate the blinking vertical bar that indicates where you
are typing in a word processor.
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Updated February 2014 Page 5
There is no way of increasing the size, or enhancing the appearance, of this cursor
except in Windows XP and above (and then its size only increases in MS Word and a
few other programs). A program called Mouse&Caret Buddy can help you find your
mouse cursor and text caret by showing pictures next to them.
Product Guide
price
Supplier
Mouse&Caret
Buddy (works
with Win 7/8)
US$39.00 www.ahf-net.com/Mcbuddy.htm
Pin Point (MAC
only)
US$4.99 http://www.lagentesoft.com/pinpoint/index.html
Configuring your Web-Browser
All new computers now come with Internet browsing software already installed. Many
websites are visually complex and confusing with multiple columns and text in strange
combinations of colours. All of the most common browsers can force the text to be of
the size and colour you prefer, and the background and foreground colours of the page
whatever combination you wish.
“Screen Reading” using Speech Output
It is often thought that Windows and the Apple operating system (OS X) with its pictures
and "icons", is inaccessible to those without vision. In fact these pictures are often
purely cosmetic or accompanied by a text label.
A blind computer user can know what is on the screen by having the necessary
information spoken by a synthetic voice. This could include having each character or
word echoed back as you type.
The software programs that control the speech (called "screen readers") vary in their
reliability and intelligence. The more sophisticated allow the user effective and reliable
"eyes-free" use of the vast majority of programs.
There are some free text to speech packages available but these are not intended for
visually impaired users.
"Screen Reading" Access to the Internet
A program called a "web browser" is used to view pages on the internet (called "web
pages" or "web sites"). These pages contain mostly textual information, but could also
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Updated February 2014 Page 6
include pictures, music and video or audio clips. It is important to choose the right
software to get best access to these pages.
There are some specialist web browsers that enlarge text and speak the content of a
web page. Also, some combinations of screen readers and web browsers have the
ability to make the reading of pages with complex structures and layouts even easier
than the specialist web browsing programs.
Product Guide
Price
Supplier
Voiceover Free Apple (built into OSX X)
Thunder screenreader Free www.screenreader.net (Windows
only)
NVDA Screenreader Free http://www.nvaccess.org/
Portable Computers and Note-Takers
Visually impaired people may wish to have a portable solution to their computer needs.
There are many portable devices that offer note taking, word- processing, and diary
and address book facilities.
Some are specialist machines that have been designed to give speech and/or Braille
output and have either Braille or "Qwerty" keyboards. Others are essentially laptop or
PDA computers running screen reading software with speech output or a Braille display
added.
OCR/Scanning
A scanner looks a little like a small photocopier on which you place a page of text or
opened-up book. The text on the page is converted into text on the screen which can
then be magnified or spoken back. There are many specialist scanners that can "read"
the printed page and automatically speak back the contents. They do not need to be
attached to a computer and do not have a screen. Mainstream scanners, however, are
now typically sold with the necessary optical character recognition (OCR) software, at a
fraction of the cost, and can easily be used by someone who already has a computer
with speech, Braille or enlarged image output. You can now use a mobile phone with a
camera to scan in text and then “speak” it out to you.
No scanner can read hand-written text.
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Updated February 2014 Page 7
CCTVs
Closed circuit TV systems, or video
magnifiers, are devices that enlarge print or
hand-written text. Some can be attached to
a computer. Most common are standalone
models. They comprise a single unit, with a
screen above a moveable table on which the
item to be read is placed.
Example of a CCTV
Portable versions are available, with small hand-held cameras that connect to a
television or computer. Those connecting to a computer give the user the option to
view the CCTV image, or the computer image, or both in a "split-screen" view.
Combined Approaches
These solutions need not be thought of in isolation. For many visually impaired users
the best solution might combine a number of the strategies mentioned above.
Mobile phones
With the advent of Android and Apple IPhones there is now a greater amount of
software applications (apps) that people with visual impairment will find useful. Please
see our factsheet “Tablet Computers” for more details.
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Updated February 2014 Page 8
Useful Factsheets
The following factsheets are relevant to this subject. We also produce a range of
skillsheets that are step by step guides to customising your PC.
Vision Impairment and Touch-Typing
Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows
Electronic Publications
It also might be worth looking at the RNIB information on technology products
http://www.rnib.org.uk/livingwithsightloss/computersphones/guides/
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Updated February 2014 Page 9
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