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I know what a difference it makes when there is someone who understands what you're going through and provides a helping hand.
-Aaron, Samaritan Scholar

Technology for Blindness/Visual Impairment


AI Squared, ZoomText

This software based screen magnifier enlarges all text and graphics on the Windows display. It also features contrast and color enhancements that make it easy for the visually impaired user to locate key items such as pointers and highlight bars. Although this is primarily a screen magnifier, the product can also deliver some spoken output reducing eye fatigue during prolonged reading. http://www.aisquared.com/

GPS navigation tools

The Trekker and the BrailleNote with GPS are available for students and employees to experience at the RCPD. These tools enable our blind and partially sighted quickly navigate our campus.

Blazie Engineering, Braille n' Speak/Type n' Speak

This family of portable electronic note takers allows blind students to independently take written notes in class or on the go. The note takers use a built-in speech synthesizer to review created files without a required or included display. In addition to being highly portable note takers, these units also contain a number of built-in options including a talking scientific calculator. The Braille n' Speak (BNS) requires the user to enter all information via its 7-key Braille keyboard while the Type n' Speak (TNS) has a QWERTY style keyboard. Both units can be connected to either a Braille embosser or ink printer for hard copy printouts.

Duxbury Systems, Duxbury Braille Translator

This Duxbury Braille translation software allows the user to transform a common word processor file from ASCII characters to Grade II Braille. Once translated, the file can be sent to one of several Braille embossers on campus.

View Plus Tiger Embosser

View Plus is a high-resolution tactile graphics embosser that enables individuals who are blind and deaf-blind to access maps, graphs, tables, or pictures.

Enabling Technologies, Juliet Braille Embosser

This device is the Braille equivalent to an ink printer. It allows the computer to produce the Braille system of characters on heavy card-stock paper. Unlike many Braille embossers, the Juliet is capable of embossing on both sides of a page thus dramatically reducing paper use and the bulk of documents printed on a single sided embosser. This device must be used in conjunction with a Braille translator such as the Duxbury Braille Translator to produce properly formatted Grade II Braille.

Franklin Electronic Publishing, Language Master

These hand-held devices allow individuals to quickly search for definitions and spellings of difficult or troublesome words. The systems also allow the user to locate synonyms and antonyms for particular words. Finally, the units include a speech synthesizer allowing them to read definitions and spellings aloud.

Freedom Scientific, JAWS for Windows (JFW)

This powerful screen-reading package affords speech output and Braille access to our computers. Its high configurability makes it a good choice for the most demanding screen-reading tasks. With JAWS, blind or visually impaired computer users can independently use most Windows-based software including e-mail, web browsers, word processing, spreadsheets and databases. The software produces a clear synthesized voice in any of several languages. For users who prefer Braille output to speech, JAWS supports full access to the computer via a refreshable Braille display such as the Braille Window.

HumanWare, Braille Window

HumanWare, Braille Window is a 45 cell refreshable Braille display that allows blind and deaf-blind users to access a variety of Windows-based software through tactile Braille output. The display is used in conjunction with a PC and either a screen reading software package like JAWS for Windows or other Braille ready software such as An Open Book. The display supports both the common 6-dot Braille and 8-dot computer Braille.

HumanWare, Keynote Companion

The Keynote Companion is a palm-top sized note taker equipped with both speech synthesis and a small LCD display. The intuitive word processor software allows the user to create a variety of documents that can be easily modified, stored, and reviewed with speech. The device easily connects to a printer for a hard copy print out of important information. The device also features a talking scientific calculator, and telecommunications program.

Kurzweil Educational Systems, Kurzweil 1000

This powerful Optical Character Recognition software allows the computer to scan printed materials and render them in a spoken and large print output. The system features voice recognition allowing control over scanning and reading operations by voice in addition to traditional keyboard control. Finally, the built-in definitions dictionary provides full definitions and synonyms for hundreds of thousands of words.

Optelec, SVGA Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV)

This device assists individuals with visual impairments or learning disabilities by allowing them to enlarge and embolden the contents of printed materials. Like a traditional CCTV, the user places the printed material on an X-Y table. The image is then captured by a video camera that allows the user to adjust magnification level, focus, brightness, contrast, and coloration. This unit differs from a traditional CCTV in that it shares a single display/monitor with an existing PC. The user can thus (with the press of a button or foot pedal) select a full screen view of the computer, CCTV, or a split screen containing both. This system allows the user to easily read printed materials while working simultaneously with a computer.

Telesensory, Versapoint Braille Embosser

This Braille embosser allows a PC running a Braille translation software package to emboss Braille on heavy tractor fed paper. A Braille embosser is the Braille equivalent to an ink printer.

Talking Tactile Map

MSU has developed a state-of-the-art talking map that allows blind and visually impaired students to easily access a map of the entire main campus. Completed in 1996, the map features a tactile and large print/high-contrast depiction of the campus. The map uses a Nomad Gold touch tablet and a computer to produce a spoken label for map elements as they are touched. The map allows the user to "wander around" the campus hearing the names of buildings, roads and other landmarks as they are touched. The map provides a mode whereby a student may type the name of a campus landmark with the computer providing directional cues for locating the feature. An in-depth description of the talking map is available in a document entitled: The MSU Talking Tactile Map: Advancement Through Collaboration.


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