Page 184 - Handbook of Electronic Assistive Technology

172 HANDBOOK OF ELECTRONIC ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

FIGURE 6-13 Typical display grids from Grid 3 specialist access software� Top row: Menu grids allow selection of
the subgrids with different functions shown below� Second row left to right: Mobile phone/YouTube/EC control
TV/Internet� (Source: By kind permission of Smartbox�) 16

• Keyboard options: The way the keyboard behaves can also be adjusted; this includes
options to hold down certain keys until another is depressed – useful for single finger
typists. It can also filter out some unintentional key presses and reduce the repetition
of keys.
• Speech recognition: Many of the conventional operating systems for computers have
had some form of speech recognition software included with them, which has improved
considerably in the last few years. For example, from Windows 7 onward, speech
recognition can now perform many of the commands for control of the computer as
well as the dictation of text. This enables the user to operate the computer using speech,
although there are some limitations, including the initial switch-on of the machine and
log-in. Also, the training required to achieve the accuracy of recognition to a satisfactory
level can be considerable, as can the required cognitive capability of the user.
• Access options: These have changed names over the years, from disability access
through to ease of access and universal access. The operating systems have differing
names; however, they have similar features:
• Onscreen keyboard: The onscreen keyboards can be navigated with the mouse cursor.
• Screen reader: The basic screen readers can be set up to read the link or sentence
that the mouse pointer hovers above.
• Magnifier: This will magnify a section of the screen surrounding the mouse cursor.

Tablet-Based Operating System Adjustments
Tablet computers and smartphones have become an essential part of modern life; how-
ever, the original devices were not adaptable and could not be accessed by anything other

16 https://thinksmartbox.com/.