See Section 9 for details of AbilityNet’s services to employers. How can I input into and control my computer? Keyboarding Learning your way around the keyboard and, ideally, to type are key skills for visually impaired computer users. Being able to touch type and use the keyboard effectively will increase your accuracy and productivity in both drafting documents and emails etc. and in operating your computer. Using a keyboard is often faster than using a mouse, and for people with little or no useful vision, it can be the most practical way to input data and control a device. Working with (i.e. keyboard shortcuts) is a very powerful way ‘hotkeys’ of driving a computer pressing a combination of keys together to perform most – of the functions of a mouse. Learning to touch type There are a number of software programmes available aimed at helping people with sight loss learn how to touch type. For Windows PCs, options include: Azabat Touch-Typing Tutor, and Portset Touch Typing Tutor. is available for both Windows and Apple Mac computers. Englishtype Senior Suppliers of touch type tutorials include: Adapt-IT; Inclusive Technology; RNIB; and Portset. Alternative keyboards High visibility keyboards The letters on a standard computer keyboard are small and can be hard to see. One alternative to this would be to purchase a high contrast keyboard; but a cheaper option would be to modify the keys on your existing keyboard by covering them with high contrast stickers. These use larger letters and come in upper and lower case sets. Larger keys However, people with impaired vision who are learning to type often find it difficult to locate keys accurately on a standard-sized keyboard. For many, it
See Section 9 for details of AbilityNet’s services to employers. How can I input into and control my computer? Keyboarding Learning your way around the keyboard and, ideally, to type are key skills for visually impaired computer users. Being able to touch type and use the keyboard effectively will increase your accuracy and productivity in both drafting documents and emails etc. and in operating your computer. Using a keyboard is often faster than using a mouse, and for people with little or no useful vision, it can be the most practical way to input data and control a device. Working with ‘hotkeys’ (i.e. keyboard shortcuts) is a very powerful way of driving a computer – pressing a combination of keys together to perform most of the functions of a mouse. Learning to touch type There are a number of software programmes available aimed at helping people with sight loss learn how to touch type. For Windows PCs, options include: Azabat Touch-Typing Tutor, and Portset Touch Typing Tutor. Englishtype Senior is available for both Windows and Apple Mac computers. Suppliers of touch type tutorials include: Adapt-IT; Inclusive Technology; RNIB; and Portset. Alternative keyboards High visibility keyboards The letters on a standard computer keyboard are small and can be hard to see. One alternative to this would be to purchase a high contrast keyboard; but a cheaper option would be to modify the keys on your existing keyboard by covering them with high contrast stickers. These use larger letters and come in upper and lower case sets. Larger keys However, people with impaired vision who are learning to type often find it difficult to locate keys accurately on a standard-sized keyboard. For many, it
Vision%20impairment%20and%20computing%20Nov%202015_0.docx