“What is assistive technology?”, “How does it work?”, “How can I make sure my content is accessible for people using assistive technology?”
These are questions we hear often at Digital Access. They are important questions for anyone aiming to design content that is accessible and Inclusive for people with disability.
To help provide some answers, we’re starting a series of informative videos showcasing different assistive technologies. In each video we chat to an assistive technology user to cover:
- What the assistive technology is
- A demonstration of how it helps them access content on the web
- Some common accessibility issues to consider
Screen reader technology
- Screen reader software converts content on the screen into audio or braille. It reads content on the screen and provides extra information like whether content is a heading, a button or a link.
- It is commonly used by people who are blind or people who have low vision to help them access digital content
“The nice thing about using JAWS on the web with a well-structured webpage is that you can skip via heading, so you know what the most important bit of information is.” - Jordie
Screen reader demo with Jordie
Transcript: Screen reader demo with Jordie
Screen magnification technology
- Screen magnification software can magnify content on-screen to high levels. It also has other functions like changing the colours of content to increase the contrast.
- It is commonly used by people who have low vision.
“Using a screen magnifier, I have to have it magnified to a point that I can read the text” - Grant
Screen magnifier demo with Grant
Transcript: Screen magnifier demo with Grant
Voice control technology
- Voice control technology allows people to use digital devices by using their voice rather than using a keyboard, mouse or touch screen. This includes navigating online and writing by speaking to the device.
- It is commonly used by people with physical and or motor disabilities.
You might be familiar with other forms of voice control technology like Google Home and Siri, that are widely used by people with and without disability to help with day-to-day tasks.
Voice control demo with Mary
Transcript: Voice control demo with Mary
Head pointer device
A head pointer is commonly used by people with limited hand or arm control to interact with a physical keyboard or touchscreen. It can also be used to do day-to-day activities like turning pages in a book.
You might be familiar with other forms of voice control technology like Google Home and Siri, that are widely used by people with and without disability to help with day-to-day tasks.
“I wear this Head pointer on my head, and this is the only way I have of using a computer, TV, or anything else. The Head pointer liberates me.” - Judith
Head pointer demo with Judith
Transcript: Head pointer demo with Judith
Want help designing accessible products and services?
- Consulting: If you would like help making your products and services accessible for people using assistive technologies, visit the Digital Access Services page.
- Training: If you want to upskill yourself or your team in accessibility, check out the Digital Access training options.
- Resources: We also have public resources available on our YouTube channel and Blog.
Keep a look out on our YouTube channel and this page for more videos from Digital Access as we continue to expand our series of assistive technology demonstrations.