What apps and technologies are readers with disabilities using?

[kestrell]

This is from the Bookshare Blog, so it reflects a specific subsection of readers with visual and print disabilities, but my advice is to support that the trend toward using mainstream tech and avoiding assistive tech as much as possible.
http://bookshareblog.wpengine.com/2019/03/apps-bookshare-members-use/

Comments

[duskpeterson]

Yes, I got an email from Voice Dream itself about their new scanner. It's very exciting news; I use Voice Dream's other apps daily.

[kestrell]

Does this software only work with iOS? I've tried ABBY Fine scanner software and it's really complicated--I would love a simple, inexpensive scanner program.

[duskpeterson]

Voice Dream Scanner is only available in iOS, I'm afraid. There are various free scanning and OCR programs for Windows; Microsoft has some built in. One website I found mentions a Microsoft program called Office Lens. It says, "Office Lens (Windows 10 and Office 365): Use document camera to capture image of printed page directly into Microsoft Word, OneNote, or OneDrive; then use Immersive Reader (part of Learning Tools) to read aloud."

End quote. However, if you find as you're developing your plans that you're drawn to iOS programs, you might consider getting an iPod Touch to supplement your new laptop. Like all Apple computers, the iPod Touch has a built-in screen reader. The iPod Touch doesn't last forever, because its battery can't be replaced, but the 32 gigabyte version only costs $200, which is cheap by Apple standards.

I would never give up my laptop; it's so useful for writing. But I find that mobile devices are a lot handier for e-reading, because one can carry mobile devices around the house and even outside the house. I do a lot of e-reading while I'm doing housework, or when I'm curled up in a papasan, or when I'm in bed while I'm sick. I couldn't easily do any of that if I only owned a laptop.

[kestrell]

Thank you for the info! My new Del Windows laptop arrived yesterday, and Alexx installed the programs I use on it, so now it's sitting here in front of me, ready to go. It looks almost identical to a Mac Air in size, shape, and surface texture (matte metal). I also decided to replace my Android phone, which hasn't let me access my received text messages for over a month, with an iPhone, hopefully the basic SE model. The Hadley School has an extensive series of highly detailed instructional videos to familiarize oneself with the iPhone and it's features, so that looks doable. And there seems to be every kind of accessible reading app for the iPhone, unlike Android. Hopefully, all of this will give me more options for reading and accessing books.

[duskpeterson]

I'm so glad to hear that you're able to get both a laptop and an iPhone! I look forward to hearing how they go for you.