eb-based program gives the blind Internet access
by Michaela Vargova
SEATTLE – a free new Web-based program called WebAnywhere was developed by a computer science graduate student at the University of Washington. The program is specific with its propersties that can make Web accessible also to blind people. Contrary to software that has to be installed on PCs, WebAnywhere is an Internet application that can make Web surfing accessible to the blind on most any computer.
Blind people generally use computers with the help of screen-reader software, but those products are often very expensive and so they're not very common on public PCs, for example at libraries or Internet cafes. Now, this new Web-based program aims to improve the situation, so blind people will be able to check a flight time on a public computer at the airport, plan a bus route at the library or type up a quick e-mail at an Internet cafe, etc.
The only problem could consist in getting online which can be complicated on a computer not already set up to give verbal feedback, but it is necessary to get WebAnywhere running. As a positive match may be considered results of a research that found that Web-savvy blind people often know plenty of keyboard tricks and when to ask for help. And once they are online they can completely use the WebAnywhere browser, which can link to and then read out loud any page. So it is required the computer to have speakers or a headphone jack. Then the program can skip around the section titles, tab through charts or read the page from top to bottom.
Blind people think the WebAnywhere is a big improvement over a total lack of public access and in addition the program is free for everyone.
PocketNews is a new real-time news broadcaster delivering the latest and hottest news right to your pocket ! With global clients who want to be kept up to date, PocketNews is everyone's way of keeping in touch with the World.<br><br><font size=2>These news are original content from young talents around the world and are selected for you by Chris Cantell.</font><br>
edited by BEata Biskova
Blind people generally use computers with the help of screen-reader software, but those products are often very expensive and so they're not very common on public PCs, for example at libraries or Internet cafes. Now, this new Web-based program aims to improve the situation, so blind people will be able to check a flight time on a public computer at the airport, plan a bus route at the library or type up a quick e-mail at an Internet cafe, etc.
The only problem could consist in getting online which can be complicated on a computer not already set up to give verbal feedback, but it is necessary to get WebAnywhere running. As a positive match may be considered results of a research that found that Web-savvy blind people often know plenty of keyboard tricks and when to ask for help. And once they are online they can completely use the WebAnywhere browser, which can link to and then read out loud any page. So it is required the computer to have speakers or a headphone jack. Then the program can skip around the section titles, tab through charts or read the page from top to bottom.
Blind people think the WebAnywhere is a big improvement over a total lack of public access and in addition the program is free for everyone.
| by Michaela Vargova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv) |
PocketNews is a new real-time news broadcaster delivering the latest and hottest news right to your pocket ! With global clients who want to be kept up to date, PocketNews is everyone's way of keeping in touch with the World.<br><br><font size=2>These news are original content from young talents around the world and are selected for you by Chris Cantell.</font><br>
edited by BEata Biskova
Labels: CantellTV, Chris Cantell, Christopher Cantell, digital broadcasting, SigEx Foundry, SigEx Telecom, Technologies
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