Name and describe three hardware and three software assistive technologies for students with disabilities

Name and describe three hardware and three software assistive technologies for students with disabilities.

Hardware's

1. Alternative Keyboards -Often standard keyboards are not aaccessible to everyone, especially those with special needs. Alternative keyboards are keyboards that are adjusted to suit peoples different abilities and mobility examples of these would be the split or one handed keyboards.


2. Touch Screens - these can be used as an alternative to keyboards all together. Touch screens are sometimes used when the user has limited mobility in their hands (Fingers) By using a touch screen and a on-screen keyboard they are able to use a computer and all of its programmes.


3. Alternative Mice - Like with keyboards some people find mice difficult to use. For these people there are alternatives.The picture shows a mouse that can operate the whole computer with just 5 switches. These switchers are connected to the computer and to a device on a persons wheelchair, all the person needs to do is move their joystick like they would to move their chair and they can work away on the computer. As you can image this type of Mouse would be for a person with a server lack of mobility there are mice for people at every level of mobility.

Software's

1. Screen readers - this is a type of software that reads out given text for you, it works either by highlighting a line of text on a document or by scanning in a page onto your computer. Once you have selected what you want read the screen reader will read aloud the given text. This type of software is used both by people with vision impairments and by people with learning difficulties like dyslexia.


2. Screen Magnifiers - Screen magnifiers are used again for people with visual impairments. It is a software that is available on most new computers. It enlarges the display on the monitor therefore making all texts and images larger. Although this can be to some advantage it also necessitates the continuous scrolling around to see the whole page. It is possible to purchase and external or hardware version of a screen magnifier.
   
3. Speech to text recognition software - This is software that will convert what you say to text . It can also be used to make commands and on a computer. All that is needed for this software to work is a computer that is compatible and a microphone.One of the most popular speech to text software is the "dragon natural speaking Software."