How the Blind Use Computers

Even in this age of technology, some people still wonder how blind people can use computers. Well, below are just a few of the things they do and use to make the internet and other things a computer has to offer accessible.

1. Screen-reading software. This is the main component and the cornerstone of a blind person's computer use. Because without screen-reading software, they can't go on. Screen-readers vary in cost, capabilities, and sound, but they all basically do the same thing--read the computer screen to a blind person. In a somewhat human-sounding voice that can change languages with keyboard commands, programs like JAWS for Windows, Window Eyes, Hal for Windows, and others read the text on the screen aloud. They read email, WebPages, documents, interfaces, dialogue boxes, and more. Unfortunately, they sometimes don't know what to say when it comes to graphics. But screen-readers allow the blind to do almost everything anyone else can do on a computer.

2. Keyboarding knowledge. Screen-readers often have mouse simulators, but in general it's impossible for a blind person to use a mouse. So, they use keyboard commands instead of clicking on things. These commands aren't hard at all, and like anything else, the more you use them, the better you get. Similarly, blind people are some of the best typists you'll find anywhere. This is because they're touch typists. They have no choice but to depend on their fingers to type, because they can't see the computer screen. Some blind people, especially those who work in transcription, can type over 200 words per minute--on a slow day!

3. Scanning software. This doesn't so much depend on whether a blind person can use a computer, as not everyone uses or needs scanning software. However, because blind people can't read printed materials, they depend on scanners and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) programs to translate them to text. A regular, off the shelf scanner is used to take a picture of the printed text. Then, a program like OpenBook, Kurzweil 1000, or Fine Reader recognizes the image and converts it to text. Then--you guessed it--the text can be read by whatever screen-reading program is installed on the computer.

Many blind and visually impaired people really enjoy using the computer. Like anyone else, they can play games specially designed for them, keep in touch with people through blogs, forums and email, and surf the 'net. They're some of the best typists around and have good knowledge of word processors and other computer programs. They can't see, but that doesn't mean they can't use a PC.