P5

=Tools of Assistive Technology: What Comes Bundled in the Computer's OS?=

Many people are not aware that the computers they currently use come bundled with features that can help users with computer access. For instance, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Apple OS X and later operating systems all come with speech-to-text features. This allows users to speak into their microphone, and their words will be converted to typed text on the computer.

It is important that we as teachers are aware of the "free" software that already exists in our classroom.

In this section, you'll choose the platform and operating system that you want to explore. I suggest that you choose whatever your own computer is.

The two most likely platforms are either Windows or Apple. On the Windows side, the most likely operating systems are XP and Vista. On the Apple platform, you've likely got OS 9 or OS 10, etc. (You know what you have.)

You can explore both the resources provided below and anything you find on your own on the web or elsewhere.

You're not just going to explore these systems without focus. Remember Joshua, CeCe, and Beth (see Joshua-CeCe-Beth page)? You're going to explore these operating system accessibility features with them in mind.

So, go re-read their profiles on the Task page. Then, you'll collect three operating system accessibility features for each student that would be appropriate to assist them. You'll also briefly justify each choice you make. So, hop on in!

Process Task #5
//Use the tables on your answer sheet to document the following:// 12. Which operating system will you explore--Apple or Windows?

13. List 1 operating system tool that could help Joshua learn better. 14. List 1 operating system tool that could help CeCe learn better. 15. List 1 operating system tool that could help Beth learn better.

Use the Joshua-CeCe-Beth page to answer the above.

Example of how you might list a tool: One tool you might use in the //Windows Vista// operating system for Joshua is the Narrator feature, since it allows him to have things read to him on the computer at his own pace.

Content
[|Apple Accessibility Resources] (You'll need //iTunes// to access some of the content.) [|Apple Accessibility] (a welcome page) [|YouTube Video: Mac OSX Universal Access Features for Sight-Impaired Users] [|YouTube Video: Universal Access in Leopard] (focuses on "voiceover") [|YouTube Video: Macintosh Accessibility for the Visually Impaired] (focuses on "zoom magnification utility" and the "voiceover screen-reading utility")
 * Apple/Mac Operating System Assistive Features**

[|Windows Accessibility Tutorials] [|YouTube Video: Using Voice in Windows XP] [|YouTube Video: Windows 7 Magnifier] [|YouTube Video: Advantages of Windows 7]
 * Windows Operating System Assistive Features**

To find more materials on //Apple/Mac// or //Windows// products and accessibility, try a variety of search term combinations in your favorite search engine, such as these: OS, operating system, windows, apple, mac, access, accessibililty, disability, impair, etc.

The Next Step
So, you've selected some operating system tools for Joshua, CeCe, and Beth. Now, let's go and find some hardware and software tools that are not bundled in the operating system. There's a whole world of tools out there!

Onward, to P6 (**Process Task #6**)!