You can buy a larger computer screen but it’s cheaper (and sometimes more effective) to make your icons and text bigger. Read on – and if you’re struggling to read this right now try pressing CTRL and + (plus) together to zoom into this page.
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How adjusting the display can help
Find out how adjusting the Windows display can help people with physical and severe cognitive difficulties as well as for people with low vision. Eye fatigue and headaches can also be helped by adjusting the screen and people with dyslexia often find alternative colour schemes can help the legibility of text.
Visual Accessibility of Text
A step-by-step guide to using Microsoft Word to self-assess your own optimum visual set-up of text. This article introduces the main text accessibility options that can be assigned to documents and emails as well as parts of Windows itself and the web.
Windows visual accessibility & where to find it
Windows XP has visual accessibility options and features spread out in funny places. Use this guide to learn about the different options available and use my step-by-step printable guides explaining how to use each feature ranging from mouse pointers to the built-in screenreader.
Background info: Screen size and resolution
What every assessor should know and interesting reading material for those who assess themselves. Find out about the limitations and pitfalls of the of Windows’ resolution, the effect of screen sizes, and how Windows uses its display. All in one easy-to-read page.
Background info: How windows displays itself
Knowing about the Graphical User Interface and the notorious ‘Items’ list can really help the assessment process. Includes a complete list of Windows’ Graphical Items (as found in the Advanced section of the Display Applet’s Appearance page), their function and limitation. Another quick easy-to-read article.
Using Text-to-Speech
Thanks to text-to-speech technology you have the opportunity to give your eyes a rest by letting your ears take on some of the work.
Reducing Screen Glare
Screen glare can give rise to headaches and eye fatigue and most computer users would benefit from making some adjustments. This guide lists the options available ranging from free fixes built into Windows to specialist software.
Future Development (Windows Vista)
Windows Vista may still be at least one year away but with accessibility being such as buzzword recently I am very hopeful about improvements in this release. I am already looking forward to new scalable dialogs that should provide a much clearer interface for all.
Case Studies
A great way to learn is to find out how other people have combined features and come up with innovative solutions for clients.
Magnification in Web Browsers
Many users will find the Page Zoom features of both the major browsers an improvement over the limitations involved with adjusting the Text Size only.