News & Views on Communication Trends
Making Macs Accessible
Snow Leopard innovations improve universal access
For people with disabilities, Mac OS X has included assistive technologies and features
that make the Mac accessible. Now, with Apple's release of OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard),
Mac OS X builds on the first operating system to include as a standard feature an advanced screen-reading technology.
Improvements in VoiceOver make it even easier for those who are blind or have low vision to use a computer.
The following Q&A spotlights several key features and innovations that are designed to advance accessibility even further.
Q. How does VoiceOver help people with vision disabilities?
A. The built-in VoiceOver feature in Mac OS X describes aloud what appears on the
computer screen. This screen reader is capable of narrating text in documents,
windows, menus, dialogs and more. With VoiceOver, users can control the Mac
with a keyboard, braille display or Multi-Touch trackpad instead of a mouse.
Q. What are the latest improvements in Snow Leopard's VoiceOver capabilities?
A. Snow Leopard's update offers the ability to control VoiceOver with gestures on the Mac
notebook's Multi-Touch trackpad. The trackpad represents the entire active window.
This allows you to touch to hear the item under your finger. For example,
by touching the upper right corner of the trackpad, VoiceOver explains what's
in the upper right of the screen.
Q. What's different about the voice in VoiceOver?
A. Apple is using advanced technologies to deliver natural intonation in English,
even at fast speaking rates. Alex, the voice in VoiceOver, more closely
matches human speech. This allows users to more easily understand longer
passages of text in books, articles, news stories, etc.
Q. How does VoiceOver facilitate web navigation?
A. VoiceOver can automatically read an entire page after it loads,
or summarize the page by reading only the title, number of tables,
headers, links and other items. Also, the system includes a virtual
control feature called a rotor. Similar to a dial, by rotating two fingers
on the trackpad, VoiceOver can be controlled to move through a page via
header, tables, frames, etc. Users also can tag areas of favorite web pages
(e.g. sports scores area on a newspaper site) and easily revisit
"auto web spots" at the touch of a finger.
Q. How is accessibility improved for users with hearing disabilities
and motor skill difficulties?
A. The Play Audio as Mono option enables users with hearing limited in one ear
to route right- and left-channel audio into both speakers or headphones.
The system also supports open- and closed-captioning in QuickTime Player and
DVD Player. Mac OS X Snow Leopard also offers built-in and assistive
technologies (e.g. the Automator feature) that can help users navigate when
they have difficulties using the keyboard, mouse and trackpad.
Q. Why does Snow Leopard represent a significant breakthrough?
A. According to the Mac-cessibility Network, a dedicated group of
visually impaired Apple enthusiasts, Snow Leopard represents the
most affordable major update to any commercial screen reader in
the history of access technology.
For more information on Mac accessibility
and Mac OS X Snow Leopard's universal access features, go to:
Is your web site accessible to people with disabilities?
The Rodgers Group offers specialized services in analyzing accessibility issues.
For information, contact
vicci@therodgersgroup.com.
