Web Browsers for Non-Visual Output

Blind and partially sighted people will use one of three possible methods to read pages on the World Wide Web. Users with some sight can use screen magnification software. For users with little or no useful sight the options are speech synthesisers or sound card to convert text into speech or a refreshable braille display to convert text into braille.

Since neither speech nor braille can interpret images the design of the web page should conform to the web accessibility guidelines for the blind and partially sighted.

Cornell University

Email: raman@cs.cornell.edu
Web: emacspeak.sf.net

Emacspeak

Emacspeak is a speech interface that allows visually impaired users to interact independently and efficiently with the computer. Audio formatting - a technique pioneered by AsTeR - and full support for W3C's Aural CSS (ACSS) allows Emacspeak to produce rich aural presentations of electronic information. By seamlessly blending all aspects of the Internet such as Web-surfing and messaging, Emacspeak speech enables local and remote information via a consistent and well-integrated user interface. Available free of cost on the Internet, Emacspeak has dramatically changed how the author and hundreds of blind and visually impaired users around the world interact with the personal computer and the Internet. A rich suite of task-oriented tools provides efficient speech-enabled access to the audio desktop and evolving semantic WWW. When combined with Linux running on low-cost PC hardware, Emacspeak/Linux provides a reliable, stable speech-friendly solution that opens up the Internet to visually impaired users around the world.
Price: Free from emacspeak.sf.net
Last updated: 21/05/2008

EconoNet International Inc

11404 Lakeview Drive, Coral Springs, Florida 33071, USA.
Email: ammirata@econointl.com
Web: www.econointl.com

Simply Web 2000

Simply Web 2000 is a speech friendly, speech enabled accessible web browser with advance features that allows navigation of complex pages by blind users. It uses Internet Explorer 4.01 or later as it's engine. The Simply Web 2000 package includes a software based speech synthesizer and can be used in standalone mode as a "Talking Web Browser". If the user already has a screen reader installed in their computer, they can then take advantage of the fact that it has been designed to be speech friendly. It is compatible with EconoNet International's Simply Talker 98/2000 screen reader.
Price: Free from website
Last updated: 21/05/2008

Equity Access Research and Development Group

Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia.
Tel: +61 3 9244 6100
Web: www.deakin.edu.au/buslaw/infosys/multiweb/mwindex.htm

MultiWeb 2.08

MultiWeb is a World Wide Web browser that incorporates disability specific technology suitable for computer users with multiple disabilities. It is designed to be used without other adaptive software and includes a speech engine, text enlargement, and scanning for switch devices. MultiWeb features various interfaces specifically designed to work with input devices including mouse, keyboard, switch device and touch screen. Each interface can be set-up with a number of different options including large print, highlight text, small buttons, speech synthesis, talking buttons and a variety of colours and fonts. The name MultiWeb stands for MULTIple interfaces to the World Wide WEB. The settings chosen for the interface are inherited by all Windows displayed within the application. For example, if a user were to select the Switch Device Interface with the option of speech synthesis then Windows, such as File Save, would also have switching and speech. The MultiWeb package consists of two separate programs: the MultiWeb User Options program which is used to select the interface and options and MultiWeb which is the actual browser. To run MultiWeb user will need: 486/33 MHz or faster MS-DOS compatible computer; Hard disk with at least 7MB of free space; An additional 5MB for viewing Internet documents; At least 8 MB of RAM; Windows 95 or higher; Sound Card (required for Speech Synthesis); Printer and access to the internet.
Price: Free (download from the website)
Last updated: 21/05/2008

INSERM U483

Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 9 Quai Saint Bernard, 75252 Paris, France.
Tel: +33 1 44 27 34 35
Fax: +33 1 44 27 34 38
Email: Braillesurf@snv.jussieu.fr
Web: www.snv.jussieu.fr/inova/bs4/uk/

BrailleSurf

BrailleSurf is an Internet browser for visually impaired users, which allows a simplified reading of the information available on the Web. BrailleSurf shows this information in a text form. This information can then be displayed on a Braille bar, or it can be spoken out by a speech synthesiser. The text can also be presented on the screen. The BrailleSurf browser is compatible with Windows 95, 98, NT and 2000. English and French versions available. Please note technical developments on this product have now ceased.
Price: Free
Last updated: 21/05/2008

Net-Tamer Inc

PO Box 372310, Satellite Beach, Florida 32937-0310, USA.
Tel: +1 321 777 4249
Fax: +1 321 779 2530
Email: nettamer@nettamer.net
Web: www.nettamer.net/

Net-Tamer browser, Net-Mail Pro and Agent Upload shareware products

DOS dial up internet products that require no TSR packet drivers. The Net-Tamer browser will web browse, get/send Email, get/send usenet messages, FTP upload/download a file, telnET to another internet address, or check the time and date. It will get Email and usenet groups, then log off so user can use the included offline reader, or user can choose to stay on and look around. It will also do a download/upload of mail or usenet on a timer.
Price: Free download from website
Last updated: 21/05/2008

Portset Systems Ltd

14 Palmerston Business Park, Palmerston Drive, Fareham, PO14 1DJ, UK.
Tel: +44 (0) 1489 893919
Email: office1@portset.co.uk
Web: www.portset.co.uk

Portset Internet System

portset internet systemThe Portset Internet System speaks to the user from switch on and allows the user to have immediate access to the web with the speech empowered browser PsWebTalk. The system is ready to go from delivery - all is needed is to connect to a power socket and a telephone connector. Supplied with an attached keyboard, wireless keyboard option also available. The system incorporates stereo loudspeaker, a compact disk player and diskette drive. Also possible to obtain other Portset KeySpeak applications, such as Wordprocessor or the Talking Newspapers Reader. Also includes the KeySpeak Typing Tutor and the first year subscription to the Portset ISP.
Length: 218mm Width: 185mm Height: 300mm
Weight: 10kg
Price: £978.75
Last updated: 21/05/2008

WebTalk

A speech enabled Internet browser which will access websites and reads the pages. Provides the following functions: Connect and Disconnect to dial up network. Set your own home page. Move backwards and forwards through web pages. http-www site access. Navigate up and down through a page. Select page links to go to. Enter text for searches and forms. Refresh a page. Maintains a previous history for user access. Read all the text. Receive, write and send emails. Play audio files. Control colours for text and background. Off-Line capability. Adjust male and female voice characteristics. Auto-connect installer.
Price: £150.00
Last updated: 21/05/2008

QualiLife SA

Riva Paradiso 26, Lugano CH-6900, Switzerland.
Tel: +41 91 980 09 51
Fax: +41 91 980 09 52
Email: info@qualilife.com
Web: www.qualilife.com

QualiSurf

QualiSURF is the Internet Browser of the software platform QualiWORLD® and is sold as part of the QualiWORLD software package. Enables the user to surf the Internet without the use of a mouse and a keyboard. Users with any type and degree of disability can now surf Internet freely, even totally paralyzed or blind people. QualiSURF offers many incredible features: Manage Internet application with any QualiWORLD computer accessibility solution replacing mouse and keyboard: Auto Scan, Manual Scan, Auto Click, XY Mouse, Radar Mouse, Directional Mouse, Onscreen Keyboard QualiKEY, QualiEYE and any external switch or pointing device. Let the system read out loud any website. Store and manage your favourite pages in personal folders. QualiSURF automatically detects and highlights in sequence, links of Web pages when Auto-Scan feature is enabled. Silent Surfing, whereby any questions about upgrades, plug-ins, or other information (a frequent occurrence when surfing the Internet) are prevented from appearing. The onscreen keyboard QualiKEY appears automatically when a highlighted input field is selected. QualiSURF automatically detects the type of the input field on the Web, for example in case the selected input field is a Check Box the software automatically checks it without opening QualiKEY.
Price: €239.34
Last updated: 21/05/2008

QualiWeb Lite

QualiWEB Pro is a very advanced Internet Browser for Microsoft Windows, which enables any user to freely surf the WEB. QualiWEB Pro includes several features: Auto Click: the click of the mouse is automatically generated. Auto Scan: all links, buttons and frames are auto scanned. Manual Scan: with a single or dual switch. XY Mouse. Radar Mouse. Direction Mouse. Web Page Reader: Read out loud any web page (all page content). Favorites Management. Voice Recognition Mode: fully compatible with Voice Recognition Systems like Microsoft Speech Recognition 6.1 and Scansoft Dragon Naturally Speaking 7.1. Users can control all application's functions by voice commands as well as any webpage. In a few words user can select and execute any link in the page by just pronouncing it on the microphone. QualiWEB Pro has many more features like: Visual and/or Audio Feedback for the Click of the mouse. Multi-Language. Fully customizable toolbar. Multi-user. LiveUpdate system. Does not include the Virtual Keyboard or QualiEYE.
Ref: QS0131
Price: Free
Last updated: 21/05/2008

QualiWeb Pro 2.0

QualiWEB Pro is a very advanced Internet Browser for Microsoft Windows, which enables any user to freely surf the WEB. QualiWEB Pro includes several features: QualiEYE: the tracking system based on a standard WebCam. Auto Click: the click of the mouse is automatically generated. Auto Scan: all links, buttons and frames are auto scanned. Manual Scan: with a single or dual switch. XY Mouse. Radar Mouse. Direction Mouse. Web Page Reader: Read out loud any web page (all page content). QualiKEY: the Virtual Keyboard: Word Prediction, Abbreviation & Extension, Layout Designer. Favorites Management. Voice Recognition Mode: fully compatible with Voice Recognition Systems like Microsoft Speech Recognition 6.1 and Scansoft Dragon Naturally Speaking 7.1. Users can control all application's functions by voice commands as well as any webpage. In a few words user can select and execute any link in the page by just pronouncing it on the microphone. QualiWEB Pro has many more features like: Visual and/or Audio Feedback for the Click of the mouse. Multi-Language. Fully customizable toolbar. Multi-user. LiveUpdate system.
Ref: QS0130
Price: €340.00
Last updated: 21/05/2008

Screenreader.net CIC

7 The Rookery, Orton Wistow, Peterborough PE2 6YT, UK.
Tel: +44 1733 234441
Web: www.screenreader.biz/

WebbIE

This small software package allows someone with little or no sight to make sense of websites. WebbIE knocks out all the complex graphics, pictures etc and presents lines of easy-to-read text which any screen reader can cope with and which can be magnified. Licensing options for colleges, universities and libraries etc. wishing to offer computer access throughout the organisation are available.
Price: Free download (£20.00 on disk with a print or braille manual)
Last updated: 21/05/2008

Software Express Limited

The Old Bakery, 5 Station Road, Ushaw Moor, Durham DH7 7PX, United Kingdom .
Tel: +44 845 22 55 005
Fax: +44 191 373 44 22
Email: sales@SoftwareExpress.co.uk
Web: www.softwareexpress.co.uk

Guide Software

Guide is an all-in-one computer package, for people who are blind or partially sighted. It has been specifically designed to be easy-to-use and easy-to-learn. Guide has its own in-built screen reader, so it will read out the text on every screen, even while you're typing. It also has its own in-built screen magnifier, so you can enlarge the text on every screen, whether you are writing a letter or surfing the Internet. It also turns your computer into an easy-to-use Reading Machine. Printed text documents are placed on the scanner and then both spoken out and magnified on the screen. Guide is available as a CD to be loaded onto an existing computer, or as a complete computer package, all setup and ready to be used. Guide offers many great features, which are all integrated within one package, so that there is no need to switch between different programmes to complete each task. These features include: Write letters and documents; Spell-Checker; Dictionary and thesaurus; Magnify handwriting, diagrams or pictures; Print or edit photos from your digital camera; Send and receive emails; Surf the Internet; Addresses and contacts; Calendar and reminders and playing CDs and MP3s.
Price: £395.00
Last updated: 21/05/2008