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auraorangeFlag for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

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Zoom & text reading software required that supports Internet Explorer Java Based Application & MS Software

We have a user with advanced visual impairment.  

The user operates Windows XP Professional, Office 2003 with Outlook 2010.  We all use a housing application called Northgate which works via a browser and is Java based requiring the Java Access Bridge for it to work.

The user works very efficiently about 90% by memory, touch and through interaction of the Zoomtext software voice reading out text and menus.

Current hardware being used is a 27” TFT Monitor and PC with above mentioned applications installed.

The software used to assist the user is Zoomtext 9.1.

Our housing system has recently been upgraded and now requires the user to log into the computer THEN start up Zoomtext 9.1.  Whereas before we did not have this issue and currently the users colleagues have to log the computer in each morning.

To continue to receive technical support for our housing system next year we will have to upgrade again and Zoomtext 9.1 compatibility seems to suffer even more with the testing we do.  

Our main problem is that with the system being Java based through a browser it does not offer visually impaired users the same level of support as your standard Microsoft products in terms of built in tools and third party software compatibility.

Secondly, we have been testing different zoom and reading programs and as the housing system we use is Java based, many fail to be work.

Programs we have tried are, Dolphin Computer Access, Jaws, Kurzweil, Read & Write, Text Help.

If anyone can suggest other programs we can try it would be much appreciated as in 12 months time it is unlikely Zoomtext 9.1 will be suitable.
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Merete
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oops missed the link
Refresher on Assistive Technologies for People with Vision Impairments
http://www.techsoupforlibraries.org/blog/refresher-on-assistive-technologies-for-people-with-vision-impairments
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ASKER

Thank you for providing so many options to try and points of reference.  I can not confirm at this moment a solution as im going on holiday soon then I need to carry out testing on these products but thank you once again.

I will post a final solution at a later date.
My colleague reminded me that we had to use the Java Access Bridge to enable Zoomtext to read from the Java Application.  It may now be the case we can upgrade Zoomtext and it does not require the access bridge on future versions.
Yes possibly, and i do hope so for your clients sake would simplify things.
have a great holiday auraorange
and thank you glad to help where I can
Cheers
Merete