Alternative Web Browsing
introduction -
specialized
browsers - screen readers -
adaptive
browsers - voice browsers -
other access
methods
Introduction
This is a collection of pointers to information, and where possible, to
demonstration versions of alternative browsing methods.
People with disabilities, whether temporary -- such as a slow connection
or eyes "disabled" by having to watch traffic -- or permanent -- such as
hearing, visual, physical or cognitive impairment -- use a wide range of
alternative approaches, different from traditional mouse-and-screen-based
browsers.
People with visual impairment or reading difficulties rely on speech
output, Braille displays or screen magnification; and in many cases use
the keyboard instead of the mouse. People who can't use a keyboard rely
either on voice recognition for spoken commands, or on switch devices which
can be controlled by head, mouth or eye movements. People whose eyes are
busy with another task may need Web access using voice-driven systems.
This page is intended to give you background and pointers to solutions
for these scenarios.
The purpose of this collection is to reflect the whole range of approaches
used for browsing. If you design Web pages, then this will allow you to
try out a particular browsing method with specific sites as a way of checking
how usable they are for a given browser, or combination of browser and
screen-reader, voice-recognition, or other adaptive systems. If you are
a user who may be interested in finding the most effective method for you,
then you should also find useful information here.
The page is divided into five sections:
-
Section 1
covers browsers which have been specially developed for people with disabilities.
-
Section 2
is devoted to screen-readers, which allow visually impaired people to navigate
with standard applications, and are therefore most often used in conjunction
with mainstream browsers such as Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet
Explorer, Opera, etc.
-
Section 3
covers browsers not specifically designed for disabled people but which
have features that have allowed them to be used in combination with adaptive
systems.
-
Section 4
is devoted to voice browsers which give spoken Web access, e.g. by telephone
using voice input or dialled commands and speech output.
-
Section 5
is a "catch-all" section intended to cover any access methods not covered
by the previous categories.
Disclaimer:
Inclusion of products on this reference list does not mean that they are
endorsed by W3C. Products are listed in alphabetical order, with no quality
rating. W3C provides the information on this page as a service to the Web
community and in good faith. However W3C cannot verify the accuracy of
all claims made by developers or users.
Acknowledgements:
This reference list was developed by
Peter
Bosher (peter@soundlinks.com), for the WAI Education
and Outreach Working Group. Information on other activities and resources
of W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative is available on the
WAI
home page. Please e-mail any suggestions for improvements or additions
to Peter Bosher with a cc to
wai@w3.org.
Section 1: Browsers specifically designed for people with
disabilities
For each of the following browsers, a brief description is given indicating
which of the above adaptive features is supported.
-
BrookesTalk
This browser under development by Oxford Brookes University focuses
on facilitating intelligent web-searching.
Speech output, screen-magnification;
Demonstration available.
-
EIAD
A browser from Sarsfield Solutions which provides enhancements specifically
for people with special needs and learning difficulties.
Touch-screen, simplified language interface.
No demonstration available.
-
EMACSPEAK
The speech-enabled environment for EMACS, runs under UNIX or LINUX,
includes full web browsing capabilities through W3.
Speech output, simple keyboard interface.
Free download available.
-
HomePage Reader
The speech-based browser from IBM, using Internet Explorer as its engine.
Speech output, simple keyboard interface based on number-pad.
Demonstration available.
-
Marco Polo
A plug-in for Netscape Navigator from Sonicon with speech and auditory
icons.
Speech output, audio icons, simple keyboard interface.
Demonstration available.
-
MultiWeb
Disability-specific browser developed at Deakin University.
Speech output, screen magnification, scanning for switch devices.
Free download available.
-
pwWebSpeak
The first and longest established low-vision browser from isSound.
Speech output, synchronised speech and screen magnification, simple
keyboard interface.
Demonstration available.
-
Sensus Internet Browser
A low-vision internet browser from Sensus in Denmark.
Speech output, Braille support, special screen fonts.
No demonstration available.
-
Simply Web 2000
A talking interface using the Internet Explorer engine.
Speech output, simple keyboard interface.
Free download available.
Section 2: Screen-readers
A screen-reader is used to allow navigation of the screen presented by
the operating system, using speech or Braille output, and should therefore
enable use of any mainstream application. In the context of browsing this
usually means that they are used in conjunction with Netscape, Microsoft
Internet Explorer, or, less often, with one of the other non-disability-specific
browsers such as LYNX and Opera, detailed in section 3. Listed below are
the home pages of all the major developers of screen-readers for different
versions of Windows, and including one for Macintosh. Many of these include
support for MS-DOS, either as an integral part of the Windows version,
or in conjunction with a stand-alone DOS screen-reader. They all provide
demonstration versions.
-
ASAW from Microtalk:
(DOS, Windows 95/98/ME) speech.
-
HAL from Dolphin:
(DOS, Windows 95/98/ME and NT) speech and Braille.
-
JAWS For Windows from Freedom
Scientific
(DOS, Windows 95/98/ME and NT) speech and Braille.
-
Lookout from Choice Technology
(Windows 95/98/ME)
-
OutSpoken from Alva:
(Windows 95/98/ME, Macintosh) speech and Braille.
-
Simply Talker from Econonet:
(Windows 95/98/ME) speech.
-
Slimware Window Bridge from
Synthavoice:
(DOS, Windows 3.x and 95/98/ME) speech and Braille.
-
Window-Eyes from GWMicro:
(DOS, Windows 3.x and 95/98/ME) speech and Braille.
-
WinVision from Artic:
(Windows 3.x and 95/98/ME) speech.
Section 3: Browsers with adaptive technology
These browsers are all designed for general use, but are of interest because
they may give enhanced accessibility in combination with particular adaptive
systems, and some have enhanced screen magnification or navigation options.
-
AMAYA
This is W3C's test-bed browser, implementing emerging web technologies.
There are versions for Windows 95/98/ME, Windows NT and UNIX.
-
ARACHNE
This is a graphical browser for MS-DOS.
-
LYNX, and Mac
OS version of LYNX
This is a popular text-based browser for UNIX, Windows 95/NT, MS-DOS,
and Mac OS allowing flexible and powerful text-based access from older
platforms.
-
Internet Explorer,
accessibility features
Microsoft has included many features in Internet Explorer to enhance
accessibility.
-
Net-Tamer
This package runs under MS-DOS and includes both text-based and graphical
browsing capabilities.
-
Netscape Navigator
Navigator enables enlargement of fonts.
-
Opera
This compact browser for Windows 95/98/ME offers enhanced keyboard
navigation and screen magnification.
Section 4: Voice browsers
These are systems which allow voice-driven navigation, some with both voice-in
and voice-out, and some allowing telephone-based web access.
-
ConversaWeb
Voice-activated browser allowing spoken selection of links using "saycons".
-
webHearit
A telephone-based tool using the telephone keypad as an interface to
navigate suitably configured pages.
-
SpeecHTML
A subscription service from Vocalis, allowing a participating site
to provide telephone access using voice commands.
-
TelWeb
An experimental telephone-based browser allowing access to any site
using voice and dialled commands.
Section 5: Other access methods
We will be expanding this section to include links to reference lists of
other access technologies such as screen magnifiers and voice recognition
programs which can be used in conjunction with Web browsers.
-
There are a number of systems which filter or transform existing pages
to make them more accessible regardless of which browser is being used.
For a collection of links to such transformation tools, see: The
WAI List of filter and transformation tools.
-
Agora is a system
which allows web-pages to be retrieved by E-mail simply by sending a message
containing the URL of the desired document.
-
Page Getter allows powerful and
flexible retrieval of web-pages by E-mail, with options to include images,
or request text only.
-
The Voice allows
representation of images in sound using Peter Meijer's "image sonification"
technique.
-
Information on screen magnifiers, which can be used in conjunction with
mainstream browsers, is available at
The Screen Magnification Home
Page.
Last updated 1 December 2000, by Peter Bosher (peter@soundlinks.com)
and Judy Brewer (jbrewer@w3.org)
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