The next portion of the review consisted of viewing the course sites through accessible browsers.
Job Access With Speech (JAWS) is a text-to-speech tool used for transcribing web pages as well as text in other computer applications. JAWS gives access to any computer program to persons with disabilities. JAWS reads aloud the text of a web page, which is displayed via a regular browser. It is a prevalent accessibility package, already present at most mid-size universities. JAWS is also capable of output to refreshable Braille displays (not considered in the present review).
In Spring 2001, we used JAWS 3.7. JAWS is available only for Windows and costs about $1200. We are not proficient JAWS users.
Home Page Reader (HPR) is a web browser for computer users who are blind or visually impaired. HPR is a text-to-speech browser with high functionality, including extensive keyboard navigation, a talking online help feature, integrated email, and synchronous presentation of display and auditory content. HPR is a browser in and of itself, unlike JAWS.
We conducted our Spring 2001 review using HPR 2.5. This version revealed many accessibility problems in the LMS packages. Shortly after we finished testing, IBM released HPR 3.0, which addressed most of these problems through the support of additional HTML and JavaScript. We include the results for HPR 2.5 for institutions that may not feel an upgrade to HPR 3.0 is necessary. Fall 2001 review was done with 3.0
HPR 3.0 is available for Windows and costs about $250. We are not proficient HPR users, but found it easy to use.
Lynx is a full-featured web browser, with the exception of its inability to display frames, JavaScript, color, or images. Lynx is capable of displaying the text of HTML documents and following hyperlinks. The Lynx user-base consists mostly of those who are unable or do not want to display images. This includes users of character cell display devices (such as vt100 terminals or Linux/Unix without a graphics interface).
Although the Lynx browser represents a very small portion of web users, it was important to this study. Its limited functionality emulates low-end text-to-speech browsers such as Brookestalk and WeMedia's Talking Browser, as well as handheld computer and cell phone web technologies. While not addressed by the ADA and other laws, those websites that can be used by these newer technologies are accessible to a wider range of users.
Lynx is free and is available via Telnet at many hosts. One of us is a proficient Lynx user, while the other has not used it for about eight years since the graphics-based browsers became popularity.
Content authored by AnnMarie Johnson
and Sean Ruppert. ©2001
last updated
November 19, 2001
by AnnMarie Johnson.