For this blog post, I chose to evaluate some of the accessibility features available on my computer. For this class, I have been using a Macbook Pro with Mac OS X. There are a number of different accessibility features built in with this operating system. These features can be found in System Preferences.
The accessibility features are broken down into three categories: seeing, hearing, and interacting. The first group deals with features to assist with visual disabilities. The features include adjustments for basic screen settings such as color and contrast. Also included are settings for zoom features. The final feature in this category is Apple’s Voiceover technology. I was not familiar with this technology prior to writing this blog. I took the time to go through the provided tutorial and found it very interesting. This feature is extremely powerful and allows blind users the ability to accomplish tasks by using various keystroke combinations. I think it would take a lot of practice to master all of the keystrokes, but I think the technology and features are well designed. It is also great that this powerful tool comes built-in with the operating system.
In the hearing sections of the settings there are features for audio settings and closed captioning. One thing I found interesting was the audio settings that allow the screen to flash in order to signify an alert sound. Also, there is a checkbox in the closed caption settings that can be selected in order to play SDH (subtitles for deaf and hard of hearing) whenever possible. You can even change the font and appearance of the subtitles.
The last accessibility section deals with interaction. There are a number of features that I am familiar with including sticky keys, slow keys, and voice commands. The most powerful and interesting feature is the switch control. This allows a user with limited mobility to operate the computer and use full functionality through the use of a single switch. The user can also create custom panels for their own shortcuts and favorites. Overall, I think Apple has done an incredible job offering such powerful built-in accessibility features in OS X. Below is a video that explains in greater detail some of the tools I mentioned above. The first 13 minutes of the video relate to accessibility features.
Reference
(2014) OS X Mavericks: Use Accessibility Features. Retrieved from http://support.apple.com/kb/PH14322
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