Accessible Test
Yüklə 1,48 Mb.
|
- Bu səhifədəki naviqasiya:
- Talking Typer for Windows
Talking Learn Keys(Continued) Purpose To provide a Windows-based basic keyboard exploration program for visually impaired or blind users so they may become familiar with any computer keyboard or to hear keystrokes announced in applications. Project Staff Larry Skutchan, Project Leader John Hedges, Programmer Rob Meredith, Programmer Background Talking Learn Keys provides clearly recorded audio feedback about keys that users of any age type on the PC keyboard. It can be used in two configurations. In the first, the user can type any key on the keyboard without fear of doing something wrong because Talking Learn Keys processes the keys before they are presented to the system. In the second, the learner can use Talking Learn Keys to announce keys for any program on the computer. This can be useful for providing high quality feedback for number entry in data processing applications or simply to verify the user is typing properly in any application. The program uses prerecorded speech from professional narrators and allows the user to choose either a male or female voice. There are also options for fast or normal speed announcement of key presses and a pronunciation mode feature that allows various pronunciations of some of the special keys. A large Verdana font type is used to display the key name. This feature is adjustable from the menu. The idea for Talking Learn Keys was discussed and presented to the Product Review Committee, who approved development of the program. The Technology Group in the Department of Educational Research developed initial design specifications and a functionality features list. The programmers wrote, tested, and finalized the code in 1999, and Talking Learn Keys became available for sale. As the group continued the development of the APH Speech Environment with its new abilities to manage user registration, it decided to update Talking Learn Keys to take advantage of this capability. This also allows the program to be placed on the Web in a demo version. The program continues to be modernized for new versions of Windows, including Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7. In a second area, new keyboards also may have additional multimedia buttons. These are controlled by vendor customized software. Support was added to handle the Microsoft multimedia keyboard. In addition, the other APH products now use the audio from Talking Learn Keys. It was helpful to create multiple audio components that allow other programs to use the audio files when installed on the same computer. Work during FY 2009 Tested for compatibility with 64-bit versions of XP, Vista and Windows 7. Work planned for FY 2010 Updates will take place as needed. Talking Typer for Windows(Continued) Purpose To provide Accessible, interactive keyboard training on the Windows platform. Project Staff Larry Skutchan, Project Leader Keith Creasy, Programmer John Hedges, Programmer Rodger Smith, Programmer
Talking Typer for Windows is a program based on two former APH products, the Talking Typer for Apple II and PC Typer. Like its predecessors, Talking Typer for Windows includes features that allow users to create and modify drills and dictation exercises. It also includes features for recording and storing, and examining student records and performance statistics. The program contains a fun game with score keeping capabilities. After completing program specifications, the basic framework of the project was created. Program specifications included the features from the DOS-based PC Typer plus additional features identified by users of the previous version. Enhancements to the previous version are: 1. The program is self-voicing, so no screen access program or speech synthesizer is required 2. New students automatically receive a default list of lessons 3. Support for special computer keys is included 4. The program includes the ability to record and playback dictations 5. Software is completely network ready 6. Teacher management and lesson activities are combined into one program with password restricted access to teacher privileged functions like record manipulation and default settings. The program entered its field testing phase in September 1999. The programming group field tested Talking Typer over a six-month period in a variety of sites, and the field test participants played a very active role in shaping the development of this product. Field testing began in September 1999 with an early prototype of the system and the programmers quickly replaced features that were difficult to understand with methods suggested by participants. The field testers and customers suggested adding some lessons that used common phrases. In response to this, Research Assistant Kris Scott created two new lessons with about 40 phrases in each lesson. Customer feedback indicated this feature was a great idea, and several users requested the two-phrase lessons be renamed Sentences, as well as the creation of additional lessons (to precede the sentence lessons) that contain shorter, more common phrases. Recent customer feedback indicates that even more sentences should be included. One of the most requested features was a better text-to-speech engine, and staff obtained a license to begin distributing AT&T's Natural Voices with the product. Work during FY 2009
Work planned for FY 2010 New features may be added to Talking Typer for Windows V 1, however most will be deferred to Talking Typer for Windows V.2. Necessary corrections and updates will be made as needed. Talking Typer V 1.0 is complete. Maintenance issues continue to arise with this product, and users continually request enhancements. Yüklə 1,48 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
|