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According to the software’s maker, IBM, Home Page Reader brings the Internet to users who are blind or have low vision. Using an IBM text-to-speech synthesizer, Home Page Reader speaks Web-based information aloud in a clear and effective manner as it is presented on the computer screen. Users hear everything from a description of graphics, to forms, frames and tables. Text and links are read by different voices — a male voice speaks plain text while a female voice speaks links (Users can customize these and other speech and text settings according to preference). Special navigation features provide additional help in understanding complex tables and data input fields, and a simple search function provides the capability to look for descriptive text on a page or the entire Web.
Users can quickly change font size, type and color to customize the way information is presented to them. Windows and panes can also be resized to make the information easier to see, and a moving cursor that is synchronized with Home Page Reader's voice can help users maintain their focus while reading Web pages. Magnification of Web pages and highlighting words and characters as they are spoken in both text and graphic Web page views can assist users with low vision in reading information.
In addition to being a Web browser, Home Page Reader includes a desktop reader with keyboard navigation and speech output for Adobe Reader, Macromedia Flash, and a number of Windows applications, including the Windows desktop and selected system applications, such as:
- Help
- Control Panel
- Notepad
- Media Player
- Settings
- Start menu
- Taskbar
- Windows Explorer
- WordPad
Separate versions are available in which Home Page Reader speaks English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese and Thai.
Originally created as an assistive technology for users who are blind or have low vision, Home Page Reader's visual user interface and keyboard navigation has also become a popular accessibility test tool for Web developers.
Sources: IBM, Internet Week
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