Distributed at CSUN '98, here is a compilation of
reviews by AFB of screen magnifier equipment:
Magnum 95, LP-Windows, and ZoomText Xtra.
----------
AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND
National Technology Program
11 Penn Plaza Suite 300
New York, NY 10001
Phone: (212) 502-7642 FAX: (212) 502-7773
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
MAGNIFICATION PROGRAMS FOR
THE COMPUTER SCREEN
Functioning Without A Screen Magnification Program
Screen magnification software programs are loaded into the computer's memory,
and remain active so as to magnify the text and graphics that appear in programs
and applications run thereafter.
Persons with considerable vision may not need a screen magnification program.
One alternative is a larger monitor, which provides larger text or graphics while
keeping all material on the screen. Also, in some applications the user can set the
fonts used by the application (for example, WordPerfect 6 or MicroSoft Word for
Windows) or zoom in on the display (for example, QuattroPro).
In Windows 3.x, the size of fonts used in Windows applications can be increased
and extensive color changing features are available. However, without a screen
magnification program, icons and dialogue box text cannot be magnified, and
menus and window titles can be only very slightly magnified.
In Windows 95, the Mouse Properties icon in the Control Panel allows the user
to enlarge the size and shape of the mouse pointer, change its color, slow it down,
and locate the pointer using a "sonar" function. When the control key is pressed,
a shrinking circle appears around the pointer. It is also possible to activate a
cometlike trail for the mouse pointer and slow down the speed of its movement
over icons, buttons, and other controls. In the Accessibility Options found in the
Control Panel, there is a High Contrast option that provides preset colors and fonts
for easy reading and inverts the video to white letters on a black background.
There is also a ToggleKeys option, which enables users to hear tones when the
Caps Lock, Num Lock, or Scroll Lock keys are pressed, and the option to use
keys instead of the mouse.
If a sound card is installed in the computer, it is possible to attach sounds (through
the Sounds option in the Control Panel) to many Windows events, such as opening
and closing a program or minimizing or maximizing the size of windows. Users
can also change the size of icons and the size and color of some screen items, such
as fonts, menus, and title bars.
Screen Magnification Programs
Most of today's screen magnification programs are compatible with Windows 3.x
and Windows 95. Magnification programs compatible with DOS text and graphics
are still in use. Windows-compatible screen magnification products cost
approximately $350-$600. For those who need more than magnification, it is
possible to use screen magnification and synthetic speech together. There are also
large-print text-editors and word-processors -- specialized programs which combine
features of screen magnification programs and text-editors or word-processors.
Such programs cannot be used as general-purpose magnification programs. Prices
range from about $30 (for shareware-distributed programs) to about $300.
The magnification available varies -- the least expensive screen magnification
products limit magnification to 2x and some of the more expensive products
provide up to 32x magnification. A limitation of screen magnification software
(and magnification in general) is that as on-screen material is magnified, less of
it fits on the screen.
Magnification programs function similarly to a magnifying glass moving over a
page. Programs can automatically follow the cursor, magnifying the area around
it. It is also common to be able to automatically move across and down a
magnified page at a pre-set speed. Additionally, in the event of losing your place
in a magnified document, programs can show the unmagnified screen, emphasizing
the magnified area with color or shading. Fonts used in magnification programs
are usually designed to smooth out the jagged or "stair-step" appearance of
computer-produced diagonal or curved lines. Most programs allow the user to
change colors.
In DOS, features of screen magnification programs are manipulated through menus
which pop up on part or all of the screen, or through single keystrokes. In
Windows, products are manipulated through menus, dialogue boxes which display
all or most of the available options, and keystrokes.
Most Windows 95 screen magnification programs can magnify all screen items,
including the mouse pointer, text cursor, icons, buttons, and title bars.) In
addition, some programs provide a set of mouse tracking features, such as the
option to link the mouse pointer to screen movement, increase the size and
visibility of the mouse pointer, and limit mouse movement to horizontal or vertical
directions only. Others offer the ability to use a sound card to provide basic screen
reading.
Windows 95 screen magnification programs also offer a variety of screen options
for viewing the magnified area of the screen. Common features include a
viewfinder that can be moved around the screen, a feature that splits the screen
into magnified and unmagnified areas, and the ability to automatically move across
and down a magnified page at a preset speed. Other features include breaking lines
of magnified text automatically so that they fit on the screen and the option of
selecting various contrast levels.
Most programs work with many but not all video drivers built into Windows 95.
Manufacturers often recommend a specific driver, resolution, and color depth
setting. Even when they do, users may need to experiment to get the program to
run properly.
Screen Magnification Systems
Screen magnification systems integrate software and hardware. SuperVista, from
TeleSensory Corp., is a magnification system made up of software, a card that is
installed in the computer, and a three button mouse. Most of SuperVista's
functions are controlled by the mouse. It provides complete access to all screen
information, including graphics in DOS, Windows 3.x, and Windows 95.
VIP, from JBliss Imaging Systems, uses a scanner with OCR technology to convert
printed text into either a text file which VIP software can then enhance or an
image file for viewing the actual document. Graphics and handwritten documents
can be converted via the scanner or a camera into image files. It offers basic word
processing but can not be used as a general-purpose screen magnification program,
magnifying other applications.
For more information on screen magnification systems, contact AFB's National
Technology Program at (212) 502-7642; fax 212-502-7773; or e-mail
[log in to unmask]
SOURCES OF MAGNIFICATION SYSTEMS
FOR THE COMPUTER SCREEN
Screen Magnification Software
A. For IBM-PC compatible systems:
AI Squared, P.O. Box 669, Manchester Center, VT 05255
Tel: (802)362-3612
Fax: (802)362-1670
E-mail: <[log in to unmask]> <[log in to unmask]>
Web site: <http://www.aisquared.com>
Product Line: ZoomText Xtra. Supports DOS, Windows 95 and 3.1x, and
sound card speech.
Price: $395-$795
Artic Technologies, 55 Park Street,Troy, Michigan 48083
Tel: (248)588-7370
Fax: (248)588-2650
E-mail: <[log in to unmask]>
Web site: <http://www.artictech.com>
Product Line: Magnum 95. Supports Windows 95 and 3.1, and DOS.
Price: $595
Dolphin Computer Access Ltd, P.O. Box 83, Worcester WR3 8TU,
England
Tel: +44 1905-754577
Fax: +44 1905-754559
E-mail: <[log in to unmask]>
Web site: <http://www.dolphinaccess.com>
Product Line: Lunar. Supports Windows 95 and 3.1, and DOS.
Price: Refer to the manufacturer for price information
Henter-Joyce, Inc., 11800 31st Court North,St. Petersburg, FL 33716
Tel: (800)336-5658
Fax: (813)803-8001
E-mail: <[log in to unmask]>
Web site: <http://www.hj.com>
Product Line: MAGic. Supports Windows 95 and 3.11, and DOS.
Price: $349
SkiSoft, Inc., 28 Fairlawn Lane, Lexington, MA 02173
Tel: (781) 863-1876
E-mail: <[log in to unmask]>
Web site: <http://www.skisoft.com>
Product Line: Eye Relief. A DOS word processor.
Price: $295
Visionware Software, Inc., P. O. Box 1676, Brookline, MA 02146
Distributor: Optelec U.S., Inc., 6 Lyberty Way, Westford, MA 01886
Tel: (800)828-1056
Fax: (800)929-2444
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
Web site: <http://www.optelec.com>
Product Line: LP-DOS. Supports DOS. LP-Windows. Supports Windows
95 and 3.1
Price: $395-$595
B. Software for Apple MacIntosh based systems:
Alva Access Group, 5801 Christie Avenue, Suite 475, Emoryville, CA
94608
Tel: (510)923-6280 Fax: (510)923-6270
E-mail: <[log in to unmask]>
Web site: <http://www.aagi.com>
Product Line: inLarge
Price: $295
Screen Magnification Systems
TeleSensory Corp., 520 Almanor Avenue, Sunnyville, CA 94086
Tel: (800)227-8418
E-mail: <[log in to unmask]>
Web site: <http://www.telesensory.com>
Product Line: SuperVista. Supports Windows 95 and 3.x, and DOS
Price: $2,495
JBliss Imaging Systems, P.O. Box 1746, Los Altos, Ca. 94023-1746
Toll Free (888) 4-JBLISS; 408-246-5783
Fax: (408) 246-5735
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
Web site: http://www.jbliss.com
Product Line: VIP. Supports Windows 95 and sound card speech.
Price: $250-$995
Screen Magnification Shareware/Freeware
Hexagon Products, P.O. Box 1295, Park Ridge, IL 60068-7295
E-mail: <[log in to unmask]>
Product Line: B-ware. Supports Windows 95 and 3.1, and DOS.
Innovation Management Group, Inc. 21550 Oxnard Street, Suite 300
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Tel: (800) 889-0987 or (818) 346-3581
Fax: (818) 346-3973
E-mail: <[log in to unmask]>
Web site: <http://www.IMGPresents.com>
Product Line: The Magnifier Version 1.0. Supports Windows 95, 3.x, and
NT.
The National Institute for Rehabilitation Engineering, P.O. Box T, Hewitt,
New Jersey 07421
Tel: (973) 853-6585
E-mail: <[log in to unmask]>
Product Line: BIG-W
Software by Design, 5609 West Hadley Street, Milwaukee, WI 53210-1554
Tel: (414) 444-8497
E-mail: <[log in to unmask]>
Product Line: Screen Loupe. Supports Windows 95 and NT
FEBRUARY 1998
----------
AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND
National Technology Program
11 Penn Plaza Suite 300
New York, NY 10001
Phone: (212) 502-7642 FAX: (212) 502-7773
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
A Review of Two Screen Magnification Programs for
Windows 95: Magnum 95 and LP-Windows
***
M.M. Uslan, J.C. Su
Reprinted with permission from the Journal of Visual Impairment &
Blindness; Vol. 91, No. 5 pp. 9-13 and is copyright 1997 by the
American Foundation for the Blind, 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300, New
York, New York 10001.
A Review of Two Screen Magnification Programs for Windows
95: Magnum 95 and LP-Windows
***
M.M. Uslan, J.C. Su
For some people with low vision, the accessibility options available in Windows
95, combined with a large-screen monitor, are adequate. However, others need the
additional screen enhancement features available only in a screen magnification
program. (For more details about some of the Windows 95 accessibility features,
see "Windows 95 Access for Blind or Visually Impaired Persons: An Overview,"
in this issue.)
LP-Windows 6.1 by Visionware Software and Magnum 95 by Artic Technologies
are two examples of screen magnification programs for Windows 95. LP-Windows
supports Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 and costs $395. Magnum 95 supports
Windows 95 and comes bundled with Magnum Deluxe (for Windows 3.1) and
Magnum GT (for DOS). The cost of the suite of programs, which are not available
separately, is $595.
METHODOLOGY
To test for display problems related to particular video adapters (the video cards
installed in a computer that control resolution and color), two personal computers
(PCs) with different adapters were used. Both Magnum 95 and LP-Windows were
tested on the following models: 1) a Gateway 2000 Pentium 166MHz (MMX)
with 32 MB of memory, a STB Nitro 3D ViRGE/GX video card (SVGA), and a
Gateway CrystalScan 14-inch SVGA color monitor; 2) a Dell Pentium 166MHz
with 32 MB of memory, a S3 Trio32/64 video card (SVGA), and a Dell 17-inch
SVGA color monitor.
The two screen magnification programs were tested on the Gateway 2000 using
Microsoft Word 97 and Microsoft Excel 97. The following features were tested
and compared: magnification, tracking and panning, color selection, and keyboard
and mouse control. Both screen magnification programs were tested on the Dell
computer using Netscape Navigator Gold 3.0 to browse various Internet websites
and Window Eyes 2.0 to test for the program's compatibility with synthetic speech
software. To assess the impact of the two video cards and their software drivers,
color depth and resolution settings were varied on each PC.
SETUP AND COMPATIBILITY
Magnum 95 requires the use of a hardware key, or dongle, plugged into the
parallel port of the PC. The sole purpose of the dongle is to prevent illegal
copying of the software. On the Gateway 2000 PC, a problem occurred in
Magnum 95 related to the video adapter. The system was prone to crashing; it also
sometimes displayed either a portion of the screen or introduced irrelevant lines
of text. The best results were achieved using a color depth of 16 colors and a
resolution of 640 x 480 pixels, but even with this setting black and white inversion
(changing the background and foreground) did not work. To solve problems with
the video adapter, the Magnum 95 user's manual (available in large print and
on-line) suggested switching to the standard VGA driver setting, which supports
a resolution of only 640 x 480 pixels and a color depth of 16 colors. With that
setting, there were no more display problems. With the Dell PC, a problem
occurred at one of the five display settings (256 colors/800 x 600 pixels). Only a
25x magnification, instead of the full 32x, was available.
On the Gateway 2000 PC, LP-Windows crashed under each of the five SVGA
color depth and resolution settings. At the color depth of 16 colors and the
resolution of 640 x 480 pixels, all features except font smoothing worked. The
LP-Windows user's guide (available in large print) refers users to a text file
(NOTES.TXT) for solving video display problems, but that file was omitted in the
setup disk. The guide also states that LP-Windows works with either VGA or
Super-VGA driver settings, although it did not do so during this evaluation. The
font smoothing feature in LP-Windows worked only with Super-VGA set at a color
depth of 256 or more colors. On the Dell PC, LP-Windows functioned properly
at all the display settings.
LP-Windows worked with the Internet browser at every display setting, but
Magnum 95 did not. The computer screen froze at two of the five display
settings--640 x 480 pixels/True Color (32 bit) and 1024 x 768 pixels/256 colors.
Problems were not encountered when LP-Windows was tested with the speech
program. When the speech program was started, using Magnum 95, the computer
screen froze after WordPad appeared.
MAGNIFICATION, FONT SMOOTHING,
AND COLOR SELECTION FEATURES
Magnum 95 magnifies the entire screen and provides magnification up to 32x. It
also offers vertical or horizontal stretching, enabling the user to customize the
magnification. Since Magnum 95 does not have a font smoothing feature, text has
a jagged appearance and becomes more jagged as magnification increases.
Magnum 95 enables users to invert the foreground and background in black and
white only.
LP-Windows offers up to 16x magnification and vertical stretching only. However,
in LP-Windows it is possible to magnify the entire screen, or a section of the
screen, through the use of a "magnifying glass" viewfinder that can be moved
around the screen. Users can split the screen so that one portion is magnified and
the other is not. It offers the ability to experiment inverting the colors provided by
the display driver and the video card (up to 16 million colors) on either the
magnified or the unmagnified screen and under the viewfinder. LP-Windows also
enables users to save setting changes.
KEYBOARD FEATURES
In Magnum 95, the Ctrl or Ctrl+Shift key, in combination with a letter key,
allows users to control the magnification level, toggle between magnified or
nonmagnified modes, pan in a direction set by the arrow keys, and jump to the
four extreme corners of the magnified display. LP-Windows can be controlled by
one of the six Shift keys (such as Ctrl), in combination with a cursor key (such as
Home). Use of the Left-Shift key conflicts with some commands used in both
Word 97 and Excel 97. To get around this problem and offer a quick-stroke
solution, LP-Windows also allows single keystroke control from the NumPad. To
share the NumPad with other programs, the user can press the NumPad * key,
referred to as the Hot-Key.
TRACKING FEATURES
Tracking features allow users to jump to a location on the screen when a windows
event occurs. Both Magnum 95 and LP-Windows automatically track the text
cursor and the mouse pointer. Magnum 95 offers additional tracking features,
including tracking of the control buttons and check boxes used by most Windows
95 programs, highlighted text, and "Smart Tracking," which disables all other
tracking options when the mouse is used. The user's manual does not provide a
clear explanation of how to track highlighted text. The feature did not work for
this review.
MOUSE FEATURES
Both Magnum 95 and LP-Windows provide a feature that tethers the movement of
the mouse pointer to the movement of the text cursor. Both programs also allow
users to set the position of the mouse pointer so that when the mouse is moved,
the screen moves instead of the mouse pointer. This feature enables users to keep
track of the mouse pointer in relation to its position on the screen. The position of
the text cursor can also be set in Magnum 95. LP-Windows offers a line-locking
feature that limits mouse movement to horizontal and vertical directions only.
PANNING FEATURES
Panning enables users to scroll through lines of text automatically at a preset
speed. Both LP-Windows and Magnum 95 allow for panning through the active
window and automatic panning from line-to-line through a page of text. In
Magnum 95, as magnification increases, panning movement speeds up and
becomes jerky even when set at the lowest speed. LP-Windows has a number of
panning options that are not available in Magnum 95. It allows for controlling
vertical panning distance; speed can be preset for each direction and varied during
panning; and panning can be activated in the split-screen mode.
CONCLUSION
In the video adapter setup tests LP-Windows worked flawlessly on the Dell PC,
but it had major problems on the Gateway 2000. Although Magnum 95 worked
more than adequately on both PCs, it was not able to support the full Super-VGA
capabilities of either of the video adapters. In addition, Magnum 95 had major
problems running the Netscape browser at two of the five display settings that
were tried. Because of the wide variety of video adapters used in PCs, these types
of video adapter problems may be common to many screen magnification
programs.
Magnum 95 offers the capability of 32x magnification and enables users to
customize magnification by stretching either horizontally or vertically. Yet,
LP-Windows offers a font smoothing feature (at a color depth of 256 colors or
more) and a variety of color inversion features that allow for more flexible color
contrast and crisper image resolution.
Both screen magnification programs provide multi-key control, but LP-Windows
also provides single-key control from the number pad--an option that many users
might prefer. As magnification increases in Magnum 95, the panning movement
gets jerky and fast even when set at the lowest speed.
Priced at $395, LP-Windows supports both Windows 95 and the older Windows
3.1. It is the more economical screen magnification program for Windows 95 and,
overall, it has an edge in terms of practical features offered, including
compatibility with the speech program Window Eyes 2.0, which is reviewed in this
issue. However, although Magnum 95 is priced at $595, it comes bundled with
Magnum Deluxe (which supports Windows 3.1) and Magnum GT (which supports
DOS). Magnum 95 should be of interest to DOS users who do not have a screen
magnification program and who are in transition to the Windows environment. In
addition, the manufacturer (Artic Technologies) offers a speech program,
WinVision 95, which is designed to work with Magnum 95.
MANUFACTURER'S COMMENTS
Visionware Software: "Dell and Gateway are both very popular brands with
LP-Windows users, and I do not know why there was a problem with the
Gateway/STB video combination. Optelec offers a free demo version of
LP-Windows. The fully featured demo lets low vision users see for themselves
how easy to use LP-Windows is."
Artic Technologies submitted no comments.
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Product: LP-Windows 6.1.
Manufacturer: Visionware Software, Inc., Post Office Box 1676,
Brookline, MA 02146.
Distributor: Optelec U.S., Inc., 6 Lyberty Way, Westford, MA
01886; phone: 508-392-0707; 800-828-1056; fax: 508-
692-6073.
World Wide Web: <http://www.optelec.com>.
Price: $395.
Product: Magnum Deluxe (package of 3 programs, including
Magnum 95).
Manufacturer: Artic Technologies, 55 Park Street, Troy, MI 48083;
phone: 248-588-1425; fax: 248-588-2650; E-mail:
<[log in to unmask]>; World Wide Web:
<http://www.artictech.com>.
Price: $595.
Mark M. Uslan, manager, Technical Evaluation Services, and Joseph C. Su,
intern, National Technology Center, American Foundation for the Blind, 11 Penn
Plaza, Suite 300, New York, NY 10001; E-mail: <[log in to unmask]>. Photo
courtesy of Michael Sylvie, Communications Group, American Foundation for the
Blind.
OCTOBER 1997
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AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND
National Technology Program
11 Penn Plaza Suite 300
New York, NY 10001
Phone: (212) 502-7642 FAX: (212) 502-7773
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
A Review of ZoomText Xtra Screen Magnification Program for
Windows 95
***
J.C. Su, M.M. Uslan
Reprinted with permission from the Journal of Visual Impairment &
Blindness, Vol. 92, No. 2, (pp. 116-119), and is copyright 1998
by the American Foundation for the Blind, 11 Penn Plaza, Suite
300, New York, NY 10001.
A Review of ZoomText Xtra Screen Magnification
Program for Windows 95
***
J.C. Su, M.M. Uslan
Ai Squared's ZoomText Xtra, which runs in both Windows 95 and
Windows 3.1, is available in two levels. Level 1 offers screen
magnification only, and Level 2 offers both screen magnification
and speech. Level 2 supports synthesizers designed to work in a
Windows environment and a wide variety of low-cost sound cards,
which must be purchased separately.
Evaluation Methodology
Tests for this evaluation were done on two Pentium personal
computers (PCs)--a Dell and a Gateway 2000--each using a
different video adapter (the video card installed in a PC that
controls resolution and color). The Dell has a S3 Trio32/64
video card, and the Gateway 2000 has a STB Nitro 3D ViRGE/GX
video card.
ZoomText Xtra was evaluated for its performance with the
Microsoft Word 97 word processing program, the Excel 97
spreadsheet, and Netscape Gold 3.0 Internet browser. The
following features were tested: magnification, tracking and
panning, color selection, and keyboard and mouse control. Window
Eyes 2.0 was used to test for compatibility with synthetic speech
software, and ZoomText Level 2 speech capability was tested using
a Sound Blaster AWE16 on the Gateway 2000 and a Sound Blaster
AWE32 on the Dell.
Installation and Video Adapter Compatibility
ZoomText Xtra's large-print manual, on-line help, and quick
reference guide are easy to understand and use extensive
graphical illustrations in all formats. A glossary of terms is
included.
ZoomText Xtra was installed on both PCs without any problems. On
the Gateway 2000, all four color/resolution settings were usable.
On the Dell PC, one of the five color/resolution settings--256
colors and 1280 x 1024 pixels-- caused striped lines to appear
across the screen. There were no additional problems with the
video adapter when Netscape Gold 3.0, Word 97, or Excel 97 were
run.
Magnification
ZoomText Xtra has three modes of displaying the screen: Primary
Window, Secondary Window, and DocReader. In the Primary Window
mode, users can split the screen either horizontally or
vertically, so that one portion is magnified and the other is
not. Users can also magnify a section of the screen in a movable
or resizable frame. In the Secondary Window mode, the line with
the cursor can be magnified by itself, control buttons can be
magnified through the use of the mouse pointer, and a magnified
window can be placed at a fixed location on the screen.
DocReader is a full-screen display mode for reading text from a
Windows application. This mode allows users to view magnified
text in either a single continuous line, the same format as the
source document, or with lines wrapped so they do not exceed the
width of the screen. Options include the ability to vary spacing
between text and lines, change fonts and the size of the
displayed text, and choose colors.
Magnification in the secondary window can be made independent of
the primary window in all modes. The maximum magnification is
16x. ZoomText Xtra offers a font smoothing feature, which
smoothes the jagged appearance of screen images, and a feature
that allows users to customize magnification through vertical or
horizontal stretching. However, the font smoothing feature and
the stretching feature cannot be used simultaneously.
Color Selection
ZoomText Xtra enables users to invert the foreground and
background in black and white and color. It is possible to
convert all colors to their equivalent shades of gray, invert all
shades of gray, and set the contrast between light and dark
colors.
Keyboard Features
ZoomText Xtra offers an extensive combination of hotkeys
(shortcut keystrokes), including mouse buttons, for program
commands. Each hotkey can be disabled or changed to avoid
conflicts with other Windows programs. In the absence of a mouse,
users can use the keyboard to simulate mouse actions.
Tracking Features
Tracking allows users to jump to a location on the screen when a
Windows event occurs. Boundaries can be set on a portion of the
screen where tracking occurs. Dragging a rectangular frame across
the screen sets the size of the boundary, and tracking can take
place either inside or outside of the user-defined boundary.
However, ZoomText Xtra does not track the light bar in Excel 97.
ZoomText Xtra also allows users to jump quickly to any of 10
user-defined locations on the screen. In addition, the text
cursor can be located through the use of a blinking rectangular
frame.
Mouse Features
ZoomText Xtra provides a feature that sets the position of the
mouse pointer so that when the mouse is moved, the screen moves
instead of the pointer. The mouse movement cannot be limited to
horizontal and vertical directions only. The mouse pointer is
available in three sizes and 15 colors.
Panning Features
Panning enables users to scroll through lines of text
automatically in all directions. Panning in Microsoft Excel 97
and Netscape Gold 3.0 was smooth, but it was jumpy in Word 97.
Panning speed and direction can be changed through either mouse
or arrow-key control. The DocReader mode provides automatic line-
to-line panning through a page of text and the ability to either
jump to the top, bottom, left, right, or center of the screen
through single keystroke control. In addition, users can save the
current view in the primary window and retrieve it later.
The screen display can be split between magnified and unmagnified
portions. In the split-screen mode, movement in the magnified
portion of the screen follows movement in the corresponding part
of the unmagnified portion.
Speech Compatibility
In Level 2, speech can be used in any of the three display modes,
including DocReader. The screen reading program provides speech
for menus, dialog boxes, window titles, or text in message boxes.
The verbosity level (the amount of spoken detail) can be
controlled.
Text is spoken as the user moves the cursor or types text, and
either the mouse or keystrokes can be used to navigate. Speech
can be activated in any of 10 user-defined locations on the
screen, and for speaking current word, next line, previous line,
the entire document (not just what is currently on the screen),
or clipboard contents. Voice type, volume and pitch of voice, and
rate of speech can be varied.
Although the speech feature ran smoothly, there were a few
problems. In the Font dialog box in Word 97's Format menu, speech
was not heard and the displayed screen was not tracked in three
of the edit boxes. When the mouse was used, some words in a Word
97 document were not spoken. These problems occurred on both PCs;
they also occurred when ZoomText Xtra's Level 1 was used with the
speech program Window-Eyes 2.1.
Comparison with LP-Windows and Magnum 95
Two programs that are similar to ZoomText Xtra, LP-Windows and
Magnum 95, were evaluated in the September-October 1997 JVIB News
Service (pp. 9-13). LP-Windows and ZoomText Xtra offer 16x
magnification and Magnum 95 offers 32x magnification. ZoomText
Xtra and Magnum 95 allow for customizing magnification through
horizontal and vertical stretching. LP-Windows only offers
vertical stretching, but it is the only program of the three that
provides font smoothing in its stretching mode. Both ZoomText
Xtra and LP-Windows offer color inversion.
LP-Windows and Magnum 95 can track the "light-bar" in Excel
97,but ZoomText Xtra cannot. Only LP-Windows limits mouse
movement to horizontal and vertical directions. In ZoomText Xtra
and LP-Windows, it is possible to split the screen between
magnified and unmagnified portions. Of the three programs,
ZoomText Xtra had the least difficulty handling the video
adapters we tested.
Overall, ZoomText Xtra's set of features are the most useful.
ZoomText Xtra offers three display modes, and it integrates low-
cost speech with screen magnification. It provides excellent
documentation with graphical illustrations, flexible panning
options, and extensive color/gray scale and contrast selections.
It can be conveniently operated through many hotkey options and
allows for jumping to user-defined screen locations. It also
takes advantage of Microsoft Active Accessibility (MSAA), an
extension of Windows 95 that enhances the performance of speech
or magnification programs when they are used with Microsoft
applications.
ZoomText Xtra is competitively priced. ZoomText Xtra Level 1 and
LP-Windows are comparable and both cost $395. A suite of Level 1
ZoomText Xtra, Windows version ($395) and DOS version ($200), is
comparable to the Magnum 95 suite and costs the same--$595.
ZoomText Xtra Level 2 supports integrated speech and costs $595.
For users who need to supplement magnification with speech
capability, ZoomText Xtra Level 2 offers features no other
product has and is certainly worth the price.
Manufacturer's Comments
ZoomText Xtra version 6.02 was released in November 1997, and it
contains a fix for the Excel tracking problem. ZoomText Xtra
version 6.1 will be released in early 1998. Level 2 will include
French, German, Italian, and Spanish synthesizers (international
version) and several improvements to our screen reader, including
reading labels in dialog boxes and a hotkey to review all
controls in a dialog box.
Product Information
Products: ZoomText Xtra Level 1 (Windows only): $395.
ZoomText Xtra Level 1 Plus (DOS included): $595.
ZoomText Xtra Level 2 (Windows only): $595.
ZoomText Xtra Level 2 Plus (DOS included): $795.
Manufacturer: Ai Squared, P.O. Box 669, Manchester Center, VT
05255-0669; phone: 802-362-3612; fax: 802-362-1670; Email:
<[log in to unmask]>. Web page: <http://www.aisquared.com>.
Joseph C. Su, Intern, National Technology Program, American
Foundation for the Blind, 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300, New York, NY
10001. Mark M. Uslan, Manager, Technical Evaluation Services,
National Technology Program, American Foundation for the Blind;
E-mail: [log in to unmask]>. Correspondence should be sent to the
second author.
DECEMBER 1997
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