A few days ago, I bumped into what I thought might be an implementation of my accessibility switch idea. This accessibility switch would be a single icon that would turn or off a list of pre-configured accessibility settings. If you ever visit a new computer or need to share yours, you know how changing the accessibility settings and then returing the computer to normal is frustrating, tedious and not always possible. So I would love to see a software that would collect all of a user’s settings and then make them portable. As I have mentioned elsewhere, Migo has some Mobile Desktop Software that is aimed at a similar goal. Migo is intended to make your My Documents folder and browser settings, e.g. favorites, mobile. AccessApps is another piece of the puzzle. While Migo has made some of your desktop and its settings ealily mobile, AccessApps includes many free accessiblility-related applications (as well as many useful open source software). From the website:
Access Apps
AccessApps is an initiative developed by the Scottish JISC Regional Support Centres in cooperation with JISC TechDis. It consists of over 50 open source and freeware assistive technology applications which can be entirely used from a USB stick on a Windows computer (here is a full list of applications on offer).
AccessApps will run without needing to install anything on a computer and provide a range of e-learning solutions to support writing, reading and planning as well as visual and mobility difficulties.
Some of the software included with Access Apps are from FX Software’s Assisstive Software page. Each looks useful, but I would like to highlight three here.
- KwikLoupe : A simple screen magnifier. Magnification ranges from 2x to 64x with a quick locate option to position the viewing window. The tool magnifies the area around the mouse pointer.
- RapidSet: Allows quick and easy changing of the background and font colours, without having to go through the Screen Properties dialogs.
- QuickRes Resolution Changer : Quickly change resolution tolow or medium and back to normal at the click of a button.
I have already changed all these settings on my own computer, but the ability to easily change them will be useful. I have not tried the Access Apps approach yet, but will do on my next trip. I will report back upon my return.
Worth a try!
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