The Diana M. Priestly Law Library has just opened a new Adaptive Technology Room, making computing easier for students, faculty and staff with diverse abilities.
Similar to the Adaptive Technology Rooms in the McPherson Library and the software available at the UVic Resource Centre for Students with a Disability, the Law library Adaptive Technology Room (FRA 172) contains two adjustable-height workstations with a collection of specialized software and hardware:
Workstation 1:
Jaws (Job Access With Speech)
* Reads screens aloud, as well as assisting with navigation for those who cannot use a mouse
* Provides speech and braille output
* Optical Character Recognition feature interprets text in pdfs scanned as graphics
Kurzweil 1000
* Text-to-speech in a variety of voices and languages
* Enables users to add bookmarks, text notes and annotations to documents
MindMaple
* Mindmapping software enables users to connect multiple ideas for brainstorming, project planning, note taking, presentations and more
Workstation 2:
Dragon Naturally Speaking
* Dictation and transcription software that adapts to a user’s tone and speech patterns
* Allows user to control a computer using only voice commands
Kurzweil 3000
* Text-to-speech in 18 languages and dialects with a variety of voices
* Reads locked texts such as images or pdfs
MAGic
* Screen and text magnification software that works with individual documents and online
MindMaple
* Mindmapping software enables users to connect multiple ideas for brainstorming, project planning, note taking, presentations and more
Scanner Drive 3800
* Document scanner with flatbed extended to the edge of the unit so documents can be easily aligned by feel
Network printing is available from both computers, and a headset with microphone and volume control can be borrowed from the Law Loan Desk for use with the software. The Adaptive Technology Room is open to all UVic students, faculty and staff during law library hours, with priority given to those who require use of the technology in the room.
