Productivity tools, assistive software and equipment

Information on our range of available productivity tools, including assistive technology and software.

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Overview

We have a range of productivity tools including assistive technology and software available either networked on all PCs or on particular PCs in library sites - see our bookable assistive spaces page.

There are many ways you can make your keyboard mouse, Windows and the internet suit you and your needs with from .

We also have accessible furniture and equipment in all our library sites.

Inspiration allows you to create a picture of your ideas in the form of a diagram or mind map. You can then convert this into an organised outline in a Microsoft Word document. Inspiration can be of particular benefit to people who prefer to think visually or people with dyslexia, dyspraxia or dyscalculia.

MindView is mind-mapping software that can help you develop and organise ideas visually and then export them into a Microsoft Office document, eg Word. It includes a variety of ready-to-use templates, wizards and clipart.

Glean is software that can help you make notes when in seminars or lectures.

Reading, writing and text-to-speech (read aloud) software

Read & Write provides help with reading and writing documents. It can read text aloud, highlight words to help with word recognition, and help you to construct words and sentences.

ClaroRead offers reading and writing support for people with dyslexia. It can read as you type, do phonetic spell checking and word prediction. It will also read aloud web pages, pdf files etc.

is a desktop app and browser extension that allows you to easily create, read and listen to mathematical notation. Equatio creates digital maths that you can include in your Word Documents, Google Documents, Presentations, Blackboard course and other electronic resources.

Text converters

ReadIt and Lex are designed to support people with visual impairments, dyslexia or learning difficulties. Using the ReadIt wand, you can convert printed material into an accessible electronic format, including spoken word. The software also works with documents already in electronic format so, for example, it can enlarge and read aloud a Microsoft Word document or a PDF.

Sensus Access enables you to convert image-based PDFs, JPEGs and other files into an accessible format such as text or audio files.

Screen readers and magnifiers

Zoomtext can be useful if you have a visual impairment, it can enlarge, enhance and read aloud the screen, with each word being highlighted as it is spoken. It has a range of magnification levels up to 36 times the original size.

Stand-alone Video Magnifiers will magnify your printed book or document on the magnifier’s reading platform. The platform is on rollers, so you can move it easily from left to right, backwards and forwards. You can then adjust the contrast, colour and magnification of the image on the monitor.

JAWS reads aloud any text displayed on a computer screen.

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The University Library

The University Library