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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how blind people use the internet

35 replies

Bearbehind · 27/02/2014 20:25

Inspired by another thread where a blind lady with a guide dog posted about a problem she encountered which got me wondering how she could MN in the first place.

Of all the senses to lose, sight must be the worst and I genuinely wonder how they use the internet?

OP posts:
Felix90 · 27/02/2014 20:26

Didn't the end of the post say her son was helping her?

BrianTheMole · 27/02/2014 20:27

Speech software called 'jaws'.

Original poster
Bearbehind · 27/02/2014 20:28

But the post was about the fact her sons pushchair couldn't fit through the gap and had to be put in a sling so he wasn't of an age where he could read and write.

OP posts:
kelper · 27/02/2014 20:28

I think her son was little.
I think the computer has voice recognition, and reads things to the blind person.

Dancergirl · 27/02/2014 20:28

Screen reader

kelper · 27/02/2014 20:28

X posted, sorry!

Original poster
Bearbehind · 27/02/2014 20:28

Wow brian, does it just read the words to you then? That's amazing.

OP posts:
Dancergirl · 27/02/2014 20:29

OP, I work with visually impaired children and technology is very much part of their lives.

livelablove · 27/02/2014 20:30

Yes I have wondered how they navigate the site.

FudgefaceMcZ · 27/02/2014 20:30

Screen reader. Now maybe you can explain why you can't use google? :D

kelper · 27/02/2014 20:30

Like a very good version of Siri. My dh has a speech software system on his computer because he is dyslexic and a rubbish speller. It takes time to learn and train the computer but it's amazing.
We used to walk puppies for guide dogs, and my mum had several blind friends, and they were just amazing

Original poster
Bearbehind · 27/02/2014 20:32

It's easier to ask on here fudge, and more informative.

How do you find what you are looking for in the first place though?

OP posts:
Twighlightsparkle · 27/02/2014 20:39

Most registered blind people have limited vision, depending on the impairment they can use peripheral vision, magnifiers, enlarged text etc, or a speech text.

chateauferret · 27/02/2014 20:45

I used to know a blind guy who did tech support. He was a wizard at the Linux command line. He used to help me with Linux stuff back in the days when Linux was seriously geeky, and could remember complex commands from a dozen lines back long after I had become mired in confusion and bewilderment.

Happily Linux no longer makes things that hard for sighted people Smile

GimmeDaBoobehz · 27/02/2014 20:48

There are a number of different speech software's that you can use. Jaws for Windows, Windows Eyes etc.

My partner who is completely blind uses Jaws. I just enlarge or use my monocle glasses which have a magnifier on them (partially sighted).

In fact my partner fixes computers and can take them apart. He's fixed my aunts laptop and made a laptop from scratch before.

Which thread was this? I am fascinated to see some of my fellow VI peeps.

GimmeDaBoobehz · 27/02/2014 20:50

Oh and for those more specifically how it finds things I'm not sure in the fact that it's already worked out.

However, you use the up and down arrows and use some shortcuts to get to things. It will read out text and you can choose the speed and whether or not it acknowledges punctuation.

It's actually really good if your eyes are sore as I've used it myself when I have been very weary.

Original poster
Bearbehind · 27/02/2014 20:50

It was the one about parking on pavements gimme

OP posts:
GimmeDaBoobehz · 27/02/2014 20:52

I mean it's already programmed in.

That made no sense whatsoever, sorry!

Any other questions about sight impairment I may be able to answer too as I remember I did a chat with year 5/6s about it a few years back.

GimmeDaBoobehz · 27/02/2014 20:52

Was this a while ago?
I only ask because I did do one about that. But I have a girl, not a boy so maybe a different one?

Original poster
Bearbehind · 27/02/2014 20:55

It was today gimme.

I'm shit at links but here goes

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2009549-People-parking-on-the-pavement

OP posts:
RabbitPies · 27/02/2014 20:57
video, explains it,or at least some ofit. All of his videos are worth watching and very interesting,if you want to learn more about what it's like to be blind.
Original poster
Bearbehind · 27/02/2014 20:59

Thanks rabbit, I can't access it on this computer but will watch it tomorrow.

OP posts:
Dawndonnaagain · 27/02/2014 20:59

Ds 2 has serious physical tics. He is unable to type his essays. He uses dragon speech software.

BrianTheMole · 27/02/2014 21:05

How do you find what you are looking for in the first place though?
It reads the words out on the screen. You just tab around the screen and use the shortcut keys. And just search in the same way as anyone else done.

BrianTheMole · 27/02/2014 21:06

How do you find what you are looking for in the first place though?

It reads the words out on the screen. You just tab around the screen and use the shortcut keys. And just search in the same way as anyone else does.