Share By Bill Takeshita, O.D., F.A.A.O., F.C.O.V.D. and Brett Nagatani,O.D.

This article will discuss tips to help you to use your Vista computer if you are partially sighted or blind. Included are instructions on how to modify your Vista computer and also information about special software that can be purchased to work with your Vista computer.

Glasses that are designed for computer use is very important. Using glasses designed for watching TV, walking, or reading often cause eye strain and blurred vision when viewing the computer. Most computer screens are positioned 20-inches away and distance or reading glasses do not focus clearly at this distance. Bifocals should not be worn unless they have been customized for computer use. A low vision optometrist can design glasses for computer use.

A 19 or 22-inch flat screen LCD monitor is generally the most effective monitor for most people with low vision. These monitors are safe for the eyes and cost less than $250. Visit www.SalesCircular.com or www.NewEgg.com for great prices.

Computer monitors should be positioned such that you do not see reflections of windows, lamps, or overhead lights that will cause glare.

Tilt the top of the screen towards you to reduce reflections.  Use an adjustable chair and position yourself such that the top of the monitor is at your eye level. Try to keep the room fairly dim and use a desk lamp to illuminate your desk.

Customize Your Computer the Easy Way

Here is the easiest way to change your settings:

1. Hold down the Windows Key and press U.
   
2. If you prefer to use the mouse, Click Start, Click Control Panel, Click Ease of Access.
   
3. Click Ease of Access Center.
   
4. Click Get Recommendations to Make Your Computer Easier to use. This will open a page that asks you questions about your eyesight. Select all of the following that apply to you.
   
5. Check the box Images on TV are difficult to see.
   
6. Check the box lighting conditions make it difficult to read.
   
7. Check the box I am blind.
   
8. Check the box I have vision impairment.
   
9. Click Next.
   
10. The next four pages will ask you to check boxes that apply to your Dexterity/hands, Hearing, Speech, and Reasoning. Click Done when finished.

Vista will now allow you to select which of the following options you wish to have on your computer:

Turn on Narrator. Click this box if you want your computer to read the screens and text.

Turn on Magnifier. Click the box if you want a movable magnifying glass on your screen to magnify 2X to 16X.

Focus Rectangle Thicker. Check this option if you want to widen your cursor when typing.

Underline Keyboard Shortcut. Check this box to have Vista underline short cut keys.

Mouse and Pointer. Select this option to customize the size of your mouse pointer for easier visibility of the mouse.

Turn on Audio description. Check this if you want Vista to read some of the graphics.

Turn off unnecessary animation.

Turn off auditory animation.

High Contrast Options. Check this option to use high contrast text and backgrounds. This will allow you to choose what color background, text, and the size of the text. Many people with retina conditions prefer High Contrast Black (large) while people with glaucoma or optic nerve conditions may prefer High Contrast White (large).Also, check the box Left Alt Shift Print Screen to turn on and off high contrast. This will allow you to turn on and off the high contrast settings by pressing the left Alt and Shift keys and Print Screen key, located next to the F12 key. This can be helpful when reading some web pages that have colored text.

Click Apply. Your Vista computer will now be configured especially for you.

Customize Your Vista Computer

If you are computer savvy and want more options, Vista has a program called The Ease of Access Center that allows you to change the size of the text, alter the colors, turn on speech, adjust the keyboard, and make many other modifications to your computer. Here you may turn on a Magnifier to enlarge the images on the screen, turn on Narrator to read the text aloud, and turn on High Contrast settings. To open the Ease of Access Page, do as follows:

1. Hold down the Windows key and press U. The Windows key is normally two keys to the left of the space bar.
   
2. Another option is to click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Ease of Access. Vista will turn on a voice to read the text for you. A message box will ask you if you want the Narrator to read the text for you or you can place the mouse pointer over the text you want to have read. Press space bar to select an option you wish to activate.
   
3. Click Ease of Access Center. This page has three main sections:

Access to quick tools

Go into this section if you want to modify your computer for one session only.  The settings will turn off after you have turned your computer off.

Go into this section if you want a simple way to customize your computer. The settings will be remembered and turned on each time you turn on your computer.

Go into this section if you are an advanced computer user and want to perform more complicated modifications to your computer.

Customize Vista for Color, Background, Wallpaper, etc.

Vista will also allow you to modify some of the settings that were installed with the Get Recommendations settings you made earlier.

For example, you may prefer a different color background on your desktop page or you may want your mouse to show trails to make it easier to see.  You can change the desktop, wallpaper, Start menu and more.

1. Click Start.
   
2. Click Control Panel.
   
3. Click Personalization.  This will open a page that has various headings that will allow you to modify the following settings on your computer:
   

Desktop background will allow you to change the color or wall paper on your desktop.  For most people with low vision, it is better to keep this as simple and empty as possible.

Colors.  Allows you to customize the colors of your background and text.

Screen Resolution will allow you to change the screen resolution.  The lower the resolution, the larger the letters on the screen.

Start Menu. Will allow you to change the view of the Start menu.

How to occasionally turn on the Narrator, Magnifier, or High Contrast settings

There may be times that you want to temporarily use the Narrator, Magnifier, or High Contrast. Let us assume that you have customized your computer so that you have High Contrast (Extra large) settings and a large mouse pointer on your computer but you want to turn on the Narrator to read a long article and you want the Magnifier to see a map. Here is how to do it:

1. Click Start, Click Control Panel, Click Ease of Access.
   
2. Click Ease of Access Center.
   
3. Click Quick access to common tools.
   
4. Click Narrator to turn on the Narrator or press ALT N.
   
5. Click Magnifier to turn on the magnifier or press ALT G.
   
6. Click High Contrast to turn on the high contrast settings.

When you log off of your computer, these settings will turn off and return back to the settings you customized.

How to Change the Mouse Pointer

Vista allows you to customize the size, color, and visibility of the mouse pointer. You can choose a larger arrow, add trails to the pointer, and have the pointer automatically move to a default button.

1. Click Start.
   
2. Click Control Panel.
   
3. Click Mouse. This will open a page that has tabs to modify many aspects of the mouse.
   
4. Click the Pointer tab.
   
5. Select the Scheme such as Extra Large, inverted.
   
6. Click Apply. Snap to automatically move to default.
   
7. Click the Pointer Options Tab.
   
8. Adjust the speed that the pointer moves to your liking.
   
9. Check the box.
   
10. Check the box Display Pointer Trails if you want trails to help you see the pointer.
    
11. Adjust the length of the trail.
    
12. Check the box Hide the Pointer while typing if preferred.
    
13. Check the box Show location of pointer when control key is pressed. This feature is helpful if you have blind spots or reduced peripheral vision. When you tap the control key on the bottom left corner of the keyboard, circles will flash around the pointer.
    
14. Click OK.

Specialized Magnification Software and Hardware

If you have made the modifications described in this article and still have difficulty reading the text on the screen, you may benefit from specialized hardware and software to magnify the screen and read the text aloud.

Microsoft Comfort Optical Mouse 3000 is a mouse that has the ability to magnify the screen up to 5X. This software is very easy to install and it allows you to magnify part or nearly the entire screen at a cost of $29.

AiSquared ZoomText is a software program that can provide up to 32X and also read the text aloud. There is also a special keyboard that makes it easy to change the magnification, color, contrast, and other features. $395 for magnification only and $595 for magnification and speech. www.aisquared.com for a free trial download.

Dolphin Lunar is another screen magnification and speech program that works similarly to ZoomText. $395 for magnification and $595 for magnification and speech. www.YourDolphin.com for a free download.

Freedom Scientific Magic is a screen magnification program that also has excellent speech. $345 for magnification software and $545 for magnification and speech.

For computer users who are not able to easily read the text, the use of a software program that will read the text aloud is extremely helpful.

Dolphin Hal is the leading text to speech program in England. $895 www.YourDolphin.com for a free demonstration.

Freedom Scientific JAWS is the leading screen reader in the United States. $995 www.FreedomScientific.com for a free download.

Window Eyes is another excellent text to speech software program. $895 www.GWMicro.com for a free download.

In Los Angeles, you may call The Center for the Partially Sighted for a free demonstration. (310) 458-3501

Note:  The recommendations for products are those of the author and are not an endorsement by the Macular Degeneration Partnership.