Big Arrow Cursors increases the size of the arrow cursor to enhance its
visability. Shareware. See: http://www.windows95.com/apps/cursors.html
Download: bigarr.zip (4k)
Meta-Mouse 2.01 is a program for Windows 95 whose purpose is to
improve the visibility of the mouse cursor. This is accomplished in several
ways: (1) The cursor can be made to blink on and off, (2) The cursor can
be made much larger, displaying either a large black arrow with a white
border, a large white arrow with a black border, a large inverse-color
arrow, or numerous others, (3) The cursor can be made to change its
shape dynamically (see the "Ultra-High Visibility" option), and (4) The
normally "white" part of the cursor can be changed to one of several other
colors, including dynamic color cycling. Shareware ($21 + S/H).
For a fully functional, 30-day free trial, demonstration version.
Download: http://www.cylexinc.com/mmou.htm
The inverted set must be seen to be appreciated - they "invert" over the
background. So, if your background is purple, your pointer is green; over a
blue background the pointer turns yellow; over red the pointer is cyan.
Both styles, black and inverted, come in standard, large and extra large
sizes. See: http://www.microsoft.com/kb/softlib/
Download: altpnt.exe (90k)
Big-W is available now, at low cost, to enable people with poor
eyesight to comfortably use personal computers running Microsoft
Windows. Compatible with Windows, versions 3.1 and 3.11 and with
Windows 95, this utility increases the screen images by any amount the
user selects, from 1X to 10X. Big-W is not limited to English language
users; it functions equally well in all language editions of Microsoft
Windows. Big-W is suitable for PC users throughout the world. Shareware
($39.95 + S/H). Go to: http://www.senior.com/sites/bigw-1.html
Loupe displays a magnified view of whatever is beneath the mouse cursor,
much like a printer's or jeweler's loupe. Loupe continues to operate when
minimized. The program name on the Taskbar is replaced by the current
mouse coordinates. Loupe also displays information about the current
hardware configuration and dynamic system resource usage as well as an
ASCII / ANSI character code chart, MS Windows Error Codes and
Horizontal and Vertical rulers. Freeware. See:
http://www.pcworld.com/cgi-bin/shareware?ID=1725
Download: loupex.zip (50k)
Shorthand is a typing productivity tool designed to work concurrently with
a Windows word processor or text editor application. Just as a
stenographer uses shorthand symbols to represent longer words or
phrases, Shorthand allows you to represent words or phrases with a much
shorter abbreviation or keyword. Instead of typing in the word or phrase,
you type the shorter keyword and Shorthand will take care of inserting the
longer word or phrase into your word processor. Shorthand is not limited
to word processors. It works just as well with most Windows dialog boxes.
Shorthand can be used to enter names, logins, passwords, internet
addresses directly into terminal windows. Shareware ($25). See
http://www.alumni.caltech.edu/~lim/shorthand or
http://www.sped.ukans.edu/~dlance/windows.html
Download: sh40.zip (138k)
Clipboard text will be loaded and read aloud automatically when you start
the program. You may open and have files with the txt extension read
aloud from inside the program. Freeware. See:
http://www.pixi.com/~reader1/
Kurzweil VoicePad for Windows 95 Release 1.0 is the world's first
voice-enabled word processing application to be distributed as
shareware. The product enables you to seamlessly integrate voice input
with the keyboard and mouse, creating a natural and intuitive approach to
document creation.
Kurzweil VoicePad Release 1.0 can be used to create memos, letters,
reports and other documents through dictation. You can also format text,
navigate through the application's menus and dialogs, change the
application's settings, and preview and print documents using intuitive
voice commands.
Download: http://www.kurzweil.com/
Other Microsoft Windows Software Resources
Windows Dvorak Layout Software
Microsoft distributes Dvorak Keyboard Layouts that make the most
frequently typed characters on a keyboard more accessible to people who
have difficulty using the standard "QWERTY" layout. There are three
Dvorak layouts: one for two-handed users, one for people who type only
with their left hand, and one for people who type only with their right hand.
The left- or right-hand keyboard layouts can also be used by people who
type with a wand. Go to: http://www.microsoft.com/kb/softlib/
Windows Alternative Mouse Pointers
ALPNT is designed for both laptop and low vision users, the alternative mouse
pointers bring back the ever popular (and often requested) Windows black
pointer set (the standard Windows pointers colored black as opposed to
white) and the new inverted pointers in an effort to make the mouse
pointer more visible.
Magnification
Big-W
Abbreviation/Expansion
Shorthand 4.0
Word Completion/Prediction
Microsoft Windows Word Completion/Prediction Information
For an in-depth discussion of word completion/prediction and a list of
companies which produce word completion/prediction products. Go to:
http://trace.wisc.edu/text/computer/multi/ctg_wp.htmlVoice Output Applications
ReadToMe 2.0
Voice Input Applications
VoicePad 1.0
Miscellaneous
For other Microsoft Windows software resources available, including the
Access Pack for Windows 3.X.
Go to: http://trace.wisc.edu/trace/computer/win.
Note, all the features of the Access Pack are now built into Windows 95, so you no longer have to order the Access Pack separately.
Text links and ftp provided by Trace Center