Alternative Web Browsing
introduction - specialized browsers - screen readers - adaptive browsers - voice browsers - other access methods
This is a collection of pointers to information, and where possible, to
demonstration versions of alternative browsing methods.
People with disabilities, whether temporary -- such as a slow connection
or eyes "disabled" by having to watch traffic -- or permanent -- such as
hearing, visual, physical or cognitive impairment -- use a wide range of
alternative approaches, different from traditional mouse-and-screen-based
browsers.
People with visual impairment or reading difficulties rely on speech
output, Braille displays or screen magnification; and in many cases use the
keyboard instead of the mouse. People who can't use a keyboard rely either on
voice recognition for spoken commands, or on switch devices which can be
controlled by head, mouth or eye movements. People whose eyes are busy with
another task may need Web access using voice-driven systems. This page is
intended to give you background and pointers to solutions for these
scenarios.
The purpose of this collection is to reflect the whole range of approaches
used for browsing. If you design Web pages, then this will allow you to try
out a particular browsing method with specific sites as a way of checking how
usable they are for a given browser, or combination of browser and
screen-reader, voice-recognition, or other adaptive systems. If you are a
user who may be interested in finding the most effective method for you, then
you should also find useful information here.
The page is divided into five sections:
- Section
1 covers browsers which have been specially developed for people with
disabilities.
- Section
2 is devoted to screen-readers, which allow visually impaired people
to navigate with standard applications, and are therefore most often used
in conjunction with mainstream browsers such as Netscape Navigator,
Microsoft Internet Explorer, Opera, etc.
- Section
3 covers browsers not specifically designed for disabled people but
which have features that have allowed them to be used in combination with
adaptive systems.
- Section
4 is devoted to voice browsers which give spoken Web access, e.g. by
telephone using voice input or dialled commands and speech output.
- Section
5 is a "catch-all" section intended to cover any access methods not
covered by the previous categories.
Disclaimer:
Inclusion of products on this reference list does not mean that they are
endorsed by W3C. Products are listed in alphabetical order, with no quality
rating. W3C provides the information on this page as a service to the Web
community and in good faith. However W3C cannot verify the accuracy of all
claims made by developers or users.
Acknowledgements:
This reference list was developed by Peter Bosher (peter@soundlinks.com),
for the WAI Education and Outreach Working
Group. Information on other activities and resources of W3C's Web
Accessibility Initiative is available on the WAI home page. Please e-mail any suggestions
for improvements or additions to Peter
Bosher with a cc to wai@w3.org.
For each of the following browsers, a brief description is given
indicating which of the above adaptive features is supported. Browsers are
english language versions unless otherwise specified.
- Braillesurf
(aussi disponible en français, espagnol) from Braillenet
(Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000) speech, Braille, large text.
- BrookesTalk
This browser under development by Oxford Brookes University focuses on
facilitating intelligent web-searching.
Speech output, screen-magnification;
Demonstration available.
- EIAD
A browser from Sarsfield Solutions which provides enhancements
specifically for people with special needs and learning difficulties.
Touch-screen, simplified language interface.
Demonstration available.
- EMACSPEAK
The speech-enabled environment for EMACS, runs under UNIX or LINUX,
includes full web browsing capabilities through W3.
Speech output, simple keyboard interface.
Free download available.
- HomePage Reader
The speech-based browser from IBM, using Internet Explorer as its engine
designed for blind and visually impaired. Speech output and standard
graphical user interface.
Full function trial available, multiple languages available
- Marco Polo
A plug-in for Netscape Navigator from Sonicon with speech and auditory
icons.
Speech output, audio icons, simple keyboard interface.
Demonstration available.
- MultiWeb
Disability-specific browser developed at Deakin University.
Speech output, screen magnification, scanning for switch devices.
Free download available.
- pwWebSpeak
Speech output, synchronised speech and screen magnification, simple
keyboard interface. Note from the isSound Web site:
"isSound has made the decision to discontinue selling, enhancing and
supporting the pwWebSpeak non-visual browser effective, 1 Jan 2001."
Demonstration available.
- Sensus Internet Browser
A low-vision internet browser from Sensus in Denmark.
Speech output, Braille support, special screen fonts.
No demonstration available.
- Simply Web 2000
A talking interface using the Internet Explorer engine.
Speech output, simple keyboard interface.
Free download available.
- WebSound
A talking interface using the Internet Explorer engine, from the
University of Geneva.
A talking browser with synchronised magnified text display that can
provide audio/haptic feedback on element types and positioning. Speech
input available.
Free download
available
A screen-reader is used to allow navigation of the screen presented by the
operating system, using speech or Braille output, and should therefore enable
use of any mainstream application. In the context of browsing this usually
means that they are used in conjunction with Netscape, Microsoft Internet
Explorer, or, less often, with one of the other non-disability-specific
browsers such as LYNX and Opera, detailed in section 3. Listed below are the
home pages of all the major developers of screen-readers for different
versions of Windows, and including one for Macintosh. Many of these include
support for MS-DOS, either as an integral part of the Windows version, or in
conjunction with a stand-alone DOS screen-reader. They all provide
demonstration versions.
- ASAW from Microtalk:
(DOS, Windows 95/98/ME) speech.
- HAL from Dolphin:
(DOS, Windows 95/98/ME and NT) speech and Braille.
- JAWS For Windows from Freedom
Scientific
(DOS, Windows 95/98/ME and NT) speech and Braille.
- Lookout from Choice
Technology
(Windows 95/98/ME)
- OutSpoken from Alva:
(Windows 95/98/ME, Macintosh) speech and Braille.
- Screenreader/2
from IBM
(OS/2) speech and Braille.
- Simply Talker from
Econonet:
(Windows 95/98/ME) speech.
- Slimware Window Bridge from
Synthavoice:
(DOS, Windows 3.x and 95/98/ME) speech and Braille.
- Virgo
from Baum
(most information in German, some also in french, russian and
english)
- Window-Eyes from GWMicro:
(DOS, Windows 3.x and 95/98/ME) speech and Braille.
- Winkline from
Speech Systems for the Blind
(DOS, Windows 3.x, 95, NT) (May be obsolete)
- WinVision from Artic:
(Windows 3.x and 95/98/ME) speech.
These browsers are all designed for general use, but are of interest
because they may give enhanced accessibility in combination with particular
adaptive systems, and some have enhanced screen magnification or navigation
options.
- AMAYA
This is W3C's test-bed browser, implementing emerging web technologies.
There are versions for Windows 95/98/ME, Windows NT and UNIX.
- ARACHNE
This is a graphical browser for MS-DOS.
- LYNX, and Mac OS version
of LYNX
This is a popular text-based browser for UNIX, Windows 95/NT, MS-DOS, and
Mac OS allowing flexible and powerful text-based access from older
platforms.
- Internet
Explorer, accessibility features
Microsoft has included many features in Internet Explorer to enhance
accessibility.
- Net-Tamer
This package runs under MS-DOS and includes both text-based and graphical
browsing capabilities.
- Netscape Navigator
Navigator enables enlargement of fonts.
- Opera
This compact browser for Windows 95/98/ME offers enhanced keyboard
navigation and screen magnification.
These are systems which allow voice-driven navigation, some with both
voice-in and voice-out, and some allowing telephone-based web access.
- ConversaWeb
Voice-activated browser allowing spoken selection of links using
"saycons".
- webHearit
A telephone-based tool using the telephone keypad as an interface to
navigate suitably configured pages.
- SpeecHTML
A subscription service from Vocalis, allowing a participating site to
provide telephone access using voice commands.
- TelWeb
An experimental telephone-based browser allowing access to any site using
voice and dialled commands.
We will be expanding this section to include links to reference lists of
other access technologies such as screen magnifiers and voice recognition
programs which can be used in conjunction with Web browsers.
- There are a number of systems which filter or transform existing pages
to make them more accessible regardless of which browser is being used.
For a collection of links to such transformation tools, see: The WAI List of
filter and transformation tools.
- Agora is a system
which allows web-pages to be retrieved by E-mail simply by sending a
message containing the URL of the desired document.
- Page Getter allows powerful
and flexible retrieval of web-pages by E-mail, with options to include
images, or request text only.
- The Voice
allows representation of images in sound using Peter Meijer's "image
sonification" technique.
- Information on screen magnifiers, which can be used in conjunction with
mainstream browsers, is available at
The Screen Magnification Home
Page.
This page was last updated 5 July 2001, and it is currently out of date.
It may be updated in the future.
Thanks to Peter Bosher and Judy Brewer (jbrewer@w3.org) for maintaining this page in
the past.
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