Browsing with assistive technology videos

Posted on Friday, 24 December 2021 by Henny Swan

Understanding how people with disabilities browse the web using assistive technologies (AT) is core to making an accessible and inclusive user experience. Our browsing with assistive technology videos series introduces commonly used software, who uses it, how it works, and ways people navigate content.

Assistive technologies (AT) are software or hardware used by people with disabilities to help them complete a task. While AT can refer to wheelchairs, hearing aids or canes, we look at AT for using a computer and browsing the web, including desktop and mobile screen readers, the keyboard, screen magnification, and speech recognition.

Credit to Patrick H Lauke who created the naturally described scripts, voiced, and produced the video. To find out more about how to produce accessible video read an inclusive approach to video production.

All the videos from this blog post have been collated in a YouTube playlist: Browsing with assistive technology / Browsing with assistive technology (British Sign Language version). All the videos are released under a Creative Commons Attribution licence.

Browsing with a screen reader

A screen reader is a software application that announces what is on the screen to people who cannot see or understand visual content. They provide access to the entire operating system and applications, including browsers and web content.

Browsing with a desktop screen reader

Access the British Sign Language (BSL) version of "Browsing with a desktop screen reader"

Read more about browsing with a desktop screen reader.

Browsing with a mobile screen reader

Access the British Sign Language (BSL) version of "Browsing with a mobile screen reader"

Read more about browsing with a mobile screen reader.

Browsing with a keyboard

Keyboards can be plugged in, built-in or attached wirelessly to desktop computers, laptops and mobile devices. They enable access to the entire operating system and applications, including browsers and web content, for people who do not use a mouse.

Access the British Sign Language (BSL) version of "Browsing with a keyboard"

Read more about browsing with a keyboard.

Browsing with screen magnification

Screen magnification software enlarges content on a desktop computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone screen. It magnifies everything on the screen, including the operating system, applications, and content.

Access the British Sign Language (BSL) version of "Browsing with screen magnification"

Read more about browsing with screen magnification.

Browsing with speech recognition

Speech recognition software listens to human speech, transcribes it into text, and executes spoken commands that operate your computer or device. People commonly use it as an alternative to using a keyboard, mouse or touch gestures. Speech recognition provides access to the entire operating system and applications, including browsers and web content.

Access the British Sign Language (BSL) version of "Browsing with speech recognition"

Read more about browsing with speech recognition.

Updated Thursday 2 March 2023.