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SEN Support

Special Study Room 1

Special Study Room 1 provides equipment and software for students with visual impairment, where braille signage is installed.  

The Special Study Room 1 door with vision glass panel and a card reader to the left of the door.      A study room with three long tables lined up against one side of the wall, three computers, one printer, and one scanner are on the tables and there is one chair in front of each computer. On the opposite side of the room, one sofa is placed against the wall.     A desktop computer with a braille display in front of the monitor.          A Mac computer, in front of the monitor are a braille display, a keyboard, and a mouse next to the computer.

 

There are three Windows computers and one iMac computer. Two of the Windows computers are connected to Focus 40 Blue Braille Displays and the iMac computer is connected to the Humanware Brailliant BI 40X Braille Display. Each braille display creates braille characters on a flat surface of the devices that are connected to PCs for use. The devices make navigating the Internet and drafting documents easier. 

 

Focus 40 Blue Braille Display

A braille display with coloured thumb keys and 8-dot Braille keyboard.     A student using the Focus 40 Blue braille display

The Focus Blue line of refreshable braille displays provides a tactile interface to computer. It has 40 refreshable braille cells and requires the use of a screen reader such as JAWS for Windows.

    

Humanware Brailliant BI 40X

A Humanware Braille Display with command keys, 8-dot Braille keyboard, and 2 space bars.     A student using Humanware Brailliant BI 40X braille display

Humanware Brailliant BI 40X is a 40 cells braille display with cursor routing keys and it is compatible with JAWS 18 and above, Dolphin SuperNova, NVDA, VoiceOver iOS and MAC iOS.

 

Windows computers in the room are installed with screen reading software with JAWS and NVDA (with HK Blind Union add-on). The software assists users to read the text displayed on a speech synthesizer or braille display in English and Chinese.

The interface of JAWS     The interface of NVDA

Three computers running Windows 10 and Microsoft Office 2010 are also installed with the following software.

  • Braille Instant Translation and Editing (BRITE) is a multi-functional Braille translation editing program that allows people to easily perform two-way instant translation between Braille and regular text. It is supported by the HK Blind Union.

        The interface of the Braille Instant Translation and Editing software

  • EasyDots (點寫易) is a Cantonese Braille input method developed by the HK Blind Union.

  • ABBYY FineReader converts image documents into editable electronic formats.

            The interface of ABBYY Finereader

  • OpenBook converts printed documents into an electronic text format.

  • Fusion provides screen magnification and visual enhancemnet, as well as screen reading functionality.

 

The iMac running MacOsBigSur Version 11 is installed with the following software.

  • Speech-to-text is a built-in function that can be enabled by pressing [Ctrl] key twice. The iMac has internal microphone and will convert speech to text on applications like MS Words.
  • VoiceOver is a built-in screen reader, which reads out the text from documents and windows. A braille display is connected to the iMac. VoiceOver detects the braille display. Using VoiceOver, users control the computer primarily with the braille display or a keyboard.   
  • ABBYY FineReader converts image documents into editable electronic formats.
  • EasyDots (點寫易) is a Cantonese Braille input method developed by the HK Blind Union.

 

Desktop electronic magnifier supports several magnifying sizes and color modes.

A desktop electronic magnifier with a monitor atop of a flat platform.     A student using the desktop electronic magnifier

 

Braille Embosser, with acoustic hood, prints braille characters on papers.

A braille embosser with paper inserted, inside a tinted plastic acoustic hood.

 

Color Laser Jet Printer

A color laser jet printer with a touchscreen control panel on the top left corner.

 

Scanner

A flat scanner with control buttons on the front of the base.

 

Height Adjustable Table

Height adjustable table in the Special Study Room 1, with a computer on top.      A close-up to the control button of the height adjustable table in the Special Study Room 1.