NVDA, NonVisual Desktop Access was first released in 2007. Originally it was a private initiative, but it was quickly picked up by industry as a promising alternative for screen readers. Since 2007, NVDA received tremendous recognition at international conferences and forums. Today, it is a very well-know application among screen reader users in the United States. Many people are switching from their old reader to NVDA.

Currently, NVDA is able to work with the most popular applications, such as Internet Explorer, FireFox, Microsoft Office applications, Adobe Reader, and Windows components. The developers constantly expand the supported applications and improve current support as well. One of the greatest strengths of NVDA is supporting the latest release of Mozilla Firefox. The latest technologies are used and recognized, even methods which other screen readers often struggle to catch up with.

The current biggest problem of providing blind people with screen readers is the pricing, where NVDA could become a very low cost alternative. While the software itself is free, education and distribution would require some funds for a wide distribution.

NVDA as a competitive alternative

NVDA is backed up by the generous financial support and recognition from major software and internet companies, including Mozilla Foundation, Adobe, and Yahoo! Given that NVDA meets the expectations from users and supporters, this recognition allows to predict that future support will be granted to the project, and the development will continue.

Screen readers, similar in functionality and effectiveness to NVDA are extremely high priced, around the $1000 range, which are not considered to be competitive in developing countries.

The NVDA project, is also aware that there is a high demand for an affordable screen reader to be used in the international market. Currently, NVDA supports over 20 languages, which puts it ahead of other freely available screen readers.

As NVDA is an open source product, it provides the ability to contribute code according to individual, or country specific needs, unlike other alternatives.

The NVDA project also maintains extensive support resources, where users and developers can discuss the screen reader, make suggestions and even volunteer to support the project even by financial contributions, or by program enhancements. This allows ambitious developers to implement new ideas. With the spread of this screen reader, it is expected that more contributions will be added, including the translation to other languages.

The Down-sides of NVDA

The default sound of NVDA is provided by ESpeak, which is not the best reading voice. However, users can install other voices and easily change their preferences to it. This allows the using of any third party voices, which is an easy integration of other languages.

While NVDA has an unparalleled development curve, there are still some bugs and requirements which need to be worked on, however, these do not cause major usability issues.

Implementing NVDA in Developing Countries

It is not possible to distribute NVDA to people in need on its own, as the intended recipients would not be able to use it right away. While NVDA has a talking installation program, somebody who solely relies on a screen reader needs to be able to start the operating system to install it. Also, we have to take it into consideration that much of the intended audience does not have previous screen reader experience, therefore they will have difficulties using the computer as well.

It would be recommended to start providing non-computer related training materials to intended users, both about using a computer, and the screen reader as well. The best format of such materials would be either Braille, or audio resources.

Conclusion

Overall, NVDA as a screen reader is comparable to other screen readers in usability and effectiveness. However, as it is easily adaptable to other languages and is freely distributable makes it a favorable choice in developing countries.

Tom Babinszki of Even Grounds, Accessibility Consulting, recommends NVDA

In the developed world there are numerous technologies to help the blind and visually impaired “read” books, periodicals, and Web based content via computers and mobile devices. Advances in Text To Speech, Braille interfaces, and navigable audio books allow millions to access information in ways not previously possible. But software and hardware for the visually impaired often runs into the thousands of dollars.

The major roadblock to accessing digital content in the developing world, where more than ninety percent of the world’s visually impaired live, are affordability and access. A more affluent, English speaking resident of India with a desktop computer or smartphone has access to much of the print disability technology and content available in the developed world. But this is not the case for the wide majority of the poor. Their visual learning is often restricted to what others care to read to them and to what content is available locally in hard copy form.

Blind and visually impaired children are at a distinct disadvantage in school without the visual aids and technology that many children in the West now take for granted.

Mobile solutions for visually impaired

With such a high rate of adoption in the developing world, cell phones offer a potential solution to address the challenges of content access and learning for the visually impaired. Much screen reader and book reading software for the visually impaired on mobile phones already exists. Code Factory’s Mobile Speak and Nuance Talks are available for Symbian, Windows Mobile, and RIM mobile platforms. Their mobile software packages are also available in numerous languages. Pioneers like T.V. Ramen of Google are developing innovative screen reader and geo navigation technologies (e.g., Eyes Free) on Android platforms.

A variety of Optical Character Regognition (OCR) and object recognition software for cell phones also exist, allowing the user to point a cell phone camera at written material or an object to have it read or verbally identified . Examples include the Knfb mobile OCR reader and LookingAid Mobile by iVisit.

The mobile vision field is advancing quickly just as mobile phone price points are coming down. Hence the time is right for the emergence of an “mDisability” sector to target reading and learning opportunities for less affluent print disabled communities worldwide.

Barriers to mDisibility adoption

Before jumping in with both feet, however, a number of practical challenges must be addressed.

First, the above mentioned (mostly) smartphone solutions are still not affordable and/or available for the wide majority of the poor in the developing world. So over the short term leveraging mobile for the visually impaired will require screen reader and voice recognition technologies being built directly into low cost feature phones. They must be accompanied by design improvements to assist the handicapped user. Over the long term, and as smartphones become more affordable and widespread, there are also opportunities to make use of existing screen reading technologies for higher end Nokia, Android, and Apple phones – not to mention their downloadable apps.

Beyond technology and device barriers are some additional challenges.

The first is copyright. Depending on the country, copyright protections may prevent access to books and periodicals for free or at a low enough cost for many. Unlike in the United States, where access to books and periodicals is often free for the visually impaired, many countries still do not allow for such accommodations. Without the widespread availability of low cost content, a mobile device with reading capabilities is useless to the print disabled poor.

Second, because the current diversity of reading file formats is not standardized across regions and devices, many will be unable to read content even if openly available and cheap.

Third, even where books and periodicals are made available in appropriate formats, digitized versions may not yet exist. Even in the USA, free content does not include the cost of reading hardware, software, and subscription fees charged by some digital library distributors.

Finally, and perhaps most important from an educational perspective, is the integration of mobile learning tools with relevant learning processes and curricula. While having access to books and periodicals is one thing, guided and productive learning for the visually impaired student is another. Schools and other educational institutions will need to not only make their content available, but tie that content directly to locally and linguistically appropriate learning systems.

mDisibility holds hope and promise

Overall, mDisability offers unprecedented educational pathways for the print disabled and visually impaired citizens of the global South. Imagine visually challenged children and adults having 24/7 access to up to date books and periodicals and specially designed learning software on their phones? How many millions more could be educated and enjoy the benefits of leisure reading if local content in local languages was made readable anywhere, anytime?

The vision to bring millions of visually impaired individuals into the mainstream reading community, literally allowing them to carry learning in their pocket, is a grand one. But the march of mobile and advancements in mDisability might just point the way.

Paul Lamb is a Man on a Mission

Assistive information and communication technologies can allow those with disabilities to learn and grow, indistinguishable from any other child. But we have to ask three questions about them in our context:

1. Which assistive technologies are appropriate for the developing world?
2. How might they be implemented in resource constrained environments?
3. And what would their impact be on the children that use them?

Especially since you could even argue that educational systems are often impaired themselves – lacking budget, expertise, and will power to recognize that assistive technologies exist and should be employed for the betterment of all.

For February’s conversation, the Educational Technology Debate will explore low-cost assistive information and communication technologies, and how they might be utilized to increase the learning outcomes of children in the developing world.

We’ll dive into the issues and concerns with the help of several thought leaders on the subject; Cliff Schmidt, Fernando Botelho, Mike Dawson, and Paul Lamb. Your thoughts and opinions are always welcomed in the comments below. In addition, if you have deep knowledge on the subject, please email us a Guest Post of your thoughts.

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