Accessible computing services

Assistive Technology Rooms

Some of our Bookable Study rooms have assistive technologies. The rooms can be booked at the Enquiry Desk in the library, or by telephoning 0161 295 5535. See the table below to find out more.

• Allerton library, level 4 - the room has Inspiration, Jaws and Zoomtext software, two PCs (one with a large screen), a scanner, audio speakers and an adjustable desk. A new CCTV magnifier will be installed at Allerton shortly.
• Adelphi library - the room has Inspiration, JAWS, and Zoomtext software, two large screen PCs, an expert trackball mouse, a scanner, audio speakers and an adjustable desk. There is also a Video Magnifier (CCTV). A compact keyboard is available from the Enquiry Desk.

CCTV

Magnilink CCTV machines are available on 2nd Floor (Extension) Allerton Library, and in the Assistive Technology room at Adelphi.

CCTV is used to enlarge text or 3D materials on-screen. Printed materials, images or 3D materials are enlarged and reflected onto a monitor. The resulting image can be displayed in contrast and / or enlarged as per user requirements. Instructions how to use the equipment are located next to the equipment.

Computer settings

You can set up a roaming profile so that your choice of settings will always be available when you log on at any University networked PC. Logging on will take slightly longer than normal if you choose this option.

Roaming profiles are available as recommendations through Student Support Plans. If you do not have roaming profile but would benefit from this service, please contact ITS Service Desk.

Inspiration

Inspiration is 'mind mapping' software that can display information and ideas visually using webs, maps, and diagrams. Inspiration can also reformat the visual information into an index or list in Word, enabling you to see your ideas as an outline of a report or an essay.

Inspiration is available over the University network.

Jaws

Jaws is screen reading software is available on the University network. Headphones are available from the Enquiry Desk if required.

Microsoft accessibility tools

These may be useful when you are using a Microsoft Office application and they are available on all Library PCs. Go to Start - All Programs - Accessories, then select Magnifier, Narrator or On-Screen Keyboard.

Microsoft On-Screen Keyboard

This may be useful when you are using a Microsoft Office application and it is available on all library PCs. Go to Start – All Programs – Accessories and select On-Screen Keyboard.

PDF documents – ReadAloud

Many of the online resources provided by The Library are in the Adobe PDF format. When you open a PDF document, you can ask Acrobat Reader to speak the text content into your PC headphones. Headphones are available from the Enquiry Desk if required.
Find out more about Adobe's Read PDF content.

Zoomtext

Zoomtext is a software package that can both magnify and read out text. It is available at Clifford Whitworth, Allerton and Adelphi libraries on the University network. Headphones are available from the Enquiry Desks if required.

Scanners

A number of colour scanners are available. They are attached to specific PCs in Adelphi, Allerton and Clifford Whitworth libraries.

Off campus PCs

Library users may access their email, files and some online information sources on their own PCs. Please view our User guides and the links below:

• Access to restricted web pages from off campus
• Accessing your Salford files from home
• Off campus learners

Assistive technology software and its locations

• Inspiration
  Inspiration is a 'concept mapping' software package that can display information and ideas visually - using webs, maps, and diagrams - and then translate these into narrative form. Useful for projects, reports and assignments. Available on labelled PCs at all library sites.
  To open Inspiration: either select Start > All Programs > Inspiration 6 UK > Inspiration 6 UK or double-click on the icon on the PC desktop labelled Inspiration 6 UK.
• Jaws
  Jaws is a screen reading software package, available in the Assistive Technology and Seminar Rooms at Adelphi library, the Assistive Technology Room at Allerton library and Group Workroom 2 and Law Library Project Room 1 at Clifford Whitworth library. Jaws loads automatically on start up.
  If you close it and want to re-open: either select Start > All Programs > JAWS9.0 > JAWS or double-click on the icon on the PC desktop labelled JAWS 9.0
• Readability
  Readability is a browser bookmarklet (a sort of bookmark plus) that removes clutter (sidebars, advertising etc) from web pages and leaves the text in your chosen format. Readability works with most major modern browsers including Google Chrome, IE7 and Firefox and has been tested on many news sites and blogs. See a video about Readability | Read about Readability | Install Readability in moments.
• Zoomtext
  Zoomtext is a software package that can both magnify and read out text. Available in the Assistive Technology Rooms at Adelphi and Allerton libraries and Group Study Room 2 and Law Collection Project Room 1 at Clifford Whitworth library. Headphones are available from the Enquiry Desk if required.
  To open Zoomtext: either select Start > All Programs > ZoomText 9.1 > ZoomText 9.1 double-click on the icon on the PC desktop labelled ZoomText 9.1