The Free Internet Cafe for the Blind & Visually Impaired, the first in the whole of Africa, which opens the World Wide Web, making The Gambia a leading light in Africa, with this technology by allowing free and total access to surf the net send and receive emails and for students to enhace their studies with the aid of this pioneering software. No more do they need to rely on a third party to read to them newspapers, magazines, books, letters and world wide information. Nonvision.KingfisherGambia.com - Getting Started with Your Computer
 

GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR COMPUTER

 

If you can't see to read what’s on the screen, you will need help to get going from a knowledgeable buddy, professional or more experienced visually impaired friend - someone who understands the importance of using the keyboard and not the mouse. It will take time to get to grips with it, so be patient with yourself and get plenty of regular practice. Decide what you would like to do first, learn the keyboard, email, write a story, surf the web or listen to music. Learn to do that one thing well before moving on.

This manual assumes you know nothing about a computer and that you can’t see to use a mouse but if you do have useful sight, look at section 6, "If you have some sight".

If you are a beginner, to get started you will need the following:

1) a modern PC or laptop with Thunder software installed. Get this from www.screenreader.net or from a disk or memory stick.

2) It’s reassuring to hear keys spoken as you press them. If this isn’t happening, you will need to go into Thunder’s "Settings" and make sure the following are checked: "Echo Characters", "Speak Modifiers", "Speak Home End", "Speak Space Tab Return" and your Thunder speech set to be fairly slow speed. See section 5.1 for changing Settings.

3) Ideally, some tactile markers, (Bumpons or even Blu-Tack) on certain keys to help you find your way around the keyboard.

4) Guidance on how to switch on and use the Windows Key and the Start Menu to get into a program: after you first turn on your computer you will hear a short jingle and then a clap of thunder to tell you that Thunder is loading and then it will start speaking. To get to a programme, press the Windows key to get to the Start Menu. Press the DOWN or UP ARROW and press ENTER when you hear the program you want to try.

5) You will need guidance with closing down and switching off. There’s a right way of doing this. Don’t just press the on/off switch.

Windows 7 users press the WINDOWS key, then RIGHT ARROW to hear "shut down" and press ENTER. Press RIGHT ARROW again, before pressing ENTER and you can ARROW UP or DOWN amongst a list of other choices.

Vista and earlier version users press the WINDOWS key. RIGHT ARROW twice then press ENTER. If you ARROW UP or DOWN

before pressing ENTER, you can hear the various choices. You don't need to worry about them as a beginner but they are:

a) "Hibernate and sleep" which leave your computer running at low power and can make it quicker to get up and running later;

b) "Log Off and Lock" leave the computer running but you would have to use a password to get it going again as they give some security;

c) "Restart" switches the computer off and automatically on again in a safe way.

6) If you have a little sight and you have an instructor helping you, they should assess if you can effectively use a mouse, and set up the screen appearance to suit you with "personalisation" or "ease of access".

7) You will need to be able to read this manual especially if you practise when there’s nobody around to help. You can print it in whatever size and font suits you, or buy it on audio CD or in Braille. Telephone +44 (0)1733 234441, our telephone helpline is +44 (0)844 500 4441, local call rate in the UK.

The Gambia: check with "Contact" of this website

 

The Free Internet Cafe for the Blind & Visually Impaired, the first in the whole of Africa, which opens the World Wide Web, making The Gambia a leading light in Africa, with this technology by allowing free and total access to surf the net send and receive emails and for students to enhace their studies with the aid of this pioneering software. No more do they need to rely on a third party to read to them newspapers, magazines, books, letters and world wide information.