DESIGN OF

EXPERIMENT

Computer Access for Physically

Challenged Individuals

Labs included in this experiment:

Lab 1.1: Using the magnifier, adjusting screen resolution and
calibrating the monitor.
Lab 1.2: Using the Microsoft Narrator Service and adjusting sounds.
Lab 1.3: Using on-screen keyboard and mastering keyboard
shortcuts.
Lab 1.4: Managing computer settings using Ease of Access.
Lab 1.5: Customer Service for physically challenged individuals.

COE115-2L/ B3 Group 2:
Bucog, Krissel C.
Canete, Kathleen Karen Mae L.
Manalac, John Edward Phillippe B.
Uywan, Julie Anne O.

Prof. Isagani V. Villamor

Instructor

LAB 1.1: USING THE MAGNIFIER, ADJUSTING SCREEN

RESOLUTION AND CALIBRATING THE MONITOR
OBJECTIVES
The goal of this lab is to help visually challenged individuals use the
computer with ease. After completing this lab, you will be able to:
Use the magnifier tool properly.
Adjust the screen settings of your computer.
Calibrate the monitor properly.

MATERIALS REQUIRED
This lab requires the following:
Windows 7 operating system
A workgroup of 2 to 4 students

LAB PREPARATION
Before the lab begins, the instructor or lab assistant needs to do the
following:
Verify that Windows starts with no errors.

ACTIVITY BACKGROUND
Physically challenged individuals are faced with the tough challenge of using
a computer. One example is people who are visually challenged and with poor
eyesight. In order to address this situation, Windows has a magnifier tool to
help aid the user in using the computer. We can adjust it based on the level of
eyesight the user has. Also, visually challenged users might need the
computer to change its display settings so that is also addressed. Finally, we
calibrate the monitor in order to make the visual output effective.
ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME: 30 minutes

In order to start and help visually challenged individuals use the computer with
ease, we should first start and use one of the tools present in your Windows 7
operating system: the magnifier tool. In order to open the magnifier tool, use these
steps:
1. Click Start, click All Programs and click Accessories.
2. In the submenu, click Ease of Access
3. Click Magnifier.
You will be able to see a portion of the screen magnified based on the position of
your cursor. Next, try to browse over objects to test and see the effectiveness of
your magnifier. We can allow the magnifier to cater for nearsighted and farsighted
individuals. To adjust the magnifying level of your magnifier tool:

1. Click the magnifier icon running in your taskbar (or click on the
magnifying lens present in the screen). The magnifier window appears.
Click the plus and minus button to adjust the zooming level.
2. What is the default zooming level of your magnifier tool?
___________________________________________________________________________
3. Adjust the boundaries of your magnifier by dragging its lower side.
4. Change the view type of your magnifier by clicking on its window again,
and clicking View. What are the three types of views available for your
magnifier tool?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
5. Try to check on the different types of views available and try to see what
is the most effective for the user.
Now that your magnifier is ready, you will now try to address other issues such as
color blind individuals. To do this, you can also invert the colors so that we can cater
to these individuals. To do this we:
1. Go to the magnifier window. Click on the icon beside the views option, the
magnifier options window appears.
2. Here we can also adjust our zooming but more importantly, we can invert
the colors. Click on the checkbox indicating Turn on color inversion. The
screen now will be different form before. Also, try to click on the different
check boxes under the tracking submenu. Describe what happens and
record your observations here:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. Click on the Fine tune what my screen looks like link. On the window
that will open, check the lone check box and observe what happens. Write
your observations here:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
4. Close the magnifier options window and the magnifier tool window
Next is we try to adjust the screen resolution in order to make the magnifier tool
effective. It is also used in order to address people with problems in colors. In order
to do this, follow these steps:
1. Go to control panel, make sure that the view is by category. Under the
appearance subsection, click on the adjust screen resolution link.

Figure 1-1 Screen Resolution

Window

2. The screen resolution window opens. Select your monitor in the display
option and adjust the resolution of your screen. What is the default screen
resolution of your system?
___________________________________________________________________________
3. Adjust your resolution to a lower resolution value, then click apply.
Observe what happens and write your observations here:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
4. Also change the orientation and try to experiment with the other
orientations possible.
After changing the resolution, we calibrate our monitor in order for it to adjust with
the changes made on our display. It is also used to ensure that the colors are
represented accurately on the screen. To do this, follow these steps:
1. From the screen resolution window, click on the back button to go back to
the display window.
2. In the side menus, click on the Calibrate color link.

Figure 1-2 Display Color Calibration

Window

3. The display color calibration window opens. Click next.

4. When using a monitor, click the menu of your monitor by pressing the
button on the bottom middle of your monitor. A menu appears there and
follow the steps written on your monitor instruction manual to adjust
monitor settings using the button.
5. Click next, click next. In this part, we look at the gamma dots, these are
indicators of your display accuracy. Adjust the slider so that the dots dont
show up in the display in the middle. Click next to continue.
6. Click next, then next again, then next again, then next again while
following the instructions written in the window and adjusting the settings
by using the monitors menu.
7. Click next and adjust the red, green and blue calibration by adjusting the
sliders. Click next if you are comfortable with the color settings.
8. Click finish and close the display window. Record the changes in your
display that you have observed here:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What important settings must be done in order for the magnifier tool to
address individuals with a.) farsightedness?; and b.) color blindness?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. Using the help option in the magnifier tool, research on how to make the
magnifier tool readily available for the user to access. List the steps here:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. Name two advantages if you calibrate your display periodically:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
4. Name one disadvantage and one advantage of lowering your screen
resolution:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

LAB 1.2: USING THE MICROSOFT NARRATOR SERVICES

AND ADJUSTING THE SOUNDS
OBJECTIVES

The goal of this lab is to help visually challenged and hearing challenged
individuals use the computer with ease. After completing this lab, you will be
able to:
Use the Microsoft Narrator service properly
Adjust the sounds to modulate the sound output of your computer

MATERIALS REQUIRED
This lab requires the following:
Windows 7 operating system
Internet Access
A workgroup of 2 to 4 members

LAB PREPARATION
Before the lab begins, the instructor or lab assistant needs to do the
following:
Verify that Windows starts with no errors
Verify that internet access is accessible

ACTIVITY BACKGROUND
Microsofts Narrator service offers a wide range of uses. It can help ease the
user of looking at the monitor all the time but at the same time, this may be
a solution for visually challenged individuals specially the ones that are
challenged by blindness. While the narrator service can cater the visually
challenged, adjusting the sound level of your computer can also cater the
hearing challenged. In order to do that, we would use the settings of the
computer to adjust them.
ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME: 30 minutes

Visually challenged individuals may not be able to make use of display settings on
your monitor for them to have access to the computer. It is in this case that you
resort into using another computer component that you have: the sounds. To be
able to allow the speakers help visually challenged individuals, the Microsoft
Narrator Service is used. In order to use this, do the following:
1. Go to Accessories, Ease of Access and select the Narrator Tool.
2. Upon opening the tool, what observations regarding the sounds did the
computer exhibit? Write your findings here:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

By default, the narrator tool starts narrating all background programs that are open,
including menus, submenus, keystrokes and others. In order to fix the settings and
allow the computer to narrate according to what the user wants, do the following:

1. In the Microsoft Narrator window, go to the Main Narrator Settings and

experiment with the checkboxes. Each option allows the computer narrate
actions by the user and other features that control the way the narrator
works.

Figure 1-3 Microsoft Narrator tool Window

2. Try to check the Echo Users Keystrokes check box then try to type
letters using the keyboard. What did you notice? Record your observations
here:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. Also try to check the uses of the other checkboxes by checking on them.
Write your observations on a separate sheet of paper.
You can also change the speed, volume and pitch of the narrator. You do not to use
the control panel settings for sound as Microsoft Narrator has its own volume
settings specialized for its narrator. In order to adjust the volume and other audio
settings, do the following:
1. Click on the Microsoft Narrator Window and click on the Preferences Menu.
2. Click the Voice Settings in the submenu. The Voice Settings-Narrator
window opens.

Figure 1-4 Voice Settings-Narrator Window

3.

Now try to increase or decrease the values of the speed, volume and
pitch of the narrator. Into what values did you adjust the audio values of
your narrator?
___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________
4. Close the Voice Settings Narrator window and the main Microsoft Narrator
Window.
Now that you know how to use the Narrator tool properly, we need to now modulate
system sounds. These are the sounds used by all programs and by Windows itself.
While the narrator has its own sound settings, other independent programs dont.
So, in order to modulate them for individuals not be uncomfortable with using the
computer, do the following:
1. Go to Control Panel and click Hardware and Sound.
2. Click onto the different links below the Sound menu or click on Sound
itself, then use your skills in your previous laboratories to adjust the sound
settings of your computer. What are the steps in order to adjust the
system volume?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. Adjust the other sound settings. Apply them and close all windows.
Finally, there are also keyboard shortcuts when using the narrator tool. They are
intended to make the experience of using the Microsoft Narrator easier. To know
more on how to use them, do the following:
1. Using your web browser, visit the website http://windows.microsoft.com/isIS/windows7/Hear-text-read-aloud-with-Narrator or open the Microsoft
Narrator tool and click on the Help menu and then click on
Documentation.
2. This document contains the uses of all features of the narrator tool. It also
contains the keyboard shortcuts used in order to effectively utilize the

tool. Check on these keyboard shortcuts and try to use them while using
the Narrator tool.
3. Here is a short list of some of the keyboard shortcuts used:
Keyboard Shortcut
Ctrl+Shift+Enter
Ctrl+Shift+Spaceb
ar
Insert+Ctrl+G

To do this
Get information about the current item
Read the entire selected window

Read a description of the items that appear next to the

currently selected element
Ctrl
Stop Narrator from reading text
Insert+E
Move the cursor back to the beginning of any text that
has the same formatting. For example, the cursor
moves from the middle of a bold word to the beginning
of that word.
4. Using the same website/documentation, describe the use of the keyboard
shortcut Insert+Q in your own words.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
5. Close your web browser or the Narrator Window and the Help Window.

REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What should be adjusted so that the voice coming from the narrator is not
too high or not too low?
___________________________________________________________________________
2. Hearing challenged individuals are also helped by the narrator tool. In
what ways can the narrator tool be used to help them?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. Why are keyboard shortcuts important in using the Microsoft Narrator
tool?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Lab 1.3: USING THE ON-SCREEN KEYBOARD AND

MASTERING KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
OBJECTIVES
The goal of this lab is to make people who are not able to use the keyboard
due to physical challenges be able to use an on-screen keyboard. Keyboard
shortcuts, similar with using the regular keyboard will also be taught. After
completing this lab, you will be able to:
Use the on-screen keyboard with ease.
Know more about keyboard shortcuts and apply them in your everyday
computer usage.

MATERIALS REQUIRED

This lab requires the following:

Windows 7 operating system
Internet Access
A workgroup of 2 to 4 members

LAB PREPARATION
Before the lab begins, the instructor or lab assistant needs to do the
following:
Verify that Windows starts with no errors
Verify that internet access is accessible

ACTIVITY BACKGROUND
Some physically challenged individuals may be challenged with less fingers
and or inability to coordinate finger movements. In this case, the users
keyboard is rendered useless as it is less possible to input properly using it. It
should not hamper the user though, since Windows has its own on-screen
keyboard to still make them enjoy the use of a keyboard. The only setback is
that it needs a mouse to use. Therefore the minimum requirement is to have
the ability to click using the mouse. Finally, you will also study how to master
keyboard shortcuts as to make it easier to use the on-screen keyboard.
ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME: 30 minutes

In order to help physically challenged individuals use the keyboard by activating the
on-screen keyboard, do the following:
1. Open Accessories and open Ease of Access.
2. Click the On-Screen Keyboard.

Figure 1-5 The On-Screen Keyboard

3. The On-Screen Keyboard window opens. Describe the on-screen keyboard

as a user would describe it.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Now that you are familiarizing yourself with the tool, you now try and test the
different features and compare it with the features your keyboard has. In order to
start testing how the on-screen keyboard works, do the following:
1. In the On-Screen Keyboard. Click the Caps button. Describe what happens
to the appearance of the on-screen keyboard.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. Now, click the Shift key. Describe what happens:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. Now try to click on the Function (Fn) button and observe what happens.
Record your observations here.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
4. Try to type sentences and use other features of the On-Screen keyboard
and compare it with using the regular keyboard.
5. Click on the options button. The Options window will open.

Figure 1-6 Options window

6. In the Options window, uncheck the Use click sound checkbox and check
the Turn on numeric keypad button. Click Ok. What keys were added in the
on-screen keyboard?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
7. Click on the Options button again and try to check the other options under
the To use the On-Screen Keyboard pane.
8. Deselect the Click on Keys option and select the Scan Through Keys
option.
9. Set the scanning speed to 1 second using the slider and under the To
select a key: area, leave the Use mouse click option checked.
10.Click Ok then click on the on-screen keyboard and observe what happens
when you click onto it several times. Record your observations here:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
11.Try to use the other options by selecting them. Find out what is the most
convenient for you.
12.Close the options window and the on-screen keyboard.
After learning how to use the on-screen keyboard, you need to master using it so
that it would be easier for the physically challenged user to use. You use keyboard
shortcuts in order to shorten keyboard commands just like in a normal keyboard. To
do this, do the following:
1. Using your favourite search engine, search using the following keyword:
Windows Keyboard Shortcuts.

2. Select from the search results and record some advanced keystrokes that
are listed in this document.
3. Record five advanced keystrokes and list their respective uses here:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
4. Try to use them using the on-screen keyboard. You should be able to
lessen the time to do a task by using these keyboard shortcuts.
5. Close your Web Browser and the on-screen keyboard

REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What are the advantages of using the on-screen keyboard?
Disadvantages?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. In the on-screen keyboard options, what does the Hover Over Keys option
do?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. Using your research, what is the most used keyboard shortcut? What is its
function?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

LAB 1.4: MANAGING COMPUTER SETTINGS USING EASE

OF ACCESS CENTER
OBJECTIVES
The goal of this lab is to manage the ease of access tools in Windows and
make them work better to serve physically challenged individuals. After
completing this lab, you will be able to:
Use the Ease of Access Center to control the behaviour of ease of access
tools.

Use the Ease of Access Centers settings to cater for certain physical
challenges.

MATERIALS REQUIRED
This lab requires the following:
Windows 7 operating system
A workgroup of 2 to 4 members

LAB PREPARATION
Before the lab begins, the instructor or lab assistant needs to do the
following:
Verify that Windows starts with no errors

ACTIVITY BACKGROUND
When leaving the computer to the physically challenged user, the tools need
to run automatically upon startup, and other programs need to run without
calling them to make it convenient to the user and avoid repeating actions in
each and every startup. In order to do this, Windows created a command
center for ease of access programs which is called Ease of Access Center. In
this laboratory, you will be taught on how to manage the ease of access tools
using this and also add more settings in order to finalize your computer
settings for the physically challenged.
ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME: 30 minutes

After mastering how to use the ease of access tools and how they can help
physically challenged individuals, you will now manage these tools and integrate it
into the system. You will customize the way your system starts and the tools you
want to run and how they do it. You will need to open the Ease of Access Center. Do
the following:
1. Go to Accessories and click Ease of Access.
2. Click on Ease of Access Center.
3. The Ease of Access Center window opens.

Figure 1-7 Ease of Access Center window

In the window (Figure 1-7), you will see that the ease of access tools studied before
are also available here. This is because they are managed here and they are the
ones that will be subjected to permanent system settings. In order to use the Ease
of Access Center properly, do the following steps:
1. Check the Always read this section aloud checkbox. What did you
observe? Did it require the narrator to run to describe the section?
___________________________________________________________________________

2.

3.
4.
5.

6.

___________________________________________________________________________
Uncheck the Always read this section aloud and check the Always scan
this section checkbox. Observe what happens. Also try to check both
boxes and observe.
In the explore all settings pane, scan through the options available and
check their uses.
Click the Use the Computer without a display link. Here, the Narrator is
the tool recommended and there are other settings that can be done here.
Under the Adjust time limits and flashing visuals, check the Turn off all
unnecessary animations (when possible). Set a time limit on how long
should Windows dialog boxes stay open and then click apply.
What is the effect of doing the above settings on your computer?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

7. Click the Make the Mouse Easier to Use link and choose a mouse display
that is best suitable.
8. Under the Control the mouse with the keyboard, check the Turn on
Mouse Keys checkbox. Click apply, use your arrow keys and observe what
happens. Record your observations here.
___________________________________________________________________________
9. Also try to check and experiment with the checkboxes under the Make it
easier to manage windows. Always click apply to observe the effects.
10.Click the Make the keyboard easier to use link and under the Make it
easier to type, check on the Turn on sticky keys button. Click apply and
observe what happens when you press the Ctrl, Alt or Del buttons. What
does sticky keys do?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
11.Also try to check and experiment with the checkboxes under the Make it
easier to type. Always click apply to observe the effects.
12.Click on the Use text or visual alternatives for sounds link. Under the
Turn on visual notifications for sounds , check the Turn on visual
notifications for sounds (Sound Sentry) and choose a visual warning.
Click apply and observe what happens when you invoke Windows into
producing a sound. Record your observations here:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
13.Also try the Turn on text captions for spoken dialog and observe what
happens. Always click apply to see the effects.

REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Based from your previous research on keyboard shortcuts, what is the
keyboard shortcut for activating sticky keys?
______________________________________________________________________________
2. It is included in the options to set up high contrast in the system. What does
setting the contrast high do to help a physically challenged individual?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. What does toggle keys do and how do they help visually challenged
individuals?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4. Do you think speech recognition is a good tool provided the limitations of the
technology of voice recognition? Why or why not?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

LAB 1.5: CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR PHYSICALLY

CHALLENGED INDIVIDUALS
OBJECTIVES
The goal of this lab is to make computer troubleshooting accessible for
physically challenged individuals. Special types of communication should be
made when dealing with these customers. After completing this lab, you will
be able to:
Communicate properly to physically challenged customers.
Research ways and means to properly address computer-related problems
to physically
challenged individuals.
Simulate real-world problems.

MATERIALS REQUIRED
This lab requires the following:
Windows 7 operating system
Internet Access
A workgroup of 2 to 4 students

LAB PREPARATION

Before the lab begins, the instructor or lab assistant needs to do the
following:
Verify that Windows starts with no errors.
Verify that internet access is accessible.

ACTIVITY BACKGROUND
Customer service is one of the most important things a computer technician
should have in order to make their customers satisfied not just with the
physical results, but also the explanations made by the technician. This is
challenging in itself, but is more challenging when dealing with physically
challenged individuals. In this lab, you would try to deal with customer
service with people who are physically challenged and try to come up with
ideas on how to properly communicate with them.
ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME: 45 minutes

To talk or converse with physically challenged individuals, we must try and research
ways on how to deal with them properly without offending them and just making
them feel comfortable with you. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Use the internet to find topics on ways on how to converse to physically
challenged individuals. Fill up the following table on how to properly
converse to these individuals:
Visually Challenged

Hearing Challenged

Other Cases

2. Now that you know how to deal with them properly, we can start to know
more about advanced techniques to communicate with them. One of the
ways is to use basic sign language. As you might have probably
encountered it in the above step, it is important to have basic knowledge
about it to make it easier for conversing with hearing challenged
individuals. Study more about them and try to get technical computer
terms in sign language form.
3. In a case where the visually challenged customer gets angry, how would
you address the situation and try to make it calm again?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
After knowing how to properly converse with physically challenged individuals, you
now put it in practice in the workplace. In order to prepare for customer service
techniques for physically challenged individuals, use these steps:
1. When dealing with people who are visually challenged, you must make all
explanations be conveyed in narrative form. You should be able to express
everything in words and try to be as slow in delivering your information to
these individuals:
Suppose that you want to introduce the use of the magnifier tool to a
visually challenged person, how would you give instructions on how
he/she can make it a permanent startup process? Use the internet as a

source on the step by step procedure on how to do this.

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. In dealing with people who are hearing challenged, we should be able to
try and make things as visual as possible: If you are to introduce the voice
recognition tool to a hearing challenged individual, how would you instruct
him/her on how to go through the steps on how to get his/her voice
recognized by the computer?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. Visit this website: http://windows.microsoft.com/enUS/windows/personalization-accessibility-help and find out more on other
ways on how to deal with other situations regarding physically challenged
individuals and how Windows tools can help them. Write your findings on
a separate sheet of paper.

REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. How would we try to convince people to prioritize physically challenged
individuals by not offending them?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. If in any case we were not able to do our work correctly, how would we try
to tell that to a hearing impaired individual?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. Aside from Windows ease of access tools, are there other software
available to cater physically challenged individuals? If yes, list some here
and their respective uses.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________