More than almost anything else, the advance of technology has allowed people with vision loss to be fully integrated into the modern workplace. These days, vision loss need not be a barrier to a productive work life. However, many common office products, such as copy machines, vary in their levels of accessibility. Two manufacturers have released copy machines with speech output and other more accessible features to ensure that they can be operated easily by everyone on staff. AFB TECH has devoted a number of studies to determining which copy machines offer employers best and most economical options with regard to accessibility.

Product Evaluations

Huffman, L. A., Uslan, M. M., Burton, D. M., & Eghtesadi, C. (in press). A study of multifunctional document centers that are accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 103.

Canon Extends Copy Machine Access with Its New Voice Operation Kit, AccessWorld®, Vol. 8, No. 1, January 2007.

Accessing the Machine: Two Solutions for Using Large Multifunctional Copy Machines, AccessWorld®, Vol. 7, No. 4, July 2006.

Man versus Machine: A Review of Multifunctional Desktop Copiers, AccessWorld®, Vol. 7, No. 3, May 2006.

Can You Make Me Some Copies, Please?, AccessWorld®, Vol. 7, No. 2, March 2006.