EZReader: The Software Suite for Low Vision
Steve Kelley
What if you could make a Windows computer a little easier to use? A little more intuitive, particularly for those who didn't grow up with Windows? A little easier to see, with larger text and more contrast? Menu options that are bigger, easier to find, and less confusing? Meet EZReader software and the man behind it, Gary Beene.
EZReader began over 10 years ago as an effort to modify Windows to make it easier to use for a family member with macular degeneration. With 30 years' experience at Texas Instruments and another decade as a programmer, Beene was up for the task and began adding elements and apps to Windows to make it easier to use for someone with low vision, beginning with a book reader app that can be customized with larger font sizes and high-contrast colors and that reads aloud.
What is EZReader?
EZReader is software that is added to Windows and creates a new taskbar that is customizable and more accessible for a user with low vision. It provides quick access to a suite of apps like email, the web, notes, YouTube, and many more. When EZReader is started, an overlay of the 12 most popular apps appears at the bottom of the screen. Users can choose which appear here, change the size and colors of the taskbar, and even change the icons to letters. Included in the taskbar is an exit icon to remove EZReader from the screen and an icon that opens a grid with all the other apps available in EZReader—currently more than 100.
EZReader incorporates custom-designed apps like Book Reader, EZBible, EZWriter, and an email client. Some apps use standard Windows applications like Google Chrome with an additional menu bar added. What remains constant throughout the software and apps is an enlarged, bold set of menu icons that appear at the top of the app. For example, the Chrome app appears much the same as it does in Windows, with the addition of several icons for basic functions added to the top right of the app window. Some of these include bold left and right arrows for back and forward, a plus and minus for screen magnification, a speech icon that will read copied text aloud, a high-contrast icon to invert the colors of the window, and a large X to close the app and return to the main taskbar.
Users can adjust the settings so that menu items are spoken aloud as the mouse hovers over the icons. It is worth noting, too, that EZReader is designed to be used with a touch screen, mouse, or simple keyboard commands. For example, from the taskbar, Google Chrome can be opened by double-clicking the icon with the mouse, touching the G icon with a finger, or pressing a shortcut on the keyboard. When the mouse pointer is placed over an icon, the name and keyboard shortcut appear. If the settings are set to speak the icons, both the name of the icon and keyboard shortcut are also spoken aloud. Where speech is available, the voice may be customized to male or female, and the voice rate may be adjusted.
Getting Started
Getting started with EZReader can be done in several ways. Users can download the EZReader software from the New Vision Concepts website and install it themselves, call New Vision Concepts tech support to install the software remotely on a PC, or order a complete Windows system from New Vision Concepts, which has EZReader already installed. The complete system includes an all-in-one computer with a touch screen monitor, keyboard and mouse, and a camera that enables EZReader to be used as a video magnifier or print document viewer.
Support
One of the unique advantages of EZReader is the customer support and training that New Vision Concepts currently offers. As noted above, New Vision Concepts will install EZReader on an existing Windows computer. Customers then receive one-on-one training by phone and TeamViewer to get them started. TeamViewer is an app installed on customers' computers to allow a remote user, like New Vision Concepts tech support, to demonstrate the software and make changes to it remotely.
To date, there is no time limit to the support offered during business hours. In addition to the one-on-one support, the New Vision Concepts website offers FAQs, descriptions, and video tutorials of the taskbar and most common apps.
It's Worth Noting
New Vision Concepts offers several free stand-alone apps specifically designed to be used with keyboard commands and text-to-speech built into the application. EZWriter, EZBible, and AudioBible are free to download and are also included in the EZReader suite of apps. It is worth noting, however, that EZReader is not designed to be completely accessible with Windows Narrator, or at least the taskbar and menu items are not. An icon is provided in the main grid to open Narrator, which might be used to read a webpage, for example, in the Google app, but within EZReader, the standard Windows accessibility tools and their shortcuts have limited use.
Although EZReader opens within Windows, it is ideally suited for users to work with the EZReader taskbar while it is open on the screen. For example, by default, on the main taskbar and some other app menus, icons for magnification and high contrast appear. Both icons start the Windows Magnifier and invert colors features within Windows Accessibility. It was this writer's observation that using the standard Windows Accessibility shortcuts for these features when EZReader was open on the desktop worked, but didn't consistently synchronize with EZReader, leading to odd performance—like the desktop having inverted colors while the applications still had the default colors, or magnification working only within the app window instead of the full screen. If these features were started and stopped within EZReader when it was turned on, they remained stable and predictable. So, for users accustomed to some of the Windows accessibility features, turn them off before starting EZReader and use them from within the EZReader suite for best results.
With the notable exceptions of the free, stand-alone apps mentioned above, EZReader is software designed to make many everyday computer tasks simpler by incorporating larger text, greater contrast, and some speech support for menu items and specific reading tasks.
At a Glance
Introduction videos to the taskbar, available from the New Vision Concepts website, provide a look at the experience users can expect with EZReader. The taskbar opens at the bottom of the screen and is in high-contrast mode by default. Press the R key on the keyboard to resize the taskbar. Press the C key to change the colors on the taskbar to one of the four defaults: white icons on black; yellow icons on black; yellow icons on blue; and black icons on white. Custom colors can be set for any one of these defaults by opening the settings.
The default taskbar includes some of the most frequently used app icons, although users can also customize the apps appearing on the taskbar in settings. The icon on the bottom left will close the taskbar. The icon to the right is the Centerbar icon, which opens the complete suite of EZReader apps. By default, screen magnifier and high-contrast icons are available for quick access. Other icons on the default taskbar include TeamViewer for tech support, Notes, Google, Camera, Solitaire, and more. Touch or click any of the icons to open the corresponding app. When the mouse is hovered over an icon, the name of the app will appear with a shortcut that can also be used. If speech is turned on in the settings for the mouse hover, these will be read aloud.
EZReader apps
As mentioned above, the apps used in EZReader are customized apps designed for low vision users with bold text, contrast, and ease of use. If the standard Windows application is used, as in the case of the Google app, the standard Chrome app opens in full screen, with a bold, customized menu added.
EZReader menus are standardized, appearing at the top, with a close icon on the left, often including a play icon to read text, as in the Book Reader or Bible, magnification, high contrast, and other items related to the app. On the far right of the menu is an icon for more menu items that will replace the existing row of options. Closing the app returns the user to the taskbar.
The growing suite of apps includes a variety of games, a typing tutor, utilities to add books to the book reader, including converting Kindle books, a spreadsheet, calendar, contacts, email, and much more. To explore some of these apps in more detail or for a more in-depth look into the EZReader taskbar and apps, check out the many tutorial videos on the New Vision Concepts website. Another great resource for more information is the Blind Life Review of EZReader.
The Bottom Line
One of the big advantages to a software suite like EZReader is that it was designed from the ground up for computer users with low vision and for those who may not have a lot of background with standard Windows applications. The learning curve will be reduced and ease of use improved for many users, so tasks like email, editing, and reading can be done more quickly and with greater ease. A significant benefit for many users will also be the tech support access for initial training and assistance when using the software. EZReader can be downloaded from the New Vision Concepts website. The EZReader software suite is available for purchase from the website for $1550 and installed on a new, large-monitor, all-in-one system with a document camera for $4100. For more information, contact Gary Beene by email at gbeene@airmail.net or call 214-668-9913.