Improving Screen Magnification Using the HyperBraille Multiview Windowing Technique

A new concept for magnification software is presented, which uses different views to support the user efficiently in different situations and reveals the possibility to build upon current magnification methods and so retain features of current magnification software.

Abstract

Screen magnification is an important means to support visually impaired people when working with computers. Many improvements have been made on appropriate software. But unfortunately, in the last years, those improvements where mainly in realization detail. A number of problems remain, that, to our minds, need conceptual rethinking. In this paper, we present a new concept for magnification software. It uses different views to support the user efficiently in different situations. Thereby, it reveals the possibility to build upon current magnification methods and so retain features of current magnification software. The described views are derived from a concept that was originally developed for a tactile graphics display. We found that both topics, rendering for a tactile graphics display and screen magnification, have very much in common. Initial user feedback confirms the usefulness of the concept.