Workstation for Blind and Partially Sighted Users

The workstation is available for all blind and partially sighted members of Hannover universities and colleges. Currently, blind and partially sighted users of other Hannover libraries can also use the workstation, to the extent that this fits in with the workstation's primary interest group.

The Windows XP-based workstation enables users to scan in printed materials, acoustically reproduce texts by means of a synthetic text-to-speech system, read texts in Braille using a Braille keyboard, print out texts using a Braille printer or a black and white printer, conduct Internet searches, save files to disk, USB stick or CD, check files for viruses, work with a word processing programme (MS Word 2003), access the network CD-ROMs (only available for partially sighted users), and access Sehkon (Dortmund University Library's online catalogue for users with impaired vision). Partially sighted users can display texts etc. in large-scale formats using the Magic software. Furthermore, a reading device with a camera is available for partially sighted users. Texts can be made up to 36 times bigger on a 24" monitor.
 
You can find the workspace on the ground floor of the Specialized Library at Königsworther Platz. Once you have received a brief technical training on how to use the devices and how the process is set up, then the workstation is available to trained users at any time during the library's opening hours.

We would be grateful if you could make an appointment to attend the brief technical training on how to use the devices. The training does not include information on how to use computers in general. On request, an introduction can also be given to conducting searches in the catalogues and/or JURIS.

We recommend that you reserve the workstation in advance.