Hearing aids, magnifiers and talking computers
A hearing aid makes sounds clearer for people who find it hard to hear. Some can connect to a phone, so that the person can change the sound from the phone. Screen magnification software makes words and pictures on a screen much bigger, so people who find small print hard to see can read it. Text-to-speech software reads written words aloud. Speech-to-text software does the opposite: it listens and writes what a person says. Together they help people read, write and talk to others. Each tool solves a different problem, so we match the tool to the need.
| Need | Tool that helps |
|---|---|
| Hear more clearly | hearing aid |
| See small print | screen magnification |
| Listen to a written page | text-to-speech |
| Write by speaking | speech-to-text |
Match the need. Write four needs on cards and four tools on other cards (see the table). Mix them up and match them with a partner. Then pick one need and act out a short scene in which the tool helps someone, with respect and no jokes about the person.