Hal

What is Hal?
Developed for blind computer users, Hal is a software screen reader that works by reading the screen interactively and communicating through a speech synthesiser or a refreshable Braille display.

Who uses Hal?
Hal has been developed for blind computer users, at home, at work and in education.

Key benefits:

• Hal talks as you type, announcing words or characters so you can check what you write.
• A single key allows you to read an entire document, email or web page.
• Fast and accurate multilingual Braille output for text at your fingertips (Grade 1 & 2 computer or literary Braille supported).
• Access complex websites with ease by choosing to list links, headings or frames.
• Read image labels, font styles, Windows menus and icons for easy navigation.
• Full support of popular applications including PDF documents, form filling, PowerPoint, Word & Email.
• Customise the speed and volume of the voice and control the level of detail and punctuation that is spoken or sent to Braille.
• Focus highlight and on-screen Braille assists those with residual vision, sighted teachers & helpers.
• True multi language support, choice of over 20 languages and different synthesiser languages.
• Quality synthesiser included, delivering clear speech and intelligent pronunciation even at high speeds.
• Automatic software updates via the Internet ensure you always use the latest version.
• Works with most applications from the box, others can usually be mapped.
• Includes SAM (Synthesiser Access Manager) for easy support of third-party synths and Braille displays.
• Runs on many operating systems, network installations, Terminal Server and Citrix support.
• Choice of control panel for accessing features and functions and user selectable range of hotkey shortcuts provide ease of use and requires minimal training.

Is Hal the right product for you?

Optelec also offer the following computer access software solutions:

Lunar / LunarPlus
For low vision computer users who find it difficult to read from the screen of the computer, whether it is text, graphics, toolbars, icons or emails.  Lunar and LunarPlus can offer the ideal magnification solution.

SuperNova
Combining all the features of Lunar and Hal for a combined screen-reader/enlarger solution offering comprehensive computer access to visually impaired people.



Price list

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