OS Accessibility

Linux, Mac or Windows... all have accessibility features to make their environments more usable by all... but SO MANY people don't even realize that simple modifications that can make a huge difference in the ease of accessing their systems are availble!

Although the statistics reinforce that Windows is still the mostly widely used operating system on computers, Apple and Linux are seeing huge growth at Windows expense.

Below is a brief summary of the various OS's and information on their built in accessibility features:

Linux
Linux, an open source based operating system is extrememly popular amongst developers and students. Much of the work on a Linux accessibility has been focused on the Gnome desktop. An overview of Linux accessibiltiy features may be found on the Linux Accessibility Resource Site developed by ATRC staff: http://larswiki.atrc.utoronto.ca/wiki/Software

Apple / Mac
Mac accessibility features for their computer systems are found in the Universal Access section of the System Preferences, however Mac Accessibility has extended beyond the computing platforms to address concerns around the accessibility of its software applications (including iTunes), portable music players (currently focussing on the iPod Nano) and the iPhone. Apple maintains a very descriptive website on their accessibility philosophy and work at: http://www.apple.com/accessibility/

Windows
Windows accessibility features may be accessed through the Accessibility Wizard (a guided process to adjust many - not all - of the accessibility features) and Accessibility Options in the Control Panel. In addition to the accessibility features found in the Windows OS, Microsoft also considers the accessibility of their many software products. A vast resource of information on Microsoft Accessibility products is maintained by the company at:
http://www.microsoft.com/enable