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Hal Screen Reader

Hal Screen Reader
Price: $803.00
Product Code: VIS123

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Product Information

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

Intelligent screen access for visually impaired computer users

Works with VISTA

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.
  • Customize 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 synthesizer languages.
  • Quality synthesizer 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 (Synthesizer 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.

Hal Brochures

Product Brochure

DAISY Brochure

MP3 Brochure

What's New in Hal Version 9.02?

Included in version 9.02 are host of small improvements and fixes, specifically designed to enhance the version 9 user experience:

  • Version 9.02 now detects when your computer wakes up from power state changes (for example when the computer is woken up from its sleep setting), allowing you to continue working without having to restart Hal.
  • Modifications have been incorporated to allow the Dolphin Pen driven Arabic Acapela synthesiser to swap automatically between the Arabic and US English voices whenever Arabic/English text is encountered.
  • Additional improvements have been made for navigation of the internet.
  • The list utility has been improved from version 9.01.
  • Updates to your version 9 solution should be seamless due to advancements within the inbuilt Internet Updater.
  • Plus, a host of fixes and other small improvements have been developed to provide access to your favourite applications.
  • New Document Object Model Support improves navigational consistency and accuracy for users relying on Virtual Focus speech and/or Braille output on web pages. The new support also enhances stability on more complex and poorly written web pages.
  • New Internet Explorer Quick Navigation Keys enable users to surf the web quickly and easily.
  • Improved support for Office 2007 Ribbon bar.

What makes Hal special?

One of only a few fully featured screen readers in the world, Hal gives independence - not just on a desktop PC, it can be transported on a USB stick to use at any university, internet café, library or work place in the world. The benefit of this is that users can now carry their screen access, with their favorite settings with them at all times. In addition, Hal users can connect remotely on terminal servers or Citrix mainframes.

Student using HalUse your copy of Hal on any computer!
The Pen Edition makes it possible for blind and low vision computer users around the world, to walk up to any computer and find their access program running automatically and configured just the way they like it! Libraries, Internet Cafe's, schools, universities and offices will now able to welcome people with low vision to use their computers.

User friendly
Right from the word go, Hal will talk you through its automatic and user friendly installation. Hal's sophisticated technology makes all kinds of Windows applications, the Internet and email, easy to use. Hal works by recognizing and reading information from the computer screen aloud through your computer's soundcard. Screen information is also displayed in Braille for users of the many supported Braille devices. The information provided is comprehensive: Hal not only reads text but also recognizes Windows dialogs, icons, buttons, menus and controls. Hal comes complete with online and context sensitive help and full manual both in print and on audio CD. Interactive tutorials are also included to make getting started with Windows easy, and Dolphin also offers lifetime technical support by telephone and email.

The Hal control panel makes all of the most common controls easy to find and more advanced features no more than two mouse clicks or key presses away. There are three choices of control panel – full view mode, menu mode or from the system tray so whether you are a new or experienced computer user, partially sighted or blind, you can find a style that suits your needs.

Browse the Internet
With Hal, reading a web page can be as simple as reading a word processor document. Web pages are easier to navigate using Hal. Screen reading is fast, accurate and automatic. The Dolphin Links Navigator makes sorting through links on a complex web page quick and easy.

If you use the mouse, choose one of Dolphin's high visibility mouse pointers. If you prefer the keyboard, you can browse the web and replicate using a mouse using Dolphin's Virtual Focus, which can be used with applications where there is no keyboard access to areas of the screen. Hal announces graphics labels automatically and reads through frames and tables quickly and accurately. Hal also offers quick navigation keys, full spelling and attribute announcement, easy form filling, focus tracking and much more. With the Internet Updater, keeping up with Dolphin's latest software updates is as simple as clicking a button.

Reliable and automatic
Dolphin is proud of its reputation for producing well engineered, reliable products. Dolphin software has more built-in intelligence than any other screen access system. This allows Hal to work automatically with most off-the-shelf Window's applications; it can also be configured to work with complex or proprietary applications.

System compatibility
Hal is designed to meet the ever changing needs of today's IT environment. Accordingly, Hal does not alter either the operating system or application software in any way. This means that Hal is stable and reliable, whether installed on a home PC or business network server. It also ensures that your computer and software will remain compatible with that of friends and colleagues, thus keeping your lines of communications open.

Network independence
Hal Screen Reader is designed with independent operation in mind. Installed on a network or a server, Hal can be used from any terminal and can be switched on or off as required, giving the user the freedom to move around a building or campus. With many features to choose from, users can save their preferred settings and retrieve them from wherever they choose to log on.

Dolphin offers flexible licensing options and discounts for organizations with more than one Hal user.

Using the Dolphin Pen means that users of Dolphin Computer Access software can carry their software with them and instantly run it on any Dolphin Pen Friendly PC, as if it were their own home system.Introducing the Dolphin Pen
Dolphin Computer Access products Supernova, Hal, Lunar and Lunar Plus are now available to order in two separate editions: the PC Edition or the new Dolphin Pen Edition.

Using the Dolphin Pen means that users of Dolphin Computer Access software can carry their software with them and instantly run it on any Dolphin Pen Friendly PC, as if it were their own home system. Crucially, this means that the individual user’s settings are automatically applied to the system. As soon as the Dolphin Pen is removed, the software is no longer running and the PC is ready for another user to insert their Dolphin Pen and have their software running, with their own personal settings applied.

Unlike other screen access solutions, the Dolphin Pen is not installed on the PC, but instead runs from a USB Pen Drive – a small portable device, just a few centimeters long, which plugs straight into the USB port of a computer. The convenient size means that a user can carry their Dolphin Pen in their handbag or pocket, and run their access software on any Dolphin Pen Friendly PC, without the need to configure settings each time, as all user configurations are saved back to the Dolphin Pen.


Minimum System RequirementsSystem Requirements

Recommended hardware requirement

The computer equipment you intend to use needs to conform to the Microsoft hardware compatibility list for the operating system you intend to use. The Microsoft Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) for Windows Vista can be located at http://winqual.microsoft.com/HCL

The recommended Vista PC specification for Hal version 8 is:

  • Processor - Intel® Core 2 Duo™ 2.1Ghz, or Intel® Pentium™ D Processor 925 3.0Ghz, or Intel® Centrino Duo™ Mobile 1.66, or AMD® Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3600+, or equivalent or higher.
  • Memory - 1Gb or higher
  • Graphics card - "add in" AGP or PCI Express or PCI card with 256 MB memory or higher.
  • Sound card - "on-board" or "add in".
  • Hard disk - 500 MB of free space, if multiple Text To Speech (TTS) engines are to be installed then more free space will be required
  • Internet connection

The recommended XP PC specification for Hal version 8 is:

  • Processor – Intel P3 750 Mhz or AMD Athlon 750 or higher
  • Memory – 512 MB or higher
  • Graphics card – AGP "add in" card with 8 MB memory or higher (not on board)
  • Sound card – Sound Blaster 1024 or equivalent (not on board)
  • Hard disk – 125 MB of free space
  • Internet connection

Other Operating Systems

Note: 64-Bit Editions of Windows Vista operating systems are currently not supported.

Please contact us to check compatibility before attempting to install this product on any operating system other than those listed above. Customers running Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows Me and Windows 98 should contact us at 1-888-640-1999 to purchase a version 7 license which support these operating systems.

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