Hal Screen Reader

Hal version 8 has been developed following an extensive customer research and feedback program. All of the new features and functionality have been designed to make your software even more user-friendly and intuitive. Many new and powerful features have been added that will ensure you get the best out of your computer, whatever your level of sight.

• The user will now benefit from a huge advancement in Virtual Focus.  Your Virtual Focus position will be remembered even when the browser window is covered up or minimized.  This means that the Virtual Focus will remember your position when browsing web pages across the multiple tab function in Internet Explorer 7.  It will even remember your position(s) if you are using multiple browser windows when comparing information across several different sites.
• The Braille line displays in Word has been developed.  Now when an area of text within Word is highlighted the Braille line will display this highlighted section.
• The installation process has been redesigned to ensure a fluid and quick process of installing the software.
• The Authentication system has been updated to avoid 30 day demo issues and error codes. 
• Compatibility issues between version 8 Dolphin Pens and older versions has been resolved. 
• The default color used for highlighting the Virtual Focus and Document Read position has been changed to create a higher contrast for the end user.

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.

Use your copy of Hal on any computer!
Hal Standard and Professional versions are also available in USB Pen Drive Editions. As many customers have a need for accommodations on multiple computers or within a shared computer environment 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.

Professional Edition
Simple, comprehensive and flexible configuration is the secret to Hal's Professional edition. It can solve IT accessibility issues for a business's staff and customers quickly and cost-effectively. Business software applications, corporate intranets and databases are often designed without consideration for visually impaired users but the flexibility of Hal Professional means it can be quickly trained to deal with even the most complex applications.

The benefits of Hal Professional are particularly valuable in the workplace. Employees in fast moving IT environments, such as call centers and banks, can set Hal to give them exactly the information they want through speech or Braille. Hal Professional also improves access to web sites, bespoke databases, and to mainframe data and applications through Telnet and terminal emulation software.

Despite the advanced technology involved, configuration is straightforward. This means businesses do not have to pay out vast sums for scripting consultants or computer programmers to write new accessible software. The technology behind Hal Professional may be complex - but as a result, its operation is easy.



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.



 
System 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.