Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Zoomtext Users (self.Blind)
submitted by jelly_bean_twist
I work in the assistive tech dept at a non-profit agency servicing people who are legally blind. We give out a lot of zoomtext and jaws. I’ve noticed that about 30% of the people we give zoomtext to significantly struggles with it, usually the elders. When we give it to college students or young adults they can navigate it well but usually uninstall it later because they find it annoying or not helpful. Being fully sighted and having worked with the program for a long time I’m able to navigate and set up zoomtext configurations well but I figured I’d ask other users what the most difficult part of using zoomtext is? If I know that maybe it would help me showing people how to use it. I encourage people to use the voice echo. Sometimes they are very resistant to it but it often helps a lot. I don’t push people to use anything if they are uncomfortable with it but I would like some input from other users as to what would make it easier to use or learn and what I as a sighted technician can do to help new users. I am reaching out because I know some of the people I give it out to are hesitant to tell us if they don’t like it or don’t want to use it anymore. Thank you!
Ps: I don’t get to decided who gets what software, I just go out and install it/assist the person with getting started.
Ps: I don’t get to decided who gets what software, I just go out and install it/assist the person with getting started.
poochbrah 5 points 4y ago
For me and another colleague at work the program is very buggy it crashes often and slows down the computer significantly.
I'd say a key issue for new users would be the amount of options available and knowing what would work best for you
Sure the assessor can help set it up for you but only after using the program for a few days will you know what works for you
I am younger than my colleague and have experience in IT and software am pretty confident using the software and it fulfills my requirements but my colleague struggles with it sometimes and I've had to set up some extra keyboard shortcuts and enable some options for her.
I'd say a key issue for new users would be the amount of options available and knowing what would work best for you
Sure the assessor can help set it up for you but only after using the program for a few days will you know what works for you
I am younger than my colleague and have experience in IT and software am pretty confident using the software and it fulfills my requirements but my colleague struggles with it sometimes and I've had to set up some extra keyboard shortcuts and enable some options for her.
jelly_bean_twist [OP] 1 points 4y ago
I agree. We’ve gotten complaints from people after we installed the program asking us to come take it off. I think a lot more people just don’t use their computer after we leave and that’s a huge waste of time and money for everyone.
Drop9Reddit 4 points 4y ago
I would say that some people beyond a certain mag level it becomes far to easy to get lost on the screen. I use ZoomText 9.1 at work at zoom level 1.75 or 2x . But in general getting lost is one of the key parts. As well i found ZoomText 10, 10.1 and 11 introduced severe system lag. 2018 seems much better. To users i would say beyond 4-5x it may be time to talk dedicated screen reader vs. magnifier. Personally on my personal laptop i use a screen reader
jelly_bean_twist [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Yes! I’ve noticed the same thing. I think the biggest obstacle there is people being very resistant to giving up using a computer visually. Like I said, I can’t force anything on them but I have tried to nudge people more towards a pure screen reader if they are really struggling. It is a difficult transition to make the switch though. I struggle with Jaws because I’m used to a mouse as opposed to key commands. My coworker is blind so she usually sets up screen readers and I set up magnification.
SunnyLego 3 points 4y ago
I worked in a library and it very much slowed the computer down/took ages for computer to start up.
Laser_Lens_4 3 points 4y ago
For me it's the whole thing that makes it difficult. I use ZoomText 11 at home and work and in both places it's a buggy pile of shit. It cuts my framerate in half, it causes periodic crashes, it slows everything down despite having an i7 6700 and 16 gigs of RAM.
Besides those issues it generally slows everything down since you are seeing a fraction of the screen at a time and you have to move the mouse around to see everything. Sometimes the zoom window snaps to a different location when not wanted. The Voice makes me want to throw my PC out the window and there are plehthora of programs that aren't compatible (like Chrome, you know the most popular web browser). And even after all that they still have the audacity to charge hundreds of dollars for an individual licence.
I really can't imagine why anyone would enjoy using ZoomText.
Besides those issues it generally slows everything down since you are seeing a fraction of the screen at a time and you have to move the mouse around to see everything. Sometimes the zoom window snaps to a different location when not wanted. The Voice makes me want to throw my PC out the window and there are plehthora of programs that aren't compatible (like Chrome, you know the most popular web browser). And even after all that they still have the audacity to charge hundreds of dollars for an individual licence.
I really can't imagine why anyone would enjoy using ZoomText.
wheresmyglasses12 1 points 4y ago
"buggy pile of shit"
My thoughts exactly. I used to get the blue screen of death daily. Then I started only using Zoomtext when totally necessary. Also the Google Chrome thing is totally bullshit.
But what else are we expected to use other than Zoomtext if we want high-quality magnification with optional speech?
My thoughts exactly. I used to get the blue screen of death daily. Then I started only using Zoomtext when totally necessary. Also the Google Chrome thing is totally bullshit.
But what else are we expected to use other than Zoomtext if we want high-quality magnification with optional speech?
Drop9Reddit 1 points 4y ago
As to the framerates I agree. 2018 is a fair bit better. I still use 9.1 due to this though at work.
jelly_bean_twist [OP] 1 points 4y ago
I also get very frustrated with the lack of compatibility. I’ve had trouble using it with Edge as well, so that leaves Firefox (if they have it already) or IE. I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks zoomtext is poop. I figured if I as a fully sighted person think it’s difficult to use then it must be horrible for anyone who is low vision, especially far sighted.
lhamil64 2 points 4y ago
I've been legality blind my whole life, and have never been able to use ZoomText full time. I will try out the new versions when they get released, but ultimately there are just too many negatives.
1. As other comments have said, it really bogs down your PC, and overall just feels clunky.
2. Its harder to navigate when zoomed in so much, you'd have to constantly zoom in and out to know your place, and it's a real pain having to move your mouse back and fourth to read a web page.
3. I'm very near sighted, so getting closer to the screen is always MUCH clearer than looking at a zoomed in image from a foot away.
Ultimately, the solution I found best for me is to have a monitor arm so I can pull my monitor close to me, and maybe making some things bigger. And if I need to use a laptop or something, the built in Windows magnifier is sufficient.
One thing I have noticed though, whenever I use a Mac, I enjoy using the built on zoom on macOS much more than the one on Windows or ZoomText. I'm not really sure why it's so much better, maybe it's the smoothness? And how cleanly it zooms in when using a touchpad (because it zooms exactly with your finger rather than snapping to set levels).
1. As other comments have said, it really bogs down your PC, and overall just feels clunky.
2. Its harder to navigate when zoomed in so much, you'd have to constantly zoom in and out to know your place, and it's a real pain having to move your mouse back and fourth to read a web page.
3. I'm very near sighted, so getting closer to the screen is always MUCH clearer than looking at a zoomed in image from a foot away.
Ultimately, the solution I found best for me is to have a monitor arm so I can pull my monitor close to me, and maybe making some things bigger. And if I need to use a laptop or something, the built in Windows magnifier is sufficient.
One thing I have noticed though, whenever I use a Mac, I enjoy using the built on zoom on macOS much more than the one on Windows or ZoomText. I'm not really sure why it's so much better, maybe it's the smoothness? And how cleanly it zooms in when using a touchpad (because it zooms exactly with your finger rather than snapping to set levels).
jelly_bean_twist [OP] 1 points 4y ago
I also like the Mac zoom feature. I’ve showed it to anyone who has a Mac
SailorJimP 1 points 4y ago
I am a demanding user, now 63 YO, working at a new job in new industry, and have been using ZoomText for 15 years. I was shocked to learn today that it is using 84% of the GPU capacity on my new work laptop. I never checked \*G\*PU usage, as ZoomText tech support assured me that it does its dirty work in the \*C\*PU. I no longer think that that's true.
Zoomtext is very useful, both magnification and reader. BUT it's also a hog, and today I may have discovered why. All those years of buying new PCs and ignoring graphics stats based on ZoomText support's assurance that it doesn't use the GPU. HAH!
To address your question, ZoomText is full of quirks. Too many to catalog. Just get your users able to use a little part of the program. I use hotkeys a huge amount and I suspect that most people with low vision would want to do that. Prepare a paper chart in large or very-large print with the half-dozen or dozen most useful hotkey combinations, e.g., to engage magnifier, and Background Reader. Condense four lines describing effects of up, down, right, and left arrows into one line with u/D/L/R, etc. People with low vision can read and reason, just can't read fast.
Zoomtext is very useful, both magnification and reader. BUT it's also a hog, and today I may have discovered why. All those years of buying new PCs and ignoring graphics stats based on ZoomText support's assurance that it doesn't use the GPU. HAH!
To address your question, ZoomText is full of quirks. Too many to catalog. Just get your users able to use a little part of the program. I use hotkeys a huge amount and I suspect that most people with low vision would want to do that. Prepare a paper chart in large or very-large print with the half-dozen or dozen most useful hotkey combinations, e.g., to engage magnifier, and Background Reader. Condense four lines describing effects of up, down, right, and left arrows into one line with u/D/L/R, etc. People with low vision can read and reason, just can't read fast.
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