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Please
find below instructions on how to make chess software accessible
to blind or partially sighted people.
Introduction
There
are many pieces of chess software on the market, most of which,
unfortunately, are not very accessible. The B.C.A. have contacted
many of the suppliers in an attempt to request them to keep
accessibility in mind when designing a new application.
Luckily
though, we have technical experts within our association, who
have worked industriously to discover ways in which we can make
the most popular pieces of software more accessible.
If
you are aware of any other software, that could be made user-friendly
for blind or partially sighted chess players, please contact
us and give us details.
Email
us
Fritz
We
have discovered that the “Fritz” chess software
is the most accessible for visually impaired people. Earlier
versions, such as Fritz 7, 8, and 9, needed little tweaking
to make them extremely accessible, as they have an in-built
audio-move announcement feature, that allows the user to interact
with the software successfully.
However,
in later versions of Fritz, some alterations of the settings
are required and we will provide details here on how to accomplish
this.
For
information concerning the “Fritz” chess software,
click on the following link:
Click
here for details on the Fritz Chess software
Winboard
The
“Winboard” chess software also has features built
within it, which makes it accessible to visually impaired people.
Click
here to download the Winboard chess software
Online chess playing
There
are a number of chess websites out there that are accessible
when using a speech synthesizer, such as “Jaws”.
Indeed, the Fritz “play online” and “Chessbase”
websites are more than adequate.
However,
the world-wide renowned “International Chess Club”,
which can be found at
http://www.chessclub.com
Allows
people to play against other people online.
However, to use their software “Blitz-in”, blind
or partially sighted people will require a plug-in, called “Blitz-in
speak-move”, which will announce the moves, messages and
all the other features of the server.
Click
here to download the Blitz-in Speak-move plug-in.
Assistance or advice
For
any other assistance or advice on accessible chess software
for visually impaired people, please contact us and we will
make every attempt to give you technical support.
email
us
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