Aims and objectives
This module will:
- introduce you to the concepts of accessibility and universal design
- show you how to create accessible content
- give you examples of study hacks which can help to make your digital life easier.
After completing this module, you will be able to:
- understand the importance of accessibility online
- create accessible content
- find and use productivity tools as study hacks.
4. Study hacks
Many of the tools specifically designed to improve the accessibility of online content have been widely adopted by many types of users and marketed by companies as general productivity tools. Using these tools can be a great way to hack your studies.
Disability-led innovations for the masses (YouTube, 18m35s) demonstrates how accessible technologies have been at the forefront of digital innovation for decades, and how current assistive technologies can help us predict the future of computers.
Productivity = flexibility
If you enter 'productivity tools' into a search engine, you'll find lists of apps and programs with all sorts of different features to help with all aspects of your life. As individuals, we all have different preferences for how we work. Technologies originally designed to be assistive can have major benefits for all of us. They can assist us with everyday tasks, such as reading and taking notes, to provide a flexible approach to how we work and study. Why not try out some of these tools to see if they might help you?
Tools for all
A lot of operating systems, both for computers and mobile devices, come with a host of inbuilt features designed for accessibility which can also be used as productivity tools. For more about these in-built features see the Apple accessibility and Windows accessibility pages.
Most browsers also have a number of accessibility options that users can change to suit their needs. There are also lots of different browser extensions available to improve web accessibility. ATbar is an example of this kind of extension which has a host of accessibility features for different users. It allows you to magnify text, change the colour contrast of a web page, and even read passages aloud all from one place, without having to change settings for individual web pages.
Text-to-speech
Some people find it easier to take in information when it's read aloud, so many programs now offer text-to-speech tools. These tools are different to screen readers because they are used to read specific text rather than everything on the screen. This means that they don't require the same level of expertise to use. These have different features in terms of how much text will be read at a time and whether they will read only from documents or from other sources of information.
| Tool | Platform | Free? | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balabolka | Windows | Yes |
|
| NaturalReader | Browser based | Yes (premium options) |
|
| SelectionReader | Google Chrome | Yes |
|
| Select to Speak | Android | Yes |
|
| Speech | Mac | Yes |
|
Speech-to-text
Voice recognition still seems like a futuristic tool to some, but it's a growing industry, with many smart assistants such as the Google Home and Amazon Echo now using voice recognition functions to identify users and personalise their experiences. It's also one of the key ways that certain groups of people interact with their digital devices.
| Tool | Platform | Free? | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dictation | Mac (also available for iOS) | Yes |
|
| Dictation | Windows | Yes |
|
| Voice Typing | Google Docs | Yes |
|
| Dragon | Windows, Mac, iOS and Android | No |
|
Extract text from an image
Sometimes text is contained in an image. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software can extract the text from an image and convert it into editable text that you can copy or read aloud.
| Tool | Platform | Free? | How to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copyfish | Browser extensions: | Yes |
|
| Google Drive | Works in the online version | Yes |
The text from the image will appear in the document. |
| OneNote | Requires the desktop version and OneDrive | Yes
|
|
Notetaking
Taking notes is a big part of studying and work for many people, so here are a few tools to help make it easier.
| Tool | Platform | Free? | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| RemNote | Web browser or download options (Windows, Mac, Linux, Android) | Yes Free and paid plans |
|
| Evernote | Many available | Yes (premium options) |
|
| OneNote | Web browser and desktop | Yes
|
|
| Learning Tools | Microsoft Office | Yes |
|
Organisation
The huge amount of information that we create means it can be difficult to keep ourselves organised. Luckily, plenty of help is available to organise notes, files, tasks and processes.
| Tool | Platform | Free? | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| OneDrive | Web browser or desktop (Windows, Apple, Android) | Yes
|
|
| Dropbox | Many available | Yes (premium options) |
|
| IFTTT | Android and iOS | Yes |
|
| Password manager | Many available | Yes (premium options) |
|
| Microsoft To Do | Android, Windows and iOS | Yes |
|
Mindfulness
We live in a very busy and distracting world, so taking time out can be a challenge but is essential for maintaining your health and wellbeing. The apps suggested below are all aimed at looking after your mental and physical wellness.
| Tool | Platform | Free? | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
iOS, Android and web browser | Yes |
| |
| Sanvello | iOS, Android and web browser | Yes (in-app purchases) |
|
| Screentime | iOS | Yes |
|
| SafeZone | iOS and Android | Yes |
|
Learn more:
- check this great list of digital productivity tools by the University of Kent
- read this article about using assistive and accessible technology in teaching and learning.
Duration: 
Approximately 20 minutes
Graduate attributes
Knowledge and skills you can gain to contribute to your Graduate attributes:
Effective communication
Ethical and social understanding
Check your knowledge
Check what you know about this topic:
Support at UQ
Access UQ services to assist you with personal or study-related issues.
