LowBrowse A Firefox extension that makes browsing more accessible to users with low vision.
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LowBrowse Description

LowBrowse is a new way for those with low vision to access web documents, embodied in a Firefox extension. You'll need to know the basics of Firefox use to use LowBrowse most effectively, but Firefox is very easy to learn and use if you have experience with any other browser. In the LowBrowse way of browsing, there are two views of a web document at all times. The global frame, always shown in the lower part of the browser window, displays the web document at a relatively unmagnified scale (but see this note). The reading frame, always shown just above the global frame, displays text in the vicinity of the mouse cursor position in the global frame. This text is not a magnified image of the text in the global frame. Rather, it is re-rendered in a single, consistent way, in a manner that you can configure once for all web pages you view with your browser. Even though you may not be able to read the text or see fine details of pages in the global frame, you can use whatever vision you have to locate big features of the page such as paragraphs, lists, navigation bars, images, and the like. The features that are visible to you are the main landmarks you will have for navigating around on the page (not unlike the large landmarks in the environment that you use to navigate while walking). How does LowBrowse handle images? When your mouse cursor is over an image, you will see "IMG:" in the reading frame, followed by whatever description (Alt-text) of the image the web author placed in the document for the benefit of those who might not be able to see images (such as blind persons). LowBrowse also allows you to enlarge most images. To see an image enlarged, hold down the Ctrl key and wiggle the mouse over the image. A large-size version of the image (default zoom is 3X) will pop up, which you may further enlarge by pressing the Up-arrow key (or shrink with the Down-arrow key). When you want to remove the enlarged image from your browser, simply press the Escape key, or you can click anywhere else in the main browser window. It is important to recognize that not all images look like images. Many web pages have images that contain text, and that sometimes, you might see something that looks like text that is actually an image containing text. You can magnify such "pictures of text" using this Ctrl-wiggle technique just described, to help you see what text is rendered in them. LowBrowse gives you access to your own input text in text input fields as well. Simply hover the mouse over a text input field (such as you see commonly in search boxes). When you do so, the reading frame will reverse its foreground and background colors, and any letters you type will appear there. When you are done, press and the text you input is transferred to the text input field in the global frame. Since you may not be inclined to share your passwords in large print with whomever is in the vicinity of your computer, LowBrowse™ uses masking characters for password fields, to help maintain security of your accounts.

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