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Adapted computer workstations

Preliminary note

For students who are blind or low-vision, there are 9 computer workstations at Philipps-Universität Marburg that have been adapted for people who are blind or low-vision, i.e. equipped with Braille displays, speech output, large print, etc., which were set up with the help of the Paul and Charlotte Kniese Foundation.

Maintenance and servicing is carried out by SBS in close cooperation with the university computer center.

Locations / number of workstations and equipment

The computer workstations are located in many different buildings, but each is accessible to students in all departments who are blind or low-vision. The following is a listing of each location, the number of workstations located there, and an indication of the equipment configurations in each case. All workstations are equipped with flatscreens mounted on swivel arms, scanner reading systems, an external USB jack (type B) as well as desktop speakers or headphone amplifiers.

  • Computer Lab in Humanities:
    Wilhelm-Röpke-Straße 6 (Phil.-Fak.), Block D, Ground Floor, Room 00D01, Tel.: (06421) 28 26677; E-mail:
    One workstation, additionally with a screen reader.
  • Study spots nos. 2 and 3 for students who are blind or low-vision in the University Library:
    Deutschhausstraße 9, Ground Floor, near the main counter, Tel. (06421) 28 25130; E-Mail:
    Two workstations, additionally with screen readers and a Braille printer in study spot 2.
    A third screen reader is located in Room 1, which is equipped with a computer for SBS study assistants.
  • Multimedia workroom in the University Computer Center:
    Hans-Meerwein-Straße (Uni-Lahnberge), Level 6, Room 06A07, Tel.: (06421) 28 28282; E-Mail:
    One workstation, additionally with a screen reader and Braille printer.
  • Computer lab in the Department of Psychology:
    Gutenbergstraße 18, 3rd floor, Room 02001, Tel.: (06421) 28 23723; E-Mail:
    Two workstations, and one additionally has a Braille printer.
  • School of Law Library:
    Universitätsstraße 6 (Savignyhaus), ground floor, Tel.: (06421) 28 23158; E-Mail:
    Three workstations in workrooms 3, 4 and 5 (left of main entrance), additionally with 2 screen readers (workrooms 3 and 4) and one Braille printer (workroom 5).

There are operating instructions in Braille and large print at all locations, including tips on scanning and making Braille printouts, for example.

The exact times each location is open can be found on the notices at the main entrance or in this summary.

Software

The Windows 10 operating system is installed on the computers. Screen readers are available to students who are blind or low-vision. The software is Fusion 2021 from Freedom Scientific (including JAWS for speech output and ZoomText for screen magnification and visual enhancements). Fusion loads directly on the login screen. The free screen reader NVDA is additionally available, which users can extend by means of add-ons. After logging in, you can load it by pressing the shortcut combination Ctrl+Alt+n.
The general software provided by the university (e.g. Microsoft Office) can also be used on all workstations for students who are blind or low-vision.
Furthermore, a specific app for students who are blind or low-vision called RTFC Converter is also available at all workstations.
This is a text formatting and conversion program for people who are blind or low-vision allowing digitized text templates to be prepared for later printing in Braille or to be read aloud as an audio file (e.g. in MP3 format) using a synthetic voice. The Audacity app is available for voice recordings and postprocessing. You will need to bring your own headset.

Use of other pool computers

The free NVDA screen reader/speech output app is available on many pool computers in the area.

You can pull up a view of the computer labs where NVDA is installed.

List of software packages in computer labs (internal)

Enter “NVDA” in the search filter to do this.

This way it is possible to do basic work even beyond the adapted computer workstations for students who are blind or low-vision.

Users who are blind can activate speech support during Windows login by pressing Ctrl+Left Windows+Return with Windows’ own speech output feature called “Narrator” and thereby complete login.
Users who are low-vision can use the Windows screen magnifier to enlarge the screen to log in and to further work by pressing the combination Left Windows+Plus.