Bongiorno_Cameron_Blog post #4: Assistive technology
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post #4: Assistive Technology
Name and link to tool:
Coverveil https://www.east-tec.com/colorveil/.
I was interested in finding such a tool, as two siblings at
the middle school where I worked last year relied on a plastic overlay on top
of their computer screen. They experience vision problems resulting from albinism
(Mayo Clinic Staff, 2013). I believe Coverveil will be a valuable tool for them
– one that does not require them to carry along a separate plastic sheet, and
one that is easily customizable to their color preference. I think that it
could be a game changer for them!
How to locate, access, and use Coverveil:
-
Once you visit this webpage (https://www.east-tec.com/colorveil/),
you can easily download Coverveil for free on Windows or as an extension on
other operating systems (East-tec, 2025).
-
Once downloaded on Windows, the tool appears as
the icon below in the system tray.
-
To activate the veil (or filter), right-click
on the icon to access the Colorveil settings.
-
Under the Appearance tab, you will select the
color filter of your choice. To do this, click “Pick…” to access an array of
colors, or click “Random” if you do not have a color preference. If you already
know the name of the color or its code, you can simply type that in the box.
-
Once you have chosen the color filter, you must
select the opacity of the filter – how opaque the filter will appear over the
computer screen. The slide marker moves from 1 – 99%.
-
Then click on “Turn on veil” for your color
veil to appear over your computer screen.
-
To remove the color filter, left-click on the
Colorveil icon in the systems tray.
-
Or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + F11 to
toggle on or off the color veil.
-
If you or your student prefers that the color filter
automatically appear over the screen upon starting the computer, check the box “Start
Colorveil on system startup” under the General tab in the Colorveil settings.
Online resources for more information and help:
-
This is a YouTube video titled “Using Colorveil”
that provides more information about this digital tool. Access it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAaDu1ljlJo.
-
Use this link https://iccollege.org.uk/Portals/0/LFH/How
To/How to Use ColorVeil at home.pdf?ver=X-POBgy1VOpUiDqrcqo0gw%3d%3d to
access step-by-step instructions titled “How to Use Colorveil at Home”. (Irlam
and Cadishead Academy, 2021). A teacher or librarian can give this link to
students and parents or print out copies to hand to them.
How Colorveil can be used as an assistive tool:
According to East-tec, the company that
created and produced this tool, Colorveil is a product that can assist people
who have dyslexia and Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome (SSS) East-tec, 2025). Da Silva
Miyasaka et al. (2019) explain that:
Scotopic
sensitivity syndrome, later called Meares-Irlen syndrome or simply Irlen
syndrome (IS)
has been described as symptoms of poor reading ability due to poor
color matching
and distorted graphic images. Individuals with this syndrome are
considered slow,
ineffective readers with low comprehension and visual fatigue
(p.194).
East-tec explains that the use of Coverveil can also reduce
eye strain caused by screen brightness (East-tec, 2025). This company further suggests
using the orange color filter to alleviate sleep deprivation caused by exposure
to blue light. Coverveil is an amazing tool that can be helpful to all who use
computers!
References
East-tec. (2025). Coverveil. https://www.east-tec.com/colorveil/
Da Silva Miyasaka, J., Gonzaga Vieira, R., Novalo-Goto, E.S,. Montagna, E., &
Wajnsztejn R. (2019).
Irlen syndrome: Systematic review and level of evidence
analysis. Arq
Neuropsiquiatr. 77(3),194-207. https://doi.org/10.1590/0004-
282X20190014
Irlam and Cadishead Academy. (2021). How to guides: How
to install a colour overlay to
your
screen. https://iccollege.org.uk/learning-from-home/how-to-guides
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2013). Albinism.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/albinism/symptoms-causes/syc-20369184
This is a very interesting technology Cameron. I personally use Dark Mode on most of my devices whenever possible because until recently I have worked multiple jobs that required me to look at screens more than 12 hours a day, on top of having to access personal attributes on devices. Dark mode was so much better on my eyes and my sleep hygiene, but not every website has that option. I know students who are looking at screens just as much for both academic and personal reasons, this could be quite helpful. I am unfamiliar with Irlen syndrome, but I will look into it some more and how this technology can help them.
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