Screen readers

Feel free to skip parts if you already use a screen reader.

According to the definition of wikipedia:

"A screen reader is a form of assistive technology that renders text and image content as speech or braille output."

If you don't like the voices of a screen reader, you still need one because it is also used for braille.

Here are some sources if you want to learn more about screen readers:

Screen readers are extremely useful. Even if you have enough sight to read large text. It is useful. Here is why. Visually impaired users do not only have an problem with their eyes, they have a problem with energy through out the day. You need twice as much energy to perform a task than visual people. If you want to be productive, you need to optimize as much as possible to not only be faster, but to save energy so you can invest it in the right type of activity. When I am coding, I need my energy for coming up with a good, elegant and scalable solution. That energy should not go in reading text on your screen.

Now that I have more sight, I use large text in my editor, but I still read documentation with a screen reader because it costs less energy.

If you are visually impaired, learn how to use a screen reader. It is a bit of an investment, but you earn it back with having more energy for solving problems.

First learn a screen reader on a smartphone. Why? Smartphones have simple user-interfaces. Navigating apps on a smartphone is relatively easy. This way, you can get used to the idea of navigating based on sounds instead of light.

If you learned how to use your smartphone without sight, learn a screen reader for the desktop. Desktop screen readers are more complex, but once you learned a mobile screen reader, you can make the switch!

Feel free to experiment, you'll have to figure out what works for you. Here are my quick recommendations.

Coding with eyes closed

Screen readers

Windows

Mac

Linux