Summarize Argument
The author concludes that visually impaired people can more easily access information from computers than from traditional sources. This is because little printed information is visually accessible, whereas computer technologies can make a vast array of information visually accessible.
Notable Assumptions
For information to be “more easily accessible” to visually impaired people, the author assumes that visually impaired people have access to the right hardware and software. If this wasn’t the case, then such information wouldn’t be accessible to visually impaired people.
A
A computerized speech synthesizer is often less expensive than a complete library of audiotapes.
These are both visually accessible ways of consuming information. We don’t care which is the more expensive of these two.
B
Relatively easy-to-use computer systems that can read information aloud, display it in large type, or produce a braille version of it are widely available.
Hardware and software were potential barriers to access in the author’s argument, since it’s not a given visually impaired people have access to the right tools. This tells us they do have access to those tools.
C
Many visually impaired people prefer traditional sources of information to computers that can read information aloud, display it in large type, or produce a braille version of it.
We don’t care what they prefer. The author is simply stating the visually impaired people will have access to more information.
D
Most visually impaired people who have access to information via computer also have access to this same information via more traditional sources.
This weakens the author’s argument by stating that most visually impaired people will consume no new information on computers.
E
The rate at which printed information is converted into formats easily accessible to visually impaired people will increase.
At best, this leaves the author’s argument neutral. At worst, this weakens the author’s argument by showing that printed information is catching up to computer information.