How to use the website for visually impaired people (Tutorial)

In this tutorial we’ll show you how to use Windows Narrator – a useful application for visually impaired individuals. Windows Narrator is a screen saver included in Microsoft Windows. Narrator reads dialog boxes and window commands in a series of Windows basic applications. Developed in 2000, the utility has made the Windows operating system more accessible to blind and / or visually impaired users.

While Microsoft recommends the purchase of a full-featured screen reader for general computer use, Narrator is a sufficient accessibility application. Narrator is included in every copy of the Microsoft Windows operating system, providing a Windows access measure without the need to install additional software as long as the computer used includes a sound card and speakers or headphones.

Windows Narrator can be enabled by following the steps:

1. Click the Start button, All Programs, Accessories, Ease of Access, Narrator.

 

2. Windows Narrator will start reading the information in the active window. To stop the Windows Narrator, press the Control key.

3. We also have the Windows Narrator configuration window:

  • Echo User’s Keystrokes: read what you are writing.
  • Announce System Messages: reads background messages
  • Announce Scroll Notifications: Announce when page scrolls.
  • Start Narrator Minimized: Displays the Narrator in the toolbar when it is turned on.

4. To listen to a Narrator tutorial, choose Quick Help in the Narrator window.

5. To change your voice settings, choose Voice Settings in the Narrator window. This action will open a pop-up window with a menu that will give you the option to adjust narration rate, tone, and volume.

6. To close the Speller, click Exit – the app will stop reading information on the screen.

Very useful are the following shortcuts that can be used to interact with the Windows Narrator application:

Press the key combination to get the action:

Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter

Start sau Stop Narrator

Caps lock + Esc

Stop Narrator

Windows logo key + Ctrl + N

Deschide setari Narrator

Caps lock + 1

Porneste invatare

Caps lock + M

Start citire

Ctrl

Stop citire

Caps lock + Spacebar

Start Sau stop mod scan

Caps lock + Right arrow

Mergi la urmatorul item

Caps lock + Left arrow

Mergi la itemul anterior

Caps lock + Up or Down arrow

Schimba aranjarea

Caps lock + F1

Arata lista de comenzi Narrator

Caps lock + F2

Arata lista de comenzi pentru itemul prezent

A complete list of shortcuts can be found by following this link.