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Items tagged with: Screenreader


In-Process is out - featuring news on NVDA 2024.4.2, our new add-on survey, a very successful SPEVI 2025 conference, and a User's guide: What to do if your add-on breaks?

Read the full issue now at:
nvaccess.org/post/in-process-2…

and remember, you can now subscribe to receive In-Process via email at: eepurl.com/iuVyjo

#NVDA #NVDAsr #Blog #News #Newsletter #WhatsOn #ScreenReader #Accessibility


#Accessibility challenge: Using the #screenReader of your choice, navigate to today's TV schedule for BBC Two. From the top of the page, what is the minimum number of keystrokes you can find to switch it to the listings for tomorrow instead?

bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl97


If you're a #blind user, you should really consider #Kagi for web search. Especially if you pay for chat GPT pro, you can subscribe to Kagi instead for cheaper and get more features. But even if you don't want AI, the search page is #accessible, fast, and light-weight. And unlike other big tech companies (Microsoft and Google) Kagi still offers a cheaper plan with no AI if you don't want it. Also, because they downrank websites with ads, the more accessible results tend to be at the top. Kagi also lets you block domains from your results. So I got rid of inaccessible stuff like instagram and pinterest, and downranked YouTube, because those results aren't usually #screenreader accessible. While I don't agree with many of the opinions of the @kagihq founder (especially his decision to do business with Yandex for image search), I still feel like using Kagi is more ethical than dealing with Google or Bing, and that these are reasonable differences of opinion that reasonable people can have, not just another clownishly evil tech company. I also find the idea that if you're a paying customer, that somehow guarantees the business will treat you better, really strange. I pay a lot to my ISP and they still treat me like dirt! Kagi will almost certainly sell out at some point. But for the moment, it's where it's at for search: www.kagi.com/


For anyone following this, it looks like my answer is #readeck. The interface is #accessible, it does full text search, it archives pages, it has a browser extension, it works with #miniflux, it does the same kind of read/unread tracking that I wanted from #goodlinks, and it plays well with the rest of my things. Thanks so much to @readeck for making sure to build an interface that is fully #screenreader accessible. The only thing I'm lacking is an #IOS app. And the ability to share some labels publicly would also be neat. But otherwise, Readeck is perfect for my use-case. If you're a #blind person who wants a demo account to test it out and see if it works for you without going through all the bother of installation and set-up, send me a direct message. #a11y


The Release Candidate of NVDA 2024.4.2 is now available for testing. We encourage all users to download this RC and provide feedback.

Read more and download from: nvaccess.org/post/nvda-2024-4-…

This is a patch release to fix bugs with braille devices and reading math in Chromium. Fixed bug with with reading math in Chromium Browsers (Chrome, Edge). Humanware Brailliant BI 40X devices running firmware version 2.4 now work as expected.

#NVDA #NVDAsr #ScreenReader #Release #PreRelease #Update #Update


Are you in Brisbane this week? NV Access are at the SPEVI conference at 293 Queen Street. We're talking all things NVDA & Mick is on a panel this afternoon on "The New Frontier of Braille" about multiline displays, chaired by Ben Clare.

#SPEVI2025 #SPEVI #conference #nvda #nvdasr #accessibility #screenreader #blind #blindness #education


So is it just not possible to play #Forza horizon anymore? I restarted, and now can't set a route to get past the opening, no matter what I do. #a11y#audiogames#screenreader


@matt@toot.cafe Random question about screenreaders: Is typing every single occurrence of a hyperlinked word as a hyperlink (instead of e.g. just the first) annoying?

E.g. is

This compares [A] vs. [B].
While [A] offers better performance,
[B] uses less memory.

more annoying to listen to than
This compares [A] vs. [B].
While A offers better performance,
B uses less memory.

? Thank you!!
(if anyone else has experience with a #screenreader, please do tune in!!)


#Screenreader users: in a timed online exam, how would you expect to interact with something telling you the amount of time left?

I think having it regularly announce the time remaining is an obviously bad idea. If you know that it's labelled "Time remaining", would you just search for that text in the page when you want to check the time?

#accessibility #screenreader #VoiceOver #JAWS #NVDA


Dear friends, #screenreader users, #blind users and #accessibility professionals in particular.
Are you using chat over traditional email as provided by #DeltaChat / #DeltaLab / #ArcaneChat?
I like it uses traditional email infrastructure, is federated, supports end to end encryption, rich content including audio / voice messages. I have even recognized @adb has implemented screen reader accessibility specific features into the android app.
However I have quickly tried electron based app on linux with orca screen reader, exchanged a few messages back and fort between two of my personal accounts using the DeltaChat app and thunderbird and I haven't found the user experience verry appealing. I can't understand how to effectivelly navigate in the list of conversations and list of messages.
Therefore I would be interested to hear a few comments from people knowing this platform better. How accessible is it on different platforms?
On the desktop is the electron based app a prefered choice?
Also some other questions. For the best experience, do I need a new email address or can I use my existing self-hosted one I have already configured in thunderbird?
Ffeel free to point me to a FAQ, some up to date introductory documentation if you think my questions don't make much sense please.


I'm looking at setting up #Prometheus for monitoring my newly set up Proxmox host and the things running on it.

Has anyone done this with a #ScreenReader?

I've had to use #Grafana dashboards in the past and it wasn't great, since I couldn't get the data to show in tabular form.


The Idea Place: Clearing the Chaos: Using A Library Card and U.S. Newsstream for an Improved Reading Experience theideaplace.net/clearing-the-… #Accessibility, #Library, #News, #ScreenReader


We've been asked about it for years, and we are pleased to confirm that we have finally setup an official NV Access mailing list. You can subscribe to receive:

- Our fortnightly In-Process blog
- NV Access organisational updates
- NVDA Release announcements (Stable, and / or beta)
- Good news stories
- Job listings

To subscribe to any of the above, please go to: eepurl.com/iuVyjo

#NVDA #NVDAsr #ScreenReader #News #MailingList #Newsletter #Information #Accessibility #A11y #Blind


Not directly NVDA related, but something many of us can relate to: "Why online shopping isn't so fun for those who are blind or have low vision" abc.net.au/news/2024-12-15/onl…

#Shopping #OnlineShopping #News #Accessibility #A11y #ScreenReader #Blind


Anyone who owns a #mantis Q40 #braille display noticing that thumb and routing keys are no longer passed onto #NVDA after the v2.4 update? Lot of cool stuff, but something seems to have gone screwy #screenReader #blind #humanware


"Given the fact that NVDA has an extremely light computer resource foot print the portable version is a blessing" - Squire, South Africa / NVDA negates the barriers many face when accessing a PC, as a free and light-weight screen reader translated into more than 50 languages.

#NVDA #NVDAsr #ScreenReader #GoodNews #FOSS #Free #Lightweight #A11y


So what screen reader do you guys use? I assumed it was a waste of time for people like me (migraine-related situational impairment), because Windows Narrator has been *awful* to use for me. It never seems to read alt text or what I want it to.

EDIT: Thank you so much for all the help! I never would have actually gotten recs on Twitter or bsky.

#accessibility #ScreenReader


This International Day of People with Disabilities, we want to highlight our amazing community and how you live the theme of this year's #IDPwD "Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future"

We have just put out a blog post; every piece talks about how you, our community are empowered to take on leadership in your lives, your work, and your #ScreenReader, #NVDA - check it out here:

nvaccess.org/post/in-process-3…

#NVDAsr #idpwd2024 #Blog #News


whenever I order from a company that uses #shopify, the domain name of the confirmation emails, shopifyemail.com, sounds remarkably like "shop a female" with my #screenReader.
makes me smile every time.


Did you catch our last "In-Process" blog? Lots of handy info in there from info on NVDA 2024.4.1, to our Contributor Documentation Survey and more info on our add-on compatibility process! Find it all here: nvaccess.org/post/in-process-1…

#NVDA #NVDAsr #Blog #News #ScreenReader #Accessibility #Newsletter


Another random thing that made me happy tonight: I discovered that at some point #wordweb added a feature to disable linking of words in addon dictionaries. That makes reading definitions with a #screenreader much faster. It's a bit expensive, but if you frequently find yourself resorting to Google, or even worse #AI, to define words for you, it's worth the money and is largely #accessible as well: wordweb.info/#a11y


Calling all #Blind #Windows users! 🖥️👥 I briefly tried #Beeper after seeing another blind person recommend it, but it didn't seem the most accessible with the #JAWS #ScreenReader. Do you use any all-in-one social media apps like Shift, Franz, Ferdium, or Beeper on Windows? I'd love to hear about your experiences with #accessibility and usability. Please share your thoughts! #AssistiveTech
#tech
@mastoblind @main


I'm struggling to wrap my head around scene transitions and positioning things in #OBS on windows. If anyone is accomplished and feeling generous about answering questions as a #ScreenReader user (#NVDASR in particular) please hit me up.
I'm very happy with my audio now, multi-track, filters, all that jazz, but the visual (without eyes of my own) is proving convoluted.


Gibt es schon #Screenreader die auch Bilder beschreiben, also mit KI?


In-Process is out, featuring news on:

- NVDA 2024.4.1 which has recently been released
- NVDA Contributor Documentation Survey
- We head out and about with NV Access
- NV Access board member Emma a Change Making Finalist!
- And a deep dive into the Add-on Compatibility Process

All this and more, now available: nvaccess.org/post/in-process-1…

#NVDA #NVDAsr #ScreenReader #Blog #News #Newsletter #Survey #CurrentEvents


Calling all #blind #Windows users! I'm looking for recommendations on #accessible SSH clients that work well with #1Password. I've been using Windows Terminal, but I'm not entirely satisfied. What do you use for SSH on Windows? #Accessibility #AssistiveTech #ScreenReader #BlindTech #tech
@1password @mastoblind @main


Did you catch up on our last In-Process blog at the end of October? If you haven't yet read it (or even if you have) you'll be pleased to know I've now FIXED the table of contents links so you can easily get to:
- the 2024.4 release info
- Info about add-ons
- Emphasising stability
- Benefits for users and developers in our add-on approach
- And all about reporting font attributes

nvaccess.org/post/in-process-3…

#NVDA #NVDAsr #ScreenReader #News #Blog #Info


NVDA 2024.4.1 has been released! This is a patch release to fix a bug when saving speech symbol dictionaries. Pressing the Close button in the Symbol Pronunciation dialog will now save the symbols dictionary and close the dialog.

Full info and download at: nvaccess.org/post/nvda-2024-4-…

#NVDA #NVDAsr #ScreenReader #NewVersion #News #Update


If you've been looking for that next semi-cheap music-making fix but haven't decided what to get, consider Ableton Move.
If you look at the official videos, literature and documentation, you'd be fooled into thinking that it's not actually accessible. This is incorrect.
It runs a web-server for helping you manage samples,recordings and sets, but it also has an undocumented screen-reader which I demonstrate in this video.
Next to Komplete Kontrol, I can say that this has been the most innovative, fun and game-changing piece of hardware I've owned and I thoroughly enjoy working with it.

#InspiredBySound - Let's Move! (Ableton Move Accessibility Overview) youtu.be/p8IbinbOhY4
Excerpt from Peter Kirn's blog about Move:
‘How do I access Move with a screen reader?
Andre Louis has a walkthrough for you, as pointed out here in comments! And as always, it’s terrific. This is honestly worth a watch for sighted users, too, to understand how these interactions work – and it’s required viewing if you work in instrument design.’
cdm.link/ableton-move-guide/
#Ableton #AbletonMove #Accessibility
#ScreenReader #A11y #Blind


If you're in Adelaide today, come over to U-City for See Differently Tech Fest! James and Quentin (both camera shy) are here showing off NVDA as well as exhibits from See Differently (formally Royal Society for the blind) and many other organizations.

#NVDA #NVDAsr #ScreenReader #TechFest #TechFest2024


A Day with JAWS 2035: When Your Screen Reader Scripts Itself

The morning light filters through your smart windows, casting a warm glow across the room. Your ambient AI assistant hums gently, “Good morning, Lottie. Would you like to prepare your workspace for the day?”

“Yes, please,” you say, stretching as the AI readies your home office. The blinds adjust automatically, leaving just enough sunlight to boost your energy without causing glare on your neuro-linked glasses. You smile, reflecting on the advances in technology since the days of fiddling with manual screen reader settings and customized scripts. Those days feel like a distant memory, thanks to JAWS’ AI-powered self-scripting feature—your personal assistant that knows exactly how to handle your work routine.

“Let’s get started,” you say, and JAWS springs to life, adjusting the audio tone to your preferred voice—smooth, confident, efficient. As your desktop computer powers on, JAWS begins analysing the applications you’ve opened, sensing your usual email, project management software, and a new program you’ve recently started exploring.

JAWS’ Real-Time Autonomous Scripting: A Custom Fit

“Good morning, Lottie. I’ve detected a new application in use: ResearchHub. Would you like me to generate an initial script for it?” JAWS asks in a gentle tone, its voice coming through the bone conduction implant in your ear.

You nod. “Yes, go ahead and script it.” This isn’t just any regular software; ResearchHub is dense, designed for researchers and developers with an intricate layout. In the past, navigating such software would have required hours of manually creating scripts or waiting for accessibility support. But today, JAWS’ AI-driven self-scripting feature allows it to analyse this program’s unique design and build custom commands as you go.

“Noted. I’ll adapt based on your usage patterns,” JAWS replies, instantly highlighting an unlabelled menu item. “I’ve labelled this as ‘Data Analysis.’ Would you like a shortcut assigned for quick access?”

“Absolutely,” you reply. Moments later, JAWS has created a keystroke, Control-Shift-D, which will take you directly to the Data Analysis section.

As you dive into your tasks, JAWS continues observing your interactions, quietly scripting shortcuts and macros that save you time with each click. You switch over to an email thread about your latest project, and JAWS dynamically adjusts, making sure to read each new message aloud with just the right level of detail. It’s responsive, intuitive, and seems to understand the flow of your work better than ever.

### Adaptive Behaviour Learning: Anticipating Your Needs

JAWS has learned over time what works best for you—like knowing when you prefer concise summaries over detailed descriptions or when to read full email threads aloud. Today, though, as you work through complex calculations in ResearchHub, JAWS picks up on repeated actions, noting your frequent need to access specific data fields.

Without you having to prompt it, JAWS speaks up, “Lottie, I’ve noticed you’re navigating back and forth to the Analysis Settings panel. Would you like me to create a macro for this?”

“Yes, that’d be great,” you reply, surprised at how quickly JAWS anticipates these needs. It assigns a simple command, Control-Alt-S, making it even easier for you to access the settings. With each task, JAWS quietly observes, creating personalized shortcuts and learning how to refine your workflow without interrupting your focus.

Your screen reader feels less like a tool and more like an assistant that adapts to your habits, reducing unnecessary actions and helping you move seamlessly between applications. You take a moment to appreciate the leap from manually scripting these shortcuts to having them generated in real-time, tailored perfectly to your unique style.

Dynamic Accessibility Adjustment: Visual Recognition on the Fly

Halfway through the day, you open a report in a new format. The document is packed with complex graphics, diagrams, and untagged elements—historically a nightmare for accessibility. But JAWS, equipped with advanced AI-powered visual recognition capabilities, is ready.

“Diagram detected: This appears to be a bar graph comparing quarterly performance,” JAWS announces, automatically analysing the content. “Would you like a detailed audio description, or should I just provide the key values?”

“Let’s go with the key values,” you respond, eager to save time. In seconds, JAWS summarizes the data, translating it into accessible content without needing additional third-party support. When you encounter z buttons in another application, JAWS instantly identifies them and provides real-time labels, adjusting the accessibility on the fly.

The thought crosses your mind how revolutionary this is. You’ve moved past needing someone else to make documents or software accessible for you. Instead, your screen reader adapts and scripts the solution independently, as if it’s actively learning how best to support you.

A Collaborative Community of Scripts

As the day wraps up, JAWS asks, “Lottie, would you like to share the custom scripts I created for ResearchHub with the community repository? Other users might find them useful.”

“Yes, please,” you reply. Knowing that the scripts you and JAWS have tailored today could now benefit others brings a sense of community to your day. In the past, each user’s customization stayed personal, but today, JAWS’ community sharing feature allows anonymized scripts to be uploaded to a shared repository, where other users can download them for similar applications. This feature isn’t just a convenience—it’s a small way to contribute to something larger than yourself.

You smile, thinking about the ripple effect of this community effort. As JAWS users across industries contribute their self-generated scripts, the database grows, improving access for everyone.

Reflecting on Progress: A New Kind of Independence

As you finish your work, JAWS reads aloud your notifications, wrapping up your day with a recap. You reflect on how far technology has come since those early days of assistive devices. Back then, using a screen reader required you to work around its limitations, painstakingly scripting or finding ways to access inaccessible software. Today, your screen reader does the heavy lifting, allowing you to focus on your work without the constant barrier of inaccessible content.

Looking back, you remember those initial frustrations, the hours spent tinkering with manual scripts, and the reliance on tech support for inaccessible programs. Now, JAWS’ AI-powered self-scripting has not only given you more control but also reinforced your independence. It’s not just a tool—it’s a partner in productivity.

As you power down, you realize that technology has not replaced your determination; it has amplified it. JAWS has become a proactive assistant, predicting your needs, adjusting to your habits, and making the inaccessible accessible. With the day’s tasks complete, you feel a renewed sense of autonomy—knowing that the tools at your fingertips truly work for you, enhancing not just your productivity but your entire work experience.

The screen fades to black, and the AI’s voice recedes, leaving you with a quiet appreciation for a world where technology supports your strengths, not your limitations.

#Accessibility #AccessAssistive #AI #AssistiveTechnology #Blind #Disability #JAWS #ScreenReader


@pixelate
@FreakyFwoof

asking my #blind friends using a #screenreader to help with some input on this, or a boost, please

#a11y


Ever find it hard to keep track of links, buttons, and form fields on a cluttered webpage? NVDA’s Screen Layout feature helps! When enabled, items like links and buttons stay in their visual flow, appearing on the same line. When disabled, NVDA separates each link and control onto its own line, making navigation smoother for some users. Toggle Screen Layout on and off with NVDA+V to customize your browsing experience! #NVDA #Accessibility #ScreenReader #TechTips


Code Factory und Acapela, alternative Sprachausgaben für NVDA
Wer sich den kostenlosen Screenreader NVDA (Non Visual Desktop Access) installiert, wird mit der freien Sprachausgabe eSpeak oder den Windows-stimmen leben müssen. Diese sind brauchbar, für längeres Arbeiten allerdings eher weniger geeignet. Sie sind zwar tief in Windows integriert...
merkst.de/code-factory-acapela…
#Android #Apple #Computer #Google #JAWS #Lautsprecher #Microsoft #NVDA #Screenreader #Test #VoiceOver #Windows


Our not so spooky Halloween In-Process blog post is out - No tricks, but plenty of treats - particularly from NVDA 2024.4, including all the highlights, and the new options for reporting font attributes. Plus a big walkthrough of NVDA's stability in the leadup to 2025.1. All that and more, here: nvaccess.org/post/in-process-3…

@mastoblind

#NVDA #NVDAsr #ScreenReader #Blog #News


My first thought
man, we're so spoiled on Mastodon. There are like four #accessible web apps, multiple accessible IOS and Android apps, at least two accessible Windows apps (even if they both have some issues), and a couple accessible mac apps. As #screenreader users we can actually choose the one we like, rather than picking the one where the largest number of features actually work with a screen reader.

My Second Thought
Man, this should just be the default state of existence. #Blind folks need to demand more. But I get it, it's so easy to just accept the current state of accessibility as normal, and then be surprised by things that actually work.


Question for #screenreader users: do text emotes like kaomoji generally cause your tools to read out noise or annoying nonsense, or does it just not pronounce it? I am wondering whether it's okay to use them or whether I should go back to good old emoji (that, to my knowledge, get properly read out).

Like this one:
˚‧º·(˚ ˃̣̣̥᷄⌓˂̣̣̥᷅ )‧º·˚

#accessibility #totallyblind


NVDA 2024.4 is now available Featuring many improvements in Microsoft Office, braille & document formatting. We encourage all users to update. There's more than will fit here so please check out the full details & download from: nvaccess.org/post/nvda-2024-4/

Please note, after updating any software, it is a good idea to restart the computer. Restart by going to the Shutdown dialog, selecting “restart” and pressing ENTER.

#NVDA #NVDAsr #ScreenReader #Release #News #NewVersion #Update