[NFBCS] Boot-time speech approaches (was Re: Jaws and Outlook)

[Doug Lee]

This is in response to the recommendation for using Narrator for boot-time speech.

Except for one scenario, I have come to believe this is the approach that makes the most sense to recommend
in general. One reason is that it minimizes security concerns between IT folk and screen reader users and
vendors. It also reduces points of dependence at the critical time of system startup, meaning for example
that I don't have to worry about which vendor to pester if things don't work right on my login screen.

But the one scenario where I do recommend a boot-time non-Narrator screen reader is this: If I am helping a
non-tech-inclined friend manage a computer remotely, such as for performing updates and configuration, a
boot-time remote-control solution that works well with speech is essential. I don't know of a better one for
this currently than NVDA and NVDA Remote. I'm all ears for alternatives on this one, with the immediate
confession that it's been a long time since I seriously sought alternatives.

On Fri, Jun 02, 2023 at 01:30:16PM +0000, NFBCS mailing list wrote:
   I changed up how my computer starts a few years ago. I switched to
   having Narrator come up on the log in screen, just as Curtis describes
   below. I did this because I thought Narrator started more quickly, and
   I wanted my computer to start talking to me as soon as possible. Once I
   log in, Narrator stops running and JAWS starts up.


   --

   Christopher (AKA CJ) =>÷

   Chaltain at Outlook, USA


   From: NFBCS <nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Curtis Chong via
   NFBCS
   Sent: Thursday, June 1, 2023 8:12 PM
   To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List' <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
   Cc: Curtis Chong <chong.curtis at gmail.com>; carcione at access.net
   Subject: Re: [NFBCS] Jaws and Outlook


   Hi Tracy:


   Sometimes, when my Outlook misbehaves, I find that recycling JAWS with
   the JAWS key plus space followed by F4 will fix the misbehavior
   problem.


   Most everyone has JAWS start up automatically. I have chosen not to do
   this, favoring instead to use Narrator during Windows login and placing
   a shortcut to JAWS in my shell:startup folder. Thus, JAWS starts up a
   little later after logging in, giving me a somewhat cleaner system. I
   got this suggestion from José in Vispero Tech Support.


   Kind regards,


   Curtis Chong



   From: NFBCS <[1]nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
   via NFBCS
   Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2023 1:09 PM
   To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List' <[2]nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
   Cc: [3]carcione at access.net
   Subject: Re: [NFBCS] Jaws and Outlook


   Hi Curtis.

   No, I’m not subscribed to MS365, nor do I want to be, really.

   It’s never worked since I installed Outlook, except in certain
   circumstances which I can’t replicate and don’t understand. I’ve had a
   Jaws update since, but nothing changed.

   It is annoying, because I have to manually read each thing as I arrow
   through, which takes a lot more time and repetitive keystrokes.

   Tracy



   From: NFBCS <[4]nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Curtis Chong via
   NFBCS
   Sent: Thursday, June 1, 2023 11:16 AM
   To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List' <[5]nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
   Cc: Curtis Chong <[6]chong.curtis at gmail.com>; [7]carcione at access.net
   Subject: Re: [NFBCS] Jaws and Outlook


   Hello Tracy:


   When, exactly, did this problem start? Was it after an Office update or
   a JAWS update?


   When you say you are running Outlook 2019, I assume you are not on the
   Microsoft 365 subscription. Is this accurate?


   I feel your pain. Not being able to hear a message summary while
   arrowing up or down through the list of messages is frustrating.


   Kind regards,


   Curtis Chong



   From: NFBCS <[8]nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
   via NFBCS
   Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2023 6:20 AM
   To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List' <[9]nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
   Cc: [10]carcione at access.net
   Subject: [NFBCS] Jaws and Outlook


   Jaws does not automatically read message titles when I arrow through my
   Outlook inbox most of the time.  I am running the latest Jaws and
   Outlook 2019.

   I have tried maximizing the window, but that doesn’t help.

   The only times it does read when I arrow is after I’ve had a Teamviewer
   session open to have AIRA help me with some web page.

   However, I tried starting Teamviewer today, without anyone connecting
   to it, and that didn’t have the same effect.


   I looked in Startup, and I only see programs I expect there.


   Anyone have any ideas?  I can call FS, but I don’t know if they’ll have
   a solution.

   Tracy

-- 
Doug Lee                 dgl at dlee.org                http://www.dlee.org
A mailing list is like a car where brakes and accelerator are the same pedal:
The effect of putting your foot down is a bit hard to predict!  (04/04/2012)