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<DIV>Jane, </DIV>
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<DIV>Thanks for sharing. By any chance do you know who wrote this
article/review? I didn’t see the author’s name listed in the
message. </DIV>
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<DIV>Eileen</DIV>
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<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=njtechdiv@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:njtechdiv@nfbnet.org">Janie Degenshein via Njtechdiv</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, August 9, 2016 1:43 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=njtechdiv@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:njtechdiv@nfbnet.org">New Jersey Technology Division List</A>
</DIV>
<DIV><B>Cc:</B> <A title=jdegen16@comcast.net
href="mailto:jdegen16@comcast.net">Janie Degenshein</A> ; <A
title=nfbnj1@verizon.net href="mailto:nfbnj1@verizon.net">joe ruffalo</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> [Njtechdiv] ranking the three screen readers with windows
10 anniversary update</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV
style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline'>I
got this from one of the many lists I belong to and thought I would share
<BR>this one man's opinion<BR><BR>Ranking Screen Readers In Windows10
Anniversary Update: The Results Will <BR>Surprise You!<BR><BR>James Oates On
August 9, 2016<BR><BR><BR>Share via Twitter<BR>Share via Facebook<BR>Share via
Google<BR>Share via Email<BR>Share via Reddit<BR>Share via LinkedIn<BR><BR>In
this article, I will attempt to review and rank three of the most popular
<BR>current screen readers that are available at this time. The three screen
<BR>readers were tested on the most recent version of Windows 10 anniversary
<BR>update. This is important because one of the screen readers is Microsoft’s
<BR>most recently updated Narrator. Although ranking the screen readers might
<BR>prove to be quite controversial, I think it can also open up a real
discussion <BR>on which screen readers are most accessible, and even the
question of <BR>accessibility can sometimes be up for debate. I do realize that
accessibility <BR>is determined by personal needs and preferences, so I will
attempt to define <BR>the criteria I used for accessibility in this
review.<BR><BR>What Is Accessibility?<BR><BR>Quite simply, I determined that
accessibility is the ability to access that <BR>which needs to be accessed.
Also, I take points off accessibility for the <BR>screen readers that make it
difficult to access material by being <BR>dysfunctional or by making it very
difficult to figure out which keystrokes <BR>need to be used with the material.
Some screen readers make you use ridiculous <BR>key combinations to activate
website elements or functions within <BR>applications. So without further ado,
here are the rankings!<BR><BR>Number One: Microsoft Narrator!<BR><BR>It took me
about a day to get used to the screen reader, but once I did, I <BR>realized
what a powerful tool Microsoft had created and that the company was <BR>finally
serious about supporting a built-in screen reader for the blind. In <BR>fact,
the only thing I could find wrong with the screen reader was that it did <BR>not
work with my braille display. I am currently working with Microsoft and <BR>HIMS
to see if this problem can be resolved. Besides that one issue, the <BR>screen
reader was fully accessible on all websites and applications. I tested <BR>the
screen readers on Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Groove Music, Skype,
<BR>Dropbox, Microsoft Word, Audacity, Feedback, and the Settings app. Narrator
<BR>now uses something called scan mode. You can toggle this on and off by
<BR>pressing caps lock and space bar. When scan mode is off, you can tab through
<BR>active elements, use Windows keyboard commands, and navigate by means of
your <BR>preferred preference; such as, items, headings, and paragraphs. When
scan mode <BR>is on, you can navigate through everything on the screen—that
includes text, <BR>website elements, and application controls—by using the tab
key, arrowing <BR>around the screen, or employing letter navigation. How often
has your screen <BR>reader announced; “OK button”. And you are wondering; “What
am I saying OK <BR>to?” When scan mode is turned on, you can just arrow up and
read the text <BR>associated with that button. You do need to toggle scan mode
off when you want <BR>to use keyboard commands such as control P to pause a
music track or alt F4 to <BR>close an application. This was the only screen
reader that was fully <BR>functional using Microsoft Edge. It was also the only
screen reader that was <BR>able to read every active element and all text on
each website and <BR>application. Clearly, hands down, Narrator is the
winner!<BR><BR>Second-Place Goes to NVDA.<BR><BR>NVDA performed mostly well. The
problem is it uses a function called browse <BR>mode that doesn’t actually work
at this time. You’re supposed to be able to <BR>toggle between focus and browse
modes by pressing insert plus spacebar. It’s <BR>supposed to function like
Narrator’s scan mode. Because it didn’t work, <BR>Microsoft Edge was only able
to read active elements, not text, on the screen. <BR>It was also difficult to
read text on other applications. Like I said before, <BR>you want to know what
you’re saying “OK” to. Also, there were other <BR>applications where you had to
switch the pain view to see what else was on the <BR>screen. That’s OK if you
know that there are other pains on the screen. But if <BR>you don’t, you’re
missing out on loads of information. NVDA is still a <BR>fantastic screen reader
and the developers of the project are working on <BR>fixing browse mode. I
suspect they will work out the kinks very soon. But can <BR>they keep up with
all the changes and updates coming from Microsoft on an <BR>almost daily
basis?<BR><BR>JAWS Finishes in a Distant Third.<BR><BR>This wasn’t even close! I
don’t even know where to begin! For starters, the <BR>JAWS display driver
interfered with the Microsoft Upgrade Assistant which is a <BR>program that
allows customers to download Windows10 Anniversary Update without <BR>having to
wait for the automatic update. I had to uninstall the Freedom <BR>Scientific
display driver just to download my free copy of Windows 10 <BR>Anniversary
Update. Next, JAWS does not work with Microsoft Edge unless you’re <BR>using the
touch cursor. This makes Microsoft’s primary browser virtually <BR>unusable.
This is inexcusable and unacceptable. JAWS has also come up with <BR>some very
convoluted keystroke combinations to interact with elements on <BR>webpages. I
also ran into several situations where JAWS was incapable of <BR>activating
navigation bars on webpages. I just want to know, are the people at
<BR>VFOserious about accessibility, or just interested in convincing people in
<BR>enterprise and government that they are?<BR><BR>Final Thoughts.<BR><BR>I
really enjoyed the Mark mobile voice that Narrator uses. I was also
<BR>pleasantly surprised at how quickly the screen reader reacts. I’m now using
it <BR>as my primary screen reader. I of course will always continue to use NVDA
as <BR>well. It is an amazing product and will only continue to improve. They
have <BR>one of the most talented group of developers I’ve ever seen. As for
JAWS, I <BR>can’t think of one good thing to say. And that’s a difficult
position for me <BR>to take. When I first became a teacher 25 years ago, JAWS
was the only program <BR>that made the digital world accessible for me. It was
an amazing product, and <BR>I’ve always shown a great deal of gratitude toward
them, but even I have to <BR>admit that they’re not maintaining their commitment
to customers. You don’t <BR>know how difficult that is for me to say this
because I have a great deal of <BR>loyalty toward the people who helped me when
I was younger. I hope the people <BR>at VFO and Freedom Scientific can turn
things around, but most importantly I <BR>applaud the accessibility team at
Microsoft. For years Microsoft has preached <BR>accessibility but seemed more
interested in promoting their own advancement <BR>within the field of
accessibility. The new Microsoft accessibility team is <BR>finally focusing on
their actual customers. What a refreshing change! I have <BR>also recorded a
podcast demonstrating the use and accessibility of Windows 10 <BR>anniversary
update. I hope you give it a listen.<BR><BR>Keep Smiling,<BR>Janie
Degenshein<BR>"Happiness isn't having what you want, but wanting what you
already have"<BR>Facilitator of ECHO<BR>(Eyes Closed Hearts Open)<BR>President,
National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey Senior Division<BR>President,
National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey Technology Division<BR>NFBNJ
newsline coordinator<BR>jdegen16@comcast.net
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