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JAWS


Model: JAWS 4.51 Professional (http://www.freedomscientific.com/fs_products/software_jaws.asp)
Manufacturer: Freedom Scientific (http://www.freedomscientific.com)
Price: $1095
For: Job seekers who are blind
To: Use a computer

Description:

JAWS is a screen reader, a computer program used by individuals who are blind to read aloud the information displayed on a computer screen. JAWS, and other leading screen readers such as GW Micro's Window-Eyes (http://www.gwmicro.com), perform some very complex tasks to enable people who are blind to use computers:

  • First, screen readers must monitor the information that is on the screen and new information that is appearing. They must also track what information has "focus", that is, what is in the foreground and is highlighted or selected. From this information they determine what is the most important and relevant to read at any given moment.
  • Second, screen readers must convert the text that needs to be read into understandable sounds that can be played using the computer's sound system. This is usually done using built in "text-to-speech" or "speech synthesis" software.
  • Finally, screen readers must provide a wide range of special keyboard commands to replace all the functions usually done by sight or using the mouse. (Screen reader-users must operate a computer using only the keyboard — when you can't see the pointer on the screen, the mouse is useless.) These commands range from re-reading (or spelling) a word to clicking on links in a web page to identifying row and column names in a spreadsheet.

Screen readers can be difficult to learn. Individuals who are blind typically need days or weeks of intensive training to even get started. Some job seekers will come into your Resource Room already knowing how to use a screen reader and only need assistance getting started; many others may need to be referred out to an appropriate training resource before they can effectively begin.

It is also important to realize that there are many programs and web sites that just do not cooperate with JAWS (or any screen reader). Most major programs, including Microsoft Office, WordPerfect Office, and Internet Explorer, work well with JAWS; but many other programs simply will not work at all. Similarly, the way web sites are programmed can enable or prevent JAWS from functioning properly. It will be important to become familiar with which programs in your Resource Room will and will not work so that you can help JAWS-users avoid fruitless frustration.

Installation:

The only tricky part to installing JAWS is installing the JAWS "Authorization Key": At the end of the installation process, JAWS will prompt you to insert an authorization disk. This is the white, 3 1/2-inch floppy diskette labeled "Authorization Diskette". Insert this disk when asked, wait for JAWS to copy the "key" from the diskette to the hard drive, and remove the diskette when JAWS indicates that the process is complete. (If the process never completes, try disabling any anti-virus software that is running, re-start JAWS, and try again.) If JAWS indicates that it is running in "demo mode" and quits after 40 minutes, you need to try the authorization process again.

You will need to use the JAWS Authorization Disk if you ever remove and re-install JAWS. See "FAQs for Authorizing JAWS" in the JAWS Help for information about how to remove (and troubleshoot) your JAWS authorization key.

Customization Tips:

After installation, there are a few small changes that may be helpful:

Set a Shortcut Key

To allow users to easily start JAWS, set a Windows shortcut key:

  1. Open the Start menu (Windows key)
  2. Open the Programs menu and find the JAWS program (Arrow keys to move between menu items, Enter to open sub-menus)
  3. Right click (Shift + F10), select Send To, and then Desktop
  4. Click on Desktop (Windows key + M)
  5. Right click on the new JAWS icon (Shift + F10), pick Properties
  6. Move to the Shortcut Key field (Tab key twice), press "J" and "Ctrl + Alt + J" will appear
  7. Click OK (Enter)

With the shortcut key set, users will only need to press "Ctrl + Alt + J" to start JAWS.

Adjust the Speech Rate

You can adjust JAWS's default speech rate to make it easier to understand for new users:

  1. With JAWS running, press Insert + J to bring up the JAWS program window
  2. Open the Options menu (Alt + O), select Voices (V), and then Global Adjustment (G)
  3. Press Tab key once to move to the Rate slider
  4. Use the Page Up and Page Down keys to decrease or increase the rate, respectively
  5. When you find a comfortable rate, press Enter

You can also temporarily adjust JAWS's speech rate using the Alt + Ctrl + Page Down (increase) and Alt + Ctrl + Page Up (decrease) keys

Eliminate Some Unnecessary Reading

JAWS provides very thorough help, often explaining how a user can control each new item that is read; however, hearing all this information read aloud can sometimes be overwhelming. To reduce some of the help information automatically read, do the following: (JAWS help will be still be available by pressing Insert + F1.)

  1. With JAWS running, press Insert + J to bring up the JAWS program window
  2. Open the Options menu (Alt + O) and select Basics (B)
  3. In Tutor Messages, select Announce Custom Messages Only (Arrow down once)
  4. in Access Key, check Off (Arrow up once)
  5. Press Enter

Operation:

A big part learning to use JAWS is learning the many keyboard commands that control JAWS, Windows, and other programs. See the following reference sheets for some of the most important commands:

Additional Reference:

  • JAWS Quick Start Guide (http://www.freedomscientific.com/fs_support/documentation/JAWS4_5Docs/JAWS45.txt)
  • JAWS Tutorials (http://www.freedomscientific.com/fs_products/tutorials.asp)

Questions