For those with an iOS or Android device I forgot to mention another very important tool in my toolbox that I can have available for those times when even Narrator may not fire up with the standard keyboard shortcut. I’m referring to text recognition apps, such as Envision AI or Seeing AI. Having these apps on standby can really help when you want to read what’s on your screen when other screen readers just aren’t available.

David Goldfield,

Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist

NVDA Certified Expert

Subscribe to the Tech-VI announcement list to receive news, events and information regarding the blindness assistive technology field.

Email: tech-vi+subscribe@groups.io

www.DavidGoldfield.org

Hi all,

I can confirm David's and Brian's observation.

A few more things to consider:

1. Feature update process in Windows 10 versus 11: while it wasn't the case until recently, Microsoft is using an enablement package approach for recent Windows 10 updates. This is why when updating from say, Windows 10 Version 21H1 to 21H2, it is done quickly as all the changes for the upcoming feature update become part of cumulative updates which will be turned on after installing the feature update. This is not the case when upgrading to Windows 11 as you are effectively telling Windows to do an in-place upgrade (replacing system files) provided that the hardwaer is compatible (this takes a while longer). While many people will get to do this once a year, there are folks who do this more frequently (daily for some Microsoft engineers, weekly for Windows Insiders subscribed to dev channel).
2. As David pointed out, you can start Narrator while the upgrade is in progress. Upgrading from Windows 10 to 11 (or for that matter, for Windows Insiders subscribed to dev channel) is roughly divided into five steps: checking and downloading a new update (for Windows Insiders, builds), unpacking the new system files (technically a new Windows image), restarting and replacing system files, restarting again and transferring apps and settings, and final sign-in process and setup. You can fire up Narrator through all five phases, whereas you can use NVDA in all phases except steps 3 and 4.

Personally, I feel both excitement and dread whenever a new dev channel Insider Preview build is released, but that's for another time.

Cheers,

Joseph