Magnifiers and NVDA
|
Bill Sallander <bsallander@...>
Hello all: I’m a new assistive technology instructor here at the Center For The Visually Impaired in Daytona Beach Florida. I have a client who may benefit from both a Screen reader such as NVDA as well as a magnifier such as Zoomtext. Is there a possibility that such a magnifier can be used in conjunction with NVDA? If so, where can I find any documentation for such a setup? I believe at some time in the future the client may need to depend on a screen reader only; I’m just exploring all avenues at this time.
William Sallander, Assistive Technology Instructor Center For The Visually Impaired (386)253-8879, Ext. 109
|
|
|
|
John Hedges
Interesting. Why would a client need ZoomText and NVDA? The new merger of ZoomText with Jaws makes the command sets different. I am low vision and use Microsoft Magnifier and NVDA with a combination of mouse and cursor controls for review by speech, while using some vision. Magnifier has some new features that make it more helpful in Windows 10 latest version.
It really depends on how little or how fast the vision will become low functioning. Learning the new ZoomText with speech would be helpful for little vision and job settings where complex software is used.
John
From: Bill Sallander
Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2017 2:16 PM To: nvda@nvda.groups.io Subject: [nvda] Magnifiers and NVDA
Hello all: I’m a new assistive technology instructor here at the Center For The Visually Impaired in Daytona Beach Florida. I have a client who may benefit from both a Screen reader such as NVDA as well as a magnifier such as Zoomtext. Is there a possibility that such a magnifier can be used in conjunction with NVDA? If so, where can I find any documentation for such a setup? I believe at some time in the future the client may need to depend on a screen reader only; I’m just exploring all avenues at this time.
William Sallander, Assistive Technology Instructor Center For The Visually Impaired (386)253-8879, Ext. 109
|
|
|
|
David Moore
Hi John and all, Here is an idea: I follow close the Zoom text and JAWS combined, Zoom Text Fusion. Why not come out with a free screen reader that has speech and a high degree of magnification in the same screen reader. Maybe we could do this with NVDA. This is what Narrator and Magnifier give you, but Narrator is not a full-fledged Screen reader, yet, anyway. Since there a lot of people with mouse user low vision, who need a lot of magnification, speech and magnification, all in one, might be in order. I know that Serotech has tried this with their System Access. You can do both with it. David Moore Sent from Mail for Windows 10
From: John Hedges
Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2017 6:12 PM To: nvda@nvda.groups.io Subject: Re: [nvda] Magnifiers and NVDA
Interesting. Why would a client need ZoomText and NVDA? The new merger of ZoomText with Jaws makes the command sets different. I am low vision and use Microsoft Magnifier and NVDA with a combination of mouse and cursor controls for review by speech, while using some vision. Magnifier has some new features that make it more helpful in Windows 10 latest version.
It really depends on how little or how fast the vision will become low functioning. Learning the new ZoomText with speech would be helpful for little vision and job settings where complex software is used.
John
From: Bill Sallander
Hello all: I’m a new assistive technology instructor here at the Center For The Visually Impaired in Daytona Beach Florida. I have a client who may benefit from both a Screen reader such as NVDA as well as a magnifier such as Zoomtext. Is there a possibility that such a magnifier can be used in conjunction with NVDA? If so, where can I find any documentation for such a setup? I believe at some time in the future the client may need to depend on a screen reader only; I’m just exploring all avenues at this time.
William Sallander, Assistive Technology Instructor Center For The Visually Impaired (386)253-8879, Ext. 109
|
|
|
|
Brandon Cross <bcross3286@...>
Theoretically, they shouldn't be mutually exclusive, NVDA doesn't touch the vidio drivers like Jaws does, its just a matter of finding out whether there are conflicts in the command sets between the two and tailoring a custom configuration to neutralize those conflicts, should any exist. You could also make a manually triggering configuration profile that your client can start if he or she runs zoomtext with NVDA, and stops when using NVDA on its own. Question though, will windows magnifier not meet their needs? |
|
|
|
Quentin Christensen
Hi Bill, Firstly welcome aboard! As Brandon noted, NVDA shouldn't conflict with any of the popular magnifiers, so if you want to run NVDA with Zoomtext, the only issues should be any keystrokes which both programs use (from memory, both use the number pad for different things?) If using Windows 7 or later, then WINDOWS+PLUS will get you into the Windows magnifier (use windows+plus to enlarge magnification, windows+minus to decrease magnification, control+alt+i to invert the colours, and there are a few commands if you don't want to use full screen you can change modes, though to be honest, I used to do a similar job to you and in 12 years, I didn't encounter more than a handful of people who preferred a screen magnification mode other than full screen). Note that if using Windows 7, you want to set the magnifier settings to follow the keyboard and focus (for some reason it didn't by default though it now does in Windows 10). Another free option with a few more settings is Glass Brick: http://www.glassbrick.org/ And another thing a visual user might find helpful, is one of our add-ons called "Focus Highlight". It works much like the similar Zoomtext feature in putting a box around what NVDA is currently reading: https://addons.nvda-project.org/addons/focusHighlight.en.html Kind regards Quentin. On Thu, Jul 20, 2017 at 10:56 AM, Brandon Cross <bcross3286@...> wrote:
--
Quentin Christensen Training and Support Manager Basic Training for NVDA & Microsoft Word with NVDA E-Books now available: http://www.nvaccess.org/shop/ www.nvaccess.org Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NVAccess Twitter: @NVAccess |
|
|
|
On Wed, Jul 19, 2017 at 03:12 pm, John Hedges wrote:
Why would a client need ZoomText and NVDA?I've had several clients who were in the process of losing their vision and where it was variable enough that on some days they were perfectly able to use magnification alone and on others it was screen-reader exclusively. There are also folks who have enough vision to find what they're trying to find using their vision but cannot possibly read it when it's long without completely fatiguing, so they switch over to a screen-reader to have the material read to them. One of my favorite former clients fell into both these categories depending on the day and week though his condition was degenerative and his vision was ultimately destined to get progressively worse. He was a graduate student, and one of the hardest things I had to convince him of is that we needed to use a significant amount of time while he still had usable vision to take advantage of that to learn how to use the screen reader. When you're under time pressure, and what grad student isn't, you want to use the most efficient way to plow through all the material you need to get through and when you have enough vision to read using it that would be the first choice. But when the reality is that you won't have that vision, and you know it, you save yourself a world of heartache if you're prepared to go "pure screen reader" when circumstances dictate it, and can do so easily because you already know most of what you need to know. -- Brian - Windows 10 Home, 64-Bit, Version 1703, Build 15063 (dot level on request - it changes too often to keep in signature) The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth. ~ Niels Bohr
|
|
|
|
Bill Sallander <bsallander@...>
At this point, I’m just on a fact finding mission. The next time I see the client, I’ll have to see if it will work or if higher magnification is needed. In short, I’m trying to find the cheapest solution so they can get up and running. Thanks for the advice.
From: nvda@nvda.groups.io [mailto:nvda@nvda.groups.io] On Behalf Of Brandon Cross
Theoretically, they shouldn't be mutually exclusive, NVDA doesn't touch the vidio drivers like Jaws does, its just a matter of finding out whether there are conflicts in the command sets between the two and tailoring a custom configuration to neutralize those conflicts, should any exist. You could also make a manually triggering configuration profile that your client can start if he or she runs zoomtext with NVDA, and stops when using NVDA on its own.
Question though, will windows magnifier not meet their needs? |
|
|
|
Bill Sallander <bsallander@...>
I won’t see the client till next week, but I will try all of these suggestions and see which one might fit. That is the beauty of NVDA, it is a quick, easy and yet powerful solution and it doesn’t break the bank. Thanks to all.
From: nvda@nvda.groups.io [mailto:nvda@nvda.groups.io] On Behalf Of Quentin Christensen
Hi Bill,
Firstly welcome aboard! As Brandon noted, NVDA shouldn't conflict with any of the popular magnifiers, so if you want to run NVDA with Zoomtext, the only issues should be any keystrokes which both programs use (from memory, both use the number pad for different things?)
If using Windows 7 or later, then WINDOWS+PLUS will get you into the Windows magnifier (use windows+plus to enlarge magnification, windows+minus to decrease magnification, control+alt+i to invert the colours, and there are a few commands if you don't want to use full screen you can change modes, though to be honest, I used to do a similar job to you and in 12 years, I didn't encounter more than a handful of people who preferred a screen magnification mode other than full screen). Note that if using Windows 7, you want to set the magnifier settings to follow the keyboard and focus (for some reason it didn't by default though it now does in Windows 10).
Another free option with a few more settings is Glass Brick: http://www.glassbrick.org/
And another thing a visual user might find helpful, is one of our add-ons called "Focus Highlight". It works much like the similar Zoomtext feature in putting a box around what NVDA is currently reading: https://addons.nvda-project.org/addons/focusHighlight.en.html
Kind regards
Quentin.
On Thu, Jul 20, 2017 at 10:56 AM, Brandon Cross <bcross3286@...> wrote:
-- Quentin Christensen
Basic Training for NVDA & Microsoft Word with NVDA E-Books now available: http://www.nvaccess.org/shop/
www.nvaccess.org |
|
|
|
Gene New Zealand <hurrikennyandopo@...>
Hi by the way if you use the magnifier there is a add on for it for nvda. I am not sure if it will work on windows 10 with the add on as i can not see to test for you to make sure. I am guessing it will and there are shortcuts that go with the add on if needed.
Gene nz
On 7/21/2017 3:38 AM, Bill Sallander wrote:
--
Check out my website for NVDA tutorials and other blindness related material at
http://www.accessibilitycentral.net Regardless of where you are in New Zealand if you are near one of the APNK sites you can use a copy of the NVDA screen reader on one of their computers.
To find out which locations (or location) is near to you please visit
http://www.aotearoapeoplesnetwork.org/content/partner-libraries (Aotearoa People's Network Kaharoa). To find an NVDA certified expert near you, please visit the following link
https://certification.nvaccess.org/. The certification page contains the official list of NVDA certified individuals from around the world, who have sat and successfully passed the NVDA
expert exam.
|
|
|
|
David Moore
Thanks Gene! Now, I can tell that to other people. Thanks a lot! David Moore Sent from Mail for Windows 10
From: Gene New Zealand
Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2017 6:07 PM To: nvda@nvda.groups.io Subject: Re: [nvda] Magnifiers and NVDA
Hi by the way if you use the magnifier there is a add on for it for nvda. I am not sure if it will work on windows 10 with the add on as i can not see to test for you to make sure. I am guessing it will and there are shortcuts that go with the add on if needed.
Gene nz
On 7/21/2017 3:38 AM, Bill Sallander wrote:
-- Check out my website for NVDA tutorials and other blindness related material at http://www.accessibilitycentral.net Regardless of where you are in New Zealand if you are near one of the APNK sites you can use a copy of the NVDA screen reader on one of their computers. To find out which locations (or location) is near to you please visit http://www.aotearoapeoplesnetwork.org/content/partner-libraries (Aotearoa People's Network Kaharoa). To find an NVDA certified expert near you, please visit the following link https://certification.nvaccess.org/. The certification page contains the official list of NVDA certified individuals from around the world, who have sat and successfully passed the NVDA expert exam.
|
|
|
|
Gene New Zealand <hurrikennyandopo@...>
Hi
I just looked for it on the nvda add ons website but could not find it under any of the sections.
I did how ever find the page where the add on is located but seems only to mention windows 7, so do not know if it will work on 8 or 10.
the page where it is can be found at http://www.greenlightgo.org/projects/nvda/ I am not sure if the project is still going but it seems like it is. Maybe under 8 and 10 this can be done easily without the add on?
I thought it might of been linked to the add ons website when it was first found but seems never to have got there.
gene nz
On 7/21/2017 11:17 AM, David Moore wrote:
--
Check out my website for NVDA tutorials and other blindness related material at
http://www.accessibilitycentral.net Regardless of where you are in New Zealand if you are near one of the APNK sites you can use a copy of the NVDA screen reader on one of their computers.
To find out which locations (or location) is near to you please visit
http://www.aotearoapeoplesnetwork.org/content/partner-libraries (Aotearoa People's Network Kaharoa). To find an NVDA certified expert near you, please visit the following link
https://certification.nvaccess.org/. The certification page contains the official list of NVDA certified individuals from around the world, who have sat and successfully passed the NVDA
expert exam.
|
|
|