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SCREEN READING:
JAWS FOR WINDOWS

JAWS, a screen reading software program, reads aloud what is on the computer monitor.

New users should listen to the JAWS tapes or request an instruction session to get the most out of the program. The JAWS tapes are on the book shelf in FAC 313.

Getting Started:

Silencing or interrupting JAWS:

Navigation Modes:

To navigate in the windows environment and in specific applications one must use the keyboard and one of the cursor modes. There are five cursor modes:
  1. PC Cursor mode: This is the default cursor mode for JAWS. The cursor stays in the main part of the application you are using. If you need to perform a function that is not part of the application, you will need to use a hot key to access that function.
  2. JAWS Cursor mode: This cursor acts like a mouse pointer does. You can access any part of the screen without having to use hotkeys. Press the minus key on the number keypad to activate it.
  3. Virtual PC Cursor: This cursor loads by default in HTML documents. The Virtual PC cursor works in much the same way that the PC cursor does, using JAWS navigation commands to read pages containing links and frames. One difference is that, unlike the PC cursor, there is no visual indication on the area of the screen that is being affected. Another difference is that text is read in one uninterrupted stream, whether the text appears on the screen or not.
  4. Braille Cursor: For use with the ALVA Braille Terminal. See the instructions "ALVA Braille Terminal - The Basics" for more information.
  5. Invisible Cursor: In Invisible Cursor mode only speech will follow the cursor movements.

Navigation keys:

Use arrow, tab and hotkeys to navigate.

Hotkeys-Overview:

(For a complete list, refer to the JAWS help manual: Press Insert-J to open the manual; press Alt-F to open the file menu; press the right arrow key to find "help"; press "enter.")
Say Title INSERT+T
Say Dialog box (tab order) INSERT+B
Switch Applications ALT+TAB
Say All INSERT+DOWN ARROW
Say Word INSERT+NUM PAD 5
Say Prior Word INSERT+LEFT ARROW
Say Next Word INSERT+RIGHT ARROW
Say Sentence ALT+NUM PAD 5
Say Prior Sentence ALT+UP ARROW
Say Next Sentence ALT+DOWN ARROW
Say Prior Paragraph CTRL+UP ARROW
Say Next Paragraph CTRL+DOWN ARROW
Interrupt Speech CTRL
Access the Menu Bar ALT
List System Tray Icons INSERT+F11
Say System Time INSERT+F12
Screen Sensitive Help INSERT+F1
Keyboard Help INSERT+1
JAWS Help for Applications INSERT+F1 (pressed twice quickly)
Window Keys Help INSERT+W
Say Help Window INSERT+CTRL+DOWN ARROW
Say Window Prompt and Text INSERT+TAB
JAWS Window INSERT+J
Shut Down JAWS INSERT+F4

Using JAWS: An Example

For our example, we will open a document in Microsoft Word.
  1. Once the computer is booted up and JAWS for Windows has told you it is ready, you must first change the focus from the desktop to the start menu in the following way:
    • Press the tab key.
    • By pressing it once, JAWS will read aloud "Start Button" which means that the focus is on the start menu.
    • Pressing it again changes the focus to the task bar.
    • Pressing it again changes the focus to the initial desktop view.
  2. Once you hear that the focus is on the "start button," access the start menu by pressing the "enter" key.
  3. Use the Down key to scroll through the program choices. For our example, when you hear "Microsoft Word," press the "enter" key to open the program.
  4. Now we need to find the document we wish to be opened.
    • Shift the focus to the top menu bar by pressing the "Alt" and "F" keys at the same time.
    • Scroll down the file menu using the Down key until you locate "Open."
    • Once you hear "Open," press the "enter" key to activate the "Open Dialog" box.
    • Use the "tab" key to move forward through the various fields in the dialog box. Pressing "shift" and "tab" simultaneously will move you backward through the field.
    • Once you have found your file, open it by pressing the "enter" key.

Instructions and Training:

  1. Online Help:
    • Keyboard Help Mode: Press Insert-1 to toggle in and out of Keyboard Help Mode. Press any key or combination of keys and JAWS will give a brief, if any, description of what the key(s) function is. To get a more detailed description press the key twice rapidly.
    • Screen Sensitive Help: Press Insert-F1. Explains what is on the screen.
    • JAWS Help Window for major applications: Press Insert-F1 and then F1 again.
    • JAWS Hot Keys: Press Insert-H.
    • Hot Keys for open application: Press Insert-W.
  2. JAWS Tapes:
    Audio training tapes are available on the bookshelf in FAC 313.
  3. JAWS Manual:
    • The Quick Reference Guide in print is available on the bookshelf in FAC 313.
    • The in-depth manual (JFW Help Topics) is available online by changing the focus to the task bar, using the right or left arrows to find "JAWS tab" and then pressing "enter." JAWS will say "Enter," then "JAWS." Press ALT-F to get to the file menu, and then use the right arrow key to move to "Help." "JFW Help Topics" is first in the list. Press "enter."
  4. One-on-One Instruction:

    For further help and training, contact:

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