Easy Braille
Screen
reader Operations
Handy Tech
Elektronik GmbH
Page 20
5
Screen reader Operations
All screen reader programs are used to output the information contained on a
computer screen and to convert it into speech and Braille in a format that can be
used by blind persons. The Easy Braille serves to display the Braille data. Since only
a small portion of the current screen contents can be displayed at any time on the
Braille display, it is necessary for the screen reader to transmit only the information
that is relevant in any given situation to the Braille display.
All screen readers on the market today provide "focused" Windows information after
they start up, for example, if any menu item is highlighted under the Windows Start
menu, this will be displayed on the Braille display by default. If you move the
Windows focus up and down by using the arrow keys, these changes will
automatically be shown on the Braille display.
In any editable text input field, the cursor is usually represented as a character of
blinking Dots 7 and 8. If the cursor leaves the portion of the screen that is shown on
the Braille display while you are entering text, the section shown on the Braille
display will automatically move forward. You can move around within the text
regardless of the cursor position by using the reading keys, with [R] for forward, and
[L] for backward. By activating any Cursor Routing key, you can move the cursor
directly to the desired position. If you want to return to where the cursor is after
navigating for a while with the [L] and [R] keys, you can usually accomplish this
simply by pressing key [7], or by moving the cursor with the arrow keys. Any marked
text, which is shown inverted on a computer screen, is underlined with dots 7 and 8
on the Braille display.
Generally, it is possible for the speech output information to differ from the
information shown on a Braille display. In the "Save" dialogue of Microsoft Word
when quitting the program, for example, the speech output will read the text "Do you
want to save the changes made to…?" followed by the button texts "Save," "Don't
Save," and "Cancel." Only the buttons, however, will be shown on the Braille display.
You can select the desired button by activating the cursor routing key above the
button text. You can also review the text in the dialog box by pressing the [R] and [L]
keys.
The Easy Braille is supported by various screen reader programs, such as:
JAWS
Hal/SuperNova (Dolphin Systems)
Window-Eyes
The current driver for your screen reader program is included on the installation CD
that came with your Easy Braille.
