Formatted version

Accessibility Tutorials / Windows XP

Using Narrator

Narrator is a text–to–speech utility for people who are blind or have low vision. Narrator reads what is displayed on the screen—the contents of the active window, menu options, or text that has been typed.

Narrator is designed to work with Notepad, WordPad, Control Panel programs, Internet Explorer, the Windows desktop, and some parts of Windows Setup. Narrator may not read words aloud correctly in other programs. Narrator has a number of options that allow you to customize the way screen elements are read. You can:

• Have new windows, menus, or shortcut menus read aloud when they are displayed.
• Have typed characters read aloud.
• Have the mouse pointer follow the active item on the screen.
• Adjust the speed, volume or pitch of the voice.

The accessibility tools that ship with Windows are intended to provide a minimum level of functionality for users with special needs. Most users with disabilities will need utility programs with more advanced functionality for daily use.

Notes:

• An easy way to start Narrator is to press the Windows logo key [image: Windows logo key] + U. Narrator is set to start by default when Utility Manager starts. However, Narrator may not start if your computer does not have text–to–speech program capability.
• You can start Accessibility programs before logging on to the computer by pressing the Windows logo key [image: Windows logo key] + U at the Welcome to Windows dialog box that appears when Windows starts.
• Narrator is not available for all languages and is only supported on the English version of Windows XP.
• To read any window again, press CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR. For more shortcuts, see Windows Help.

Accessibility Tutorials for Using Narrator are:

• Turn On and Use Narrator
• Set Narrator to Announce Events on the Screen
• Set Narrator to Read Typed Characters
• Set Narrator to Move Mouse Pointer to the Active Item
• Start Narrator Minimized
• Set Narrator Voice Options