Accessing Accessibility Features in Windows XP
There are several features included in Windows that allow users with disabilities or specials needs to control some of the functionality of user
input and output. The features that can be controlled include text size, sounds
and keyboard/mouse settings.
The system can be customized with the accessibility features by executing the Accessibility Wizard. The wizard will conduct an interview in order to determine the accessibility features that should be enabled.
Access Accessibility Wizard:
The accessibility wizard will present a number of questions to determine what, if any, accessibility features should be enabled for the user. Once finished the custom text size, sound and keyboard/mouse settings will be enabled.
Accessibility Tools:
There are three accessibility tools available which include the magnifier, narrator and the on-screen keyboard – all of these tools are describe below.
Magnifier:
The magnifier magnifies the area around the cursor and displays the area in the top of the screen. This makes reading text easier without having to change the resolution of the display or modify the text size. The magnifier can be launched and customized by following these steps:
On-Screen Keyboard:
The on-screen keyboard allows the entry of keyboard strokes via the use of a pointing device such as a mouse or joystick. To launch the on-screen keyboard:
Narrator:
The narrator is used to have the text that appears on the screen read aloud. To start the narrator:
In addition to using the Accessibility Wizard to customize the tools, there is also a Utility Manager available that is used to manually configure all the tools. To use the Utility Manager:
input and output. The features that can be controlled include text size, sounds
and keyboard/mouse settings.
The system can be customized with the accessibility features by executing the Accessibility Wizard. The wizard will conduct an interview in order to determine the accessibility features that should be enabled.
Access Accessibility Wizard:
- Click Start
- Select All Programs | Accessories | Accessibility
- Click Accessibility Wizard
- Wizard Follow the prompts and answer the questions
The accessibility wizard will present a number of questions to determine what, if any, accessibility features should be enabled for the user. Once finished the custom text size, sound and keyboard/mouse settings will be enabled.
Accessibility Tools:
There are three accessibility tools available which include the magnifier, narrator and the on-screen keyboard – all of these tools are describe below.
Magnifier:
The magnifier magnifies the area around the cursor and displays the area in the top of the screen. This makes reading text easier without having to change the resolution of the display or modify the text size. The magnifier can be launched and customized by following these steps:
- Click Start
- Select All Programs | Accessories | Accessibility
- Click Magnifier
On-Screen Keyboard:
The on-screen keyboard allows the entry of keyboard strokes via the use of a pointing device such as a mouse or joystick. To launch the on-screen keyboard:
- Click Start
- Select All Programs | Accessories | Accessibility
- Click On-Screen Keyboard
Narrator:
The narrator is used to have the text that appears on the screen read aloud. To start the narrator:
- Click Start
- Select All Programs | Accessories | Accessibility
- Click Narrator
In addition to using the Accessibility Wizard to customize the tools, there is also a Utility Manager available that is used to manually configure all the tools. To use the Utility Manager:
- Click Start
- Select All Programs | Accessories | Accessibility
- Click Utility Manager
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