Storyteller

Using a complex operating system like Windows 8 becomes much less than trivial when we have to face it with some sensory dysfunctionThus, for example, if we did not have the ability to easily focus or distinguish the content of the screens or, simply, you did not have a display device such as a monitor, we would have to rely on capabilities – practically unknown – of accessibility that includes the Operating System.

Use the operating system by ear

The first thing is to go to Modern UI and write “ Narrator ”, obtaining direct access to the application. You will immediately notice its activation because a woman's voice begins to read everything that is relevant to navigation through the operating system and an icon appears on the bar Of applications.

But just like the screen parameters, Narrador allows us to fully configure its parameters from the application itself.General Where we can configure the system so that the application starts together with the System, reduce the volume of the rest of the sounds when it is running, highlight with a blue box what you are reading, etc.Navigation Which allows you to use the mouse to point out what I want to be read, for Narrator to follow the keyboard focus, or to automatically activate keyboard keys virtual tactile Voice Here I can change the virtual interpreter, going from Helena who speaks in Spanish, to Zira in American English. In addition to changing the speed, tone and volume.Commands One of the advantages and power of this application is that it allows you to configure navigation commands such as reading the next paragraph; or jump to a cell in a table; or read the selected spelling, by means of our own keyboard commands.Minimize and Exit

After putting it into operation, all our movements through the operating system, applications and their content will be rigorously narrated by Helena's voice.

Conclusions

The first is obvious and truism, for a person with “normal” visual abilities, having Narrator activated is uncomfortable. The difference between what she did with the mouse and the keyboard, and what is reflected on the screen, and the narration of the synthetic voice, produces discomfort and bewilderment.

Now, if I close my eyes and let myself be guided only by Narrator, I still encounter major problems when using the Operating System and applications. And this is because my system is configured to be used visually, without order or concert, and its navigation does not have any type of structure on which I can move in an orderly manner.

Modern UI works much better than Desktop, in the live titles you not only read the application they link to, but also the live contentfrom live. And, being applications with simple interfaces and very tidy, they are quite easy to use based almost exclusively on Narrator.

Of course, the small blocking failures frustrate a good general job as it happens with Skype, which in the people file has not given a description to the buttons to start a conversation with video or audio and Narrator only reads that you are on top of a button, without telling you what it is for; or that if I have Narrator running, I can't put tildes to the letters.

Certainly, an essential application, which is a component part of the accessibility aids that Windows 8 includes, for all those who have dysfunctions visuals.

In XatakaWindows | Tricks Windows 8