Accessibility
This feature is included in the following editions of Windows Vista:
Windows Vista includes built-in accessibility settings and programs that make it easier for you to see, hear, and use your computer. The accessibility settings and programs in Windows Vista are particularly helpful to people with visual difficulties, hearing loss, pain in their hands or arms, or reasoning and cognitive issues.
Major accessibility improvements in Windows Vista include:
Ease of Access Center
The new Ease of Access Center in Windows Vista provides a convenient, centralized place to locate accessibility settings and programs to make your computer easier to use. The Ease of Access Center includes quick access to common tools, a questionnaire to get recommendations for accessibility settings and tools, and the ability to explore all accessibility settings in seven categories. The Ease of Access Center can be found in the Control Panel in Windows Vista or by selecting Windows logo key+U. The Ease of Access icon is also available when you are logging into Windows Vista. The Ease of Access Center replaces the Accessibility Wizard and Utilities Manager in previous versions of Windows.
Make your computer easier to use with the Ease of Access Center.
Gain quick access to common tools
Start Narrator, Magnifier, On-Screen Keyboard, and High Contrast quickly from Quick access to common tools in the Ease of Access Center. When you start these tools from the Quick Access section, the tools will turn off after you log off or shut down. If you want these tools to start automatically every time you log on, turn them on under the Explore all settings categories.
Get recommendations for settings
The Ease of Access Center includes a new, optional questionnaire (that replaces the Accessibility Wizard found in previous versions of Windows). Based on your answers, a custom list of recommended accessibility settings is provided so you can choose which options you want to try. You can take this questionnaire and adjust your settings as often as you like. This new questionnaire takes the guesswork out of selecting settings.
The questionnaire includes questions about performing routine tasks, such as whether you have trouble seeing faces or text on TV, hearing normal conversations, or using a pen or pencil. Based on your answers, Windows Vista provides a personalized recommendation of the accessibility settings and programs that are likely to improve your ability to see, hear, and use your computer.
The questionnaire asks questions that relate to:
Eyesight
Dexterity
Hearing
Speech
Reasoning tasks
You can find the questionnaire in the Ease of Access Center (in the Control Panel) by selecting Get recommendations for settings.
Explore all settings by category
Instead of looking for accessibility settings in various places on your computer, Windows Vista brings all those settings together and organizes them into categories that you can explore in the Ease of Access Center.
You can explore seven different categories of accessibility settings and programs:
Use the computer without a display.
Make the computer easier to see.
Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard.
Make the mouse easier to use.
Make the keyboard easier to use.
Use text or visual alternatives for sounds.
Make it easier to focus on tasks.
Make things on the screen larger with Magnifier
Magnifier is a magnification program in Windows Vista that enables you to enlarge a portion of your computer screen in a separate window to make it easier to see. The magnification quality has improved from previous versions. Now you can choose magnification levels up to 16 times the original size, and you can choose to track the mouse, the keyboard, or text editing.
In Magnifier, you can choose to:
Invert the colors for better screen legibility.
Move the Magnifier window anywhere on your screen.
Choose a docking position which places the magnifier window at the left, top, right, or bottom of your screen.
Adjust the tracking focus so that it follows the movement of the mouse cursor, keyboard focus, or text editing.
You can find Magnifier in the Ease of Access Center.
Magnifier can enlarge a portion of your computer screen.
Hear text read aloud with Narrator
Narrator is the text-to-speech program in Windows Vista that reads what is displayed on your screen, including the contents of the active window, menu options, or the text you have typed. Narrator reads menus without leaving the active window and includes a pleasant, natural-sounding voice.
Narrator has a number of options that allow you to customize the way screen elements are read. You can:
Read Narrator menus without leaving the active window.
Move around the desktop with the number keys using virtual focus, which allows you to move through the objects on the desktop and read aloud any content they contain.
Move around the desktop with the arrow keys using virtual menus.
Use bookmarks to find commonly used programs.
You can choose the type of text Narrator reads aloud, such as keystrokes, system messages, and scroll notifications, and you can choose voice settings. Plus, Narrator is compatible with any SAPI-compliant voice for users who can use a different voice.
You can find Narrator in the Ease of Access Center.
Narrator will read aloud what is on your screen.
Type with On-Screen Keyboard
On-Screen Keyboard in Windows Vista displays a visual keyboard with all of the standard keys on the screen. Instead of relying on the physical keyboard to type, you can select keys using the mouse or another pointing device, a small group of keys, or just one key. Several keyboard layouts are available in On-Screen Keyboard, and views are available to promote faster typing or to give access to the maximum number of keys. You can choose the typing mode that works best for you—clicking mode, hovering mode, or scanning mode. To make the On-Screen Keyboard keys easier to see, you can change the font, font style, and font size from the Settings menu.
You can find On-Screen Keyboard in the Ease of Access Center.
On-Screen Keyboard in Windows Vista displays a visual keyboard with all of the standard keys on the screen.
Interact with your PC by voice using Speech Recognition
Speech Recognition in Windows Vista empowers you to interact with your computer by voice, significantly reducing the use of a mouse and keyboard, while maintaining or increasing your overall productivity. Speech Recognition is particularly useful for people who have difficulty with dexterity or have limited use of their hands and arms, because it reduces or eliminates their need for a mouse and a keyboard while enabling them to maintain or increase their productivity.
With Speech Recognition, you can dictate documents and e-mail, fill out forms on the web, and command applications and the operating system by saying what you see. Right from the beginning, you are guided through an easy setup process and an interactive training application that will familiarize you with the voice commands. Whether it is starting an application, selecting a word, or correcting a sentence, you are always in control and guided toward a list of smart choices.
Speech Recognition is fully integrated into Windows Vista and is built on top of the latest Microsoft speech technologies. It features state-of-the-art voice recognition accuracy that is designed to improve as people use it, adapting to their speaking style and vocabulary.
You can find Speech Recognition in the Control Panel of Windows Vista.
Speech Recognition in Windows Vista empowers you to interact with your computer by voice.
Find assistive technology products for Windows Vista
Assistive technology products are innovative technology solutions that empower people with physical and cognitive difficulties to use computers more easily and effectively. Microsoft worked closely with assistive technology companies around the world to ensure specialized products—such as voice recognition software, screen readers, screen magnifiers, and on-screen keyboards—are compatible with Windows. As a result, Windows Vista users have more choice in the types of the technology solutions they can use to meet their particular needs. Many assistive technology products are compatible with Windows. Find more information on assistive technology products for Windows Vista.
When selecting assistive technology products, it is critical to find products that are compatible with your existing software programs and that will address your specific needs. This can be challenging, but experts are available to help. A network of Microsoft Accessibility Resource Centers can help you learn more about assistive and accessible technology and determine which solutions are right for you.
These experts can demonstrate both accessibility settings in Windows Vista and specialty assistive technology products. You can try accessibility settings while you're at the center or take home a Microsoft Accessibility CD Set to explore accessibility on your own. Some centers also have lending libraries, so you may be able to try out an assistive technology product before you buy. Locate a center near you.
Accessibility features in Windows Vista
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Ease of Access Center | Provides a centralized location where you can adjust accessibility settings and manage accessibility programs. |
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Speech Recognition | Enables you to interact with your computer using only your voice while maintaining, or even increasing, your productivity. |
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Magnifier | Enlarges part of the screen while you work, leaving the rest of your desktop in a standard display. |
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Narrator | A text-to-speech program that reads aloud on-screen text and describes some events (such as error messages) that happen while you're using the computer. |
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On-Screen Keyboard | A visual, on-screen keyboard with all the standard keys that you can use instead of a physical keyboard. On-Screen Keyboard also lets you type using an alternative input device. |
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Keyboard shortcuts | Use keyboard shortcuts as an alternative to the mouse. Keyboard shortcuts can be found in the menus of programs, or, if a letter is underlined on a menu, it usually means that pressing the ALT key in combination with the underlined key has the same effect as clicking that menu item. |
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Mouse Keys | Instead of using the mouse, you can use the arrow keys on the numeric keypad to move the pointer. |
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Sticky Keys | Instead of having to press three keys at once (such as when you must press the CTRL, ALT, and DELETE keys simultaneously to log on to Windows), you can press one key at a time when Sticky Keys is turned on. |
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Filter Keys | Ignore keystrokes that occur in rapid succession and keystrokes that are held down for several seconds unintentionally. |
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Visual Notifications | Replace system sounds with visual cues, such as a flash on the screen, so system alerts are announced with visual notifications instead of sounds. |
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Captions | Get information via animations and video that some programs use to indicate that activity is happening on your computer. |
More information